This NFL Week 2 injury report will cover the three AFC matchups and two Interconference matchups happening on Sunday morning, Sept. 20. They will cover every impactful player on every NFL team taking part in these games. This handicapping injury report covers up to and including what happened in Friday morning practices, and some of the afternoon ones. When it comes to NFL betting analysis, there is little more valuable than knowing who is going to be on the field and who is going to be out or hampered. We not only break down all the player injuries, but also tell you in which direction you should lean when making your bets. If you want an edge when betting the NFL odds in any week, this is where you will get it.
See the NFC injury report handicap here, and the Sunday late afternoon game, SNF, and MNF report here.
BRONCOS (40½) at STEELERS(-7½)
Broncos
Starting CB A.J. Bouye didn’t make it to the half before an injury that landed him on the injured reserve, making the Denver pass defense even more questionable than it was.
RB2 Phillip Lindsay played only the first half, now his toe kept him from practice and now out of Sunday’s game. Starting WR Courtland Sutton was limited with an AC joint that kept him inactive last week and is still questionable going into this one. Starting LT Garett Bolles showed up on the report with an elbow but was only limited in practice.
Steelers
Starting RT Zach Banner made it nearly through the game before blowing his knee and ending his season. Compounding this, backup LG Stefen Wisniewski, reported injured midweek, was placed on IR Friday. LT Alejandro Villaneuva did not practice on Wednesday due to illness but is expected to start for a line that will have enormous depth problems on Sunday.
Both starting wideouts Juju Smith-Schuster (knee) and Dionte Johnson (Toe) were limited early in the week, but fully participated Thursday and Friday and are good to start.
Starting running back James Conner (ankle) fully practiced late in the week and is good to go.
Leans
Assuming Pat Shurmur will in fact try to run on the Steelers and figure out too late that he should have been passing, this should be a lopsided affair. We’re now in no rush to lay over the touchdown with a team this short on its O-line. The same can be said of our earlier lean to the over, which is now down to 40½.
49ers (-7) at JETS (41½)
49ers
Coach Kyle Shanahan cheekily suggested earlier in the week that starting tight end George Kittle’s knee was a concern, but he was fully expected to play. Kittle, of course, has now been ruled out.
CB1 Ahkello Witherspoon surprisingly may clear the concussion protocol and is now expected to start. CB2 Jason Verrett (hamstring) did not practice this week. Backup DE Dee Ford (neck) didn’t practice this week and is questionable. UPDATE: Saturday, Sept. 19, 17:45 EST – Dee Ford has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Jets. Richard Sherman is also out.
Jets
One of the few bright lights on the Jets’ offense WR Jamison Crowder is now ruled out of Sunday’s game. The loss to the Jets is significant as Crowder was attempting to play through a hamstring injury and may have reaggravated it in limited practice early in the week.
Leans
Witherspoon’s presence provides value for the 49ers, for whom mainstream coverage can’t help themselves over-reacting to Richard Sherman being placed on IR. Earlier this week the lean here was over, but that appears unlikely. It’s not impossible a 41-3 score carries the touchdown cover and the over. It feels somewhat like a trap at only a touchdown. So lay the touchdown, lean the over and hope for 30-13.
BUFFALO (-6) at MIAMI (41)
Bills
Injury takes its toll on the Bills’ defensive front seven this week. Now ruled out of Sunday’s match: starting MLB Tremaine Edmunds, OLB Matt Milano (hamstring) and OLB Del’Shawn Phillips (quad). While possibly the most notable injury cluster this week, it’s unclear how much the Dolphins will be able to take advantage of this, the Raiders and Rams certainly will appreciate the opportunity against the Bills in the next few weeks.
Starting DE Jerry Hughes did practice and is expected to start. The same goes for WR Isaiah McKenzie. (Starting DT Vernon Butler should also be a go).
Dolphins
Starting MLB Elandon Roberts found himself in midweek concussion protocol and will sit as a precaution Sunday. He’s been ruled out. Meanwhile, star WR DeVante Parker will be a game-time decision, limited with a hamstring in practice this week.
Leans
If DeVante Parker is active and six is still available for the Dolphins, then take the points against a Bills D-line that will spend some of the game adjusting to new personnel. By the same logic, our earlier lean of under 41 is now not as attractive.
MINNESOTA (49) at INDIANAPOLIS (-3)
Vikings
The only week-one casualty for the Vikings is nickel corner Cameron Dantzler will sit out Sunday with ribs. (Maybe he’ll have ribs, but his own are too sore to play.)
Colts
WR Michael Pittman showed up on the injury report after injuring his toe during Thursday’s practice. He was held out of practice Friday, and is now officially questionable and a game-time decision. Starting TE Jack Doyle, kept from practice this week due to an ankle, has been ruled out.
Starting DE Justin Houston (calf) didn’t practice this week. His questionable status is more serious than backup CB Isiah Rodgers (ankle) who did manage Friday’s practice but is also listed as questionable.
Leans
The injury profile here only leans us harder towards taking the field goal with Minnesota. Similarly, if the Colts are short Pittman, an earlier lean of under 48 grows more tempting as the number rises to 49.
JACKSONVILLE (44) at TENNESSEE (-7½)
Jaguars
The Jags not only won outright last week but also won the injury lottery. Their sole reported loss being backup TE Tyler Davis, who is ruled out.
Titans
Starting WR A.J. Brown (knee) and RB Darrynton Evans (hamstring) have both been deemed out for Sunday’s game. CB Malcolm Butler (quad) who was limited late in the week and listed as questionable was held out of practice Friday. (OLB VIc Beasley was also spotted at Friday’s practice without a helmet, which isn’t a good sign for him.)
Starting LT Taylor Lewan returned Friday from an illness, and starting WR Corey Davis also returned to practice. Both are still listed as questionable but are expected to start.
Leans
The Jags were a play at +9 and still the only lean at 7½. An earlier lean of over 42 isn’t as appetizing at 44 after the Titan’s loss at offense.
