Phoenix Suns
NFL Injuries To Have Impact On Playoff Hopefuls On December 15th
- The Miami Dolphins could be missing some key players in a Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans.
- Buccaneers vs Chargers Injuries starting to pile up for NFC South-leading Tampa Bay.
- Check out the NFL odds on BetUS Sportsbook before making your wagers.
There will be a chance for more teams to either clinch playoff spots or be eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15. All the bye weeks are over, so there is little chance to rest ailing players moving forward.
The players who will be forced to miss this week’s games could impact the sports betting odds. Also, keep an eye on players who could return to action.
The Kansas City Chiefs saw receiver Hollywood Brown return to the practice field, while cornerback Marshon Lattimore is set to debut for the Washington Commanders against his former team, the New Orleans Saints.
When looking at the NFL Week 15 odds, the biggest line moves have come with the Chiefs going from -6 to -4 as a road favorite in Cleveland and the visiting Baltimore Ravens going from being favored by 14½ points to being a 16½-point favorite versus the New York Giants.
Most of the focus will be on the games involving teams fighting for playoff spots. There are some key names on non-playoff teams to keep an eye on, including New York Jets running back Breece Hall, Tennessee running back Tony Pollard and Cleveland tight end David Njoku.
Jacksonville tight end Evan Engram will miss the rest of the season.
Jaguars HC Doug Pederson announced that TE Evan Engram will undergo season-ending surgery for a torn labrum. pic.twitter.com/cFDFwyIkpt
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 13, 2024
Cincinnati offensive lineman Orlando Brown, New York Giants cornerback Andru Phillips, Dallas cornerback Trevon Diggs and Buffalo tight end Dalton Kincaid all carry questionable tags.
Let’s look at three games that could see their NFL odds impacted the most by the absence of injured players.
3 Games In Week 15 Impacted By Injuries
1. Miami Dolphins vs Houston Texans
The Miami Dolphins are two games out of the final playoff spot in the AFC with four games left to play, so each game the rest of the way feels like a must-win situation for Miami.
Starting offensive tackle Terron Armstead has been dealing with a knee injury that has kept him out of practice this week. That is not good news with the Dolphins facing a Houston Texans squad that, per Dolphins vs Texans stats, is second in the NFL with 42 sacks this season.
Linebackers Bradley Chubb and Cameron Goode and offensive lineman Kendall Lamm are questionable for the game.
Houston will be without offensive lineman Juice Scruggs. Fellow offensive linemen Nick Broeker and Kenyon Green are questionable, as is linebacker Christian Harris.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Los Angeles Chargers
Tampa Bay moved into sole possession of first place in the NFC South last weekend but will be facing the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that owns wins over the other three teams in the division.
The big news is that quarterback Justin Herbert looks to be good to go for the Chargers, as he was able to practice on Friday. Tight end Will Dissly is out and leading receiver Ladd McConkey is questionable after he missed last week’s game with knee and shoulder injuries. McConkey has been a reliable option for NFL player props as a rookie.
Tampa Bay will be without star safety Antoine Winfield Jr., safety Mike Edwards and linebacker K.J. Britt. Rookie running back Bucky Irving has been limited in practice. He joins safety Christian Izien, cornerback Josh Hayes, linebacker J.J. Russell and edge rusher Joe Tyron-Shoyinka.
It is not great news for the Buccaneers to see six of the team’s top 17 tacklers land on the injury report.
The BetUS Sportsbook odds list the Chargers as a three-point favorite against visiting Tampa Bay.
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3. Washington Commanders vs New Orleans Saints
If the playoffs began today, the Washington Commanders would be part of the NFC field. However, there is little margin for error for the Commanders.
Washington heads into its Week 15 showdown against New Orleans without receiver Noah Brown. Receiver Jamison Crowder, defensive tackle Daron Payne and kicker Zane Gonzalez are all questionable. Crowder and Gonzalez were able to practice late in the week.
More than a few eyes will be on cornerback Marshon Lattimore. He has been cleared to play for the first time since being traded from New Orleans. It could make for some good theater for Lattimore to face his former team.
Quarterback Derek Carr is trending in the wrong direction for the Saints, as interim head coach Darren Rizzi has already said that Jake Haener will start for New Orleans. Receiver Bub Means has been ruled out, along with linebacker D’Marco Jackson.
Darren Rizzi announces Jake Haener will start on Sunday vs the Commanders #Saints pic.twitter.com/9EytB5R0DR
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 13, 2024
Injuries are a part of the game, but make sure you have knowledge of who will be playing and who won’t before you do your online sports betting on the Week 15 games.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets
Question Of The Day
Which team has the most players on the NFL injury report in Week 15?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a league-high 11 players on the NFL injury report.
