This NFL Week 2 injury report will cover the late afternoon NFL games, Sept. 20, as well as Sunday Night and Monday Night Football. We’ll survey 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’s practices. 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.
Follow these links to see the NFC and the AFC and Interconference injury report handicaps.
WASHINGTON (46½) at CARDINALS (-7)
Football Team
Starting strong OLB Cole Holcomb (knee) couldn’t make it through practice after playing last week and is now ruled out. Weak-side OLB Thomas Davis (calf) could be back this week to help; he practiced in full on Friday but is still listed as questionable. Starting CB Kendall Fuller (knee) was limited on the third day of practice (after two full first days) but hasn’t yet been downgraded past questionable.
Cardinals
The Cardinals lost starting free safety Jalen Thompson to IR after only a couple of plays last week.
Starting center Mason Cole will not play on Sunday. After missing practice all week and not being seen in the open portion of Friday’s drills, he’s been ruled out. In that same situation is TE Maxx Williams who took about half the snaps last week.
Backup tackle Josh Jones was limited in practice all week but might get suited on Sunday to have enough bodies at O-line.
Leans
Not impossible the Cards win this one going away, but if Lamont Galliard replaces Cole on Sunday, this Washington Football Team should get an opportunity to showcase their defensive front seven. In this case, we’ll take the touchdown with the Football Team and lean under 46½.
RAVENS (-7½) at TEXANS (50)
Ravens
Only three players missed Friday’s practice for Baltimore, and for OLB Pernell McPhee that was veteran’s privilege. Held out were WR Chris Moore (finger) and D-linesman Justin Madubuike (knee), both of whom have been ruled out of Sunday’s action.
Cornerback Jimmy Smith was limited and listed as questionable.
Starting LT Ronnie Stanley fully participated Friday and, despite being limited earlier in the week, is expected to start.
Texans
Early reports of full participation in practice for the Texans were, it turns out, overstated.
In addition to Will Fuller, who didn’t practice at all, several players were limited and listed as questionable: RB Duke Johnson (ankle) and backup LB Peter Kalambayi, neither of whom is likely; alternately, starting right tackle Tytus Howard (ankle) and WR Brandin Cooks (quadricep) are more direly needed and “plan” to be available.
Leans
The Ravens seemed like a cheap bet at only a touchdown, but at 7½ there’s some hesitation to see which players Houston can activate the hour or so before game time. An early lean on the under 51½ is weaker now that the number has dropped to 50.
CHIEFS (-9) at CHARGERS (47)
Chiefs
Kansas City lost starting CB Chavarius Ward to a hand injury. The Chiefs are already wanting at the position due to Bashaud Breeland’s suspension. Also scratched for Sunday are starting DE Alex Okafur and DT Khalen Saunders.
Chargers
Another low injury team this week, the Chargers’ backup RB Justin Jackson is listed as doubtful with a quadricep injury. The other handful of starters held back through the week practiced fully on Friday and no longer are listed on the report.
Leans
Over the years, Chief’s coach Andy Reid has known when to keep chunks of his playbook closed against mediocre teams. Coach Reid is more than happy to choke a team like the Chargers out by 17 points and hand them the ball at their own 6 just before the two-minute warning. While the Chiefs are likely more than nine points better than the Chargers, they also won’t be interested in losing any more defensive starters. The injuries here undermine an earlier lean of under 46½. Playing over 47 doesn’t sound any better.
PATRIOTS (44½) at SEAHAWKS (-4)
Patriots
A handful of starters show up on the New England injury report for various knee and shoulder ailments. Everyone of significance, limited in Friday’s practice and listed as questionable — both starting wideouts, a starting outside linebacker and defensive tackle — will most certainly play on Sunday night.
Seahawks
The Seahawks mostly avoided injury opening week, the prominent exception here being starting DE Rasheem Green. He’s doubtful, which means rookie Alton Robinson will get his NFL debut rotating on a D-line that’s stretched a bit thin.
Also still pending is if WR Phillip Dorsett will get his first action of the season in this match-up against his old team. While limited early in the week, he was held out on Friday, and listed as questionable.
Leans
This injury profile isn’t strong enough to offer a lean, though it’s worth noting the early line move on the Hawks to minus four, despite their Week 2 injury report injury news being a hair worse than New England’s this week. Equally, the total dropped a half-point, but the absence of Green would suggest leaning over 44½.
SAINTS (-6) at RAIDERS (48½)
Saints
New Orleans’ biggest injury question mark likely won’t be answered right up until the team submits its inactive sheet to the league before Monday night’s game. WR Michael Thomas had his ankle rolled up on late last week by halfback Latavius Murray. Listed as doubtful, he missed the first two practices this week.
Raiders
The Raiders’ second practice of the week did little to boost optimism among the injured. Notably, starting wideout Henry Ruggs did not practice. Additionally, all three other players who left last week’s game due to injury have also not returned to practice yet. Everyone is designated as questionable, but will not be finalized until after Saturday’s practice.
Starting MLB Nick Kwiatkoski is struggling with a pectoral muscle.
Starting right tackle Trent Brown (calf) was gone in the first series of the opener, replaced by Sam Young (who was injured by the second quarter) with backup guard Denzelle Good. Fortunately for them, starting LG Richie Incognito did return to practice Friday after missing the day before. With him in the lineup, they’ll actually have eight linesmen to dress.
Leans
At first, taking the points with the Raiders seemed like a good idea. (Maybe it was, since it’s slipped down to six.) But it’s hard to back a team still scrambling to know what its O-line will look like on game day. As with the total, which was an early lean under but has since crashed a full field goal (!) down to 48½. Pay heed to Saturday’s practice reports and updates out of Vegas before committing completely to the Week 2 injury report.
