We're into Week 15 of the 2021 NFL season, and injuries are once again a factor in several key games this coming weekend. The story of this week is COVID-19 (check out our tracker of every player on the list), with the emergence of a new variant and several team-wide outbreaks knocking multiple players out of the lineup. Those players are largely not listed on injury reports, but we'll do our best to make note of important players who could be out of action due to the virus.
As teams turn in their final injury reports of the week, let this be your hub for knowing who is in, who is out, and whose status may still be up in the air leading up to kickoff. Below, you'll find every injury report and analysis of what it all means for Week 15.
Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns (-3)
- Raiders: TE Darren Waller (knee/back), LB Denzel Perryman (ankle), CB Trayvon Mullen (toe) OUT; DE Carl Nassib (knee) QUESTIONABLE
- Browns: RB Kareem Hunt (ankle), WR Anthony Schwartz (concussion), CB Greg Newsome II (concussion) OUT; TE Harrison Bryant (ankle), DT Malik Jackson (knee) QUESTIONABLE
Waller will miss his third consecutive game, and be replaced in the lineup once again by Foster Moreau. Perryman's absence is valuable against a team whose offense is based around the run game, but with so many Browns on the reserve/COVID-19 list, it's tough to know who will even suit up for them.
Hunt is set to miss his sixth game of the season after suffering another injury last week against the Ravens. Cleveland also has 20-plus players on the COVID-19 list at the moment, including both starting quarterback Baker Mayfield and backup Case Keenum. This situation is a mess, and it's unknown at the moment how many players the Browns will be able to suit up for the game.
New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts (-2.5)
- Patriots: RB Damien Harris (hamstring), LB Ronnie Perkins (ankle) OUT; OL Yodny Cajuste (illness), OL David Andrews (shoulder), DT Christian Barmore (knee), LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (ribs), RB Brandon Bolden (knee), OL Trent Brown (calf/wrsit), K Nick Folk (knee), DB Adrian Phillips (knee) QUESTIONABLE
- Colts: DT Antwaun Woods (calf) OUT; OL Ryan Kelly (knee/illness/personal) OUT
The Pats are listing a whole bunch of guys as questionable, but most seem likely to play. The potential absence of Barmore would be especially damaging in a matchup against Indianapolis' power run game. With Harris out, Rhamondre Stevenson will presumably step into a larger role as the lead back.
Woods has played fairly well in a reserve role on the defensive line when active, but he's a back-end role player for the Colts defense. Kelly is an important piece of the offensive line, helping Carson Wentz with protections and serving as a fulcrum for the run game. With Kelly out (he was initially questionable for the game), that could prove especially damaging against New England's defense.
Tennessee Titans (PK) at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Titans: FB Tory Carter (ankle), OG Roger Saffold III (shoulder), DT Teair Tart (ankle), DL Larrell Murchison (knee), LB David Long Jr. (hamstring), CB Jackrabbit Jenkins (ankle) OUT; OL Aaron Brewer (toe) QUESTIONABLE
- Steelers: LB Buddy Johnson (foot) OUT; TE Kevin Rader (hip), DE Isaiah Buggs (ankle), CB Joe Haden (foot) QUESTIONABLE
Good news on the injury front in Pittsburgh: Star pass-rusher T.J. Watt (groin) and linebacker Alex Highsmith (quadriceps) were both full participants and are expected to suit up. Haden also has a chance to reinforce the secondary after missing the Steelers' last four games.
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-5)
- Texans: QB Deshaun Watson (not injury related), DB Justin Reid (illness, concussion) OUT; RB Rex Burkhead (hip, quad), TE Brevin Jordan (hand), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (hamstring, wrist) QUESTIONABLE
- Jaguars: RB Carlos Hyde (concussion) OUT
These AFC South rivals are relatively healthy, with everyone but Hyde taking full practice reps in Jacksonville for the Jags' first game since dismissing Urban Meyer. Houston's run game has struggled mightily regardless of who's led the backfield, but if Burkhead can't go, David Johnson and Royce Freeman are expected to carry the load.
Dallas Cowboys (-10.5) at New York Giants
- Cowboys: OT Tyron Smith (ankle) OUT; RB Tony Pollard (foot) QUESTIONABLE
- Giants: QB Daniel Jones (neck) OUT; OL Ben Bredeson (ankle) DOUBTFUL; WR Sterling Shepard (calf), DL Leonard Williams (triceps), DL Austin Johnson (foot) QUESTIONABLE
Dak Prescott won't have his left tackle on the field while he attempts to get the Cowboys' offense back on track, with Smith sitting down yet again due to ankle issues. Pollard would also represent a decent loss for Dallas if he can't suit up, even though starting back Ezekiel Elliott was a full participant at practice all week. For the Giants, Jones will miss a third straight game, giving way to Mike Glennon under center.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-9.5)
- Jets: OT George Fant (knee) DOUBTFUL; OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (ankle), OL Dan Feeney (back), DL Sheldon Rankins (knee) QUESTIONABLE
- Dolphins: TE Adam Shaheen (knee), OL Austin Jackson (illness), S Clayton Fejedelem (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
The Jets are banged up up front, which doesn't bode well for rookie QB Zach Wilson against Brian Flores' Dolphins defense. Joe Flacco and Mike White are in tow as New York's emergency options under center.
Washington Football Team at Philadelphia Eagles (-7)
- Eagles: TBA
- Football Team: TBA
Injury reports to come.
Arizona Cardinals (-12.5) at Detroit Lions
- Cardinals: WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee), CB Robert Alford (pectoral) OUT; RB James Conner (ankle), TE Zach Ertz (hamstring), OL Justin Pugh (ankle), DT Corey Peters (knee), DT Zach Kerr (ribs), DT Leki Fotu (shoulder), DE Jordan Phillips (thumb) QUESTIONABLE
- Lions: RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder), OLB Julian Okwara (ankle) OUT; WR Josh Reynolds (thigh), OG Jonah Jackson (back), OT Will Holden (not injury related), DE Michael Brockers (knee), LB Alex Anzalone (ankle), LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (shoulder) QUESTIONABLE
Each side will be missing a key playmaker in this one, with Hopkins sidelined for Arizona and Swift out for the Lions. A.J. Green and rookie Rondale Moore figure to see an uptick in action in place of Hopkins for the Cardinals, while Chase Edmonds is expected back from injured reserve with or without Conner in the lineup.
Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills (-10.5)
- Panthers: CB A.J. Bouye (foot) OUT; WR D.J. Moore (hamstring), OL Michael Jordan (hamstring), OL John Miller (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
- Bills: WR Emmanuel Sanders (knee) OUT; DT Star Lotulelei (toe), RB Taiwan Jones (knee) QUESTIONABLE
The Panthers have solid depth at cornerback and thus may be able to overcome the absence of Bouye in this game. A potential Moore absence would rob them of their best remaining playmaker with Christian McCaffrey done for the year, and the offensive line issues could be exacerbated if either of the guards has to sit out.
Buffalo will presumably use second-year wideout Gabe Davis in Sanders' role as the third wide receiver, just as it did after Sanders left last Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. It's notable that left tackle Dion Dawkins was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, which will downgrade Josh Allen's pass protection in a week where he was limited on Wednesday and Thursday due to a foot injury. Allen, though, practiced in full on Friday and will play.
Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers (-9.5)
- Falcons: S Erik Harris (chest) OUT; LB Dante Fowler Jr. (calf) QUESTIONABLE
- 49ers: RB Elijah Mitchell (concussion, knee), DL Maurice Hurst (calf), LB Dre Greenlaw (groin) OUT; LB Azeez Al-Shaair (elbow) DOUBTFUL; DL D.J. Jones (knee), CB Ambry Thomas (concussion), S Jaquiski Tartt (glute) QUESTIONABLE
The 49ers will turn to Jeff Wilson Jr. at running back again, with Mitchell out. They've also got a handful of injuries on defense, though the Falcons haven't exactly proven lethal this year, either.
Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos (-3)
- Bengals: OT Riley Reiff (ankle), LB Logan Wilson (shoulder), CB Chidobe Awuzie (foot) OUT; C Trey Hill (illness), OT Isaiah Prince (illness), LB Markus Bailey (neck), CB Vernon Hargreaves III (illness) QUESTIONABLE
- Broncos: TBA
Reiff is expected to be out for the season, leaving Akeem Adeniji to protect Joe Burrow's blind side down the stretch. Should Awuzie and Bailey fail to suit up, Cincy will be down three starters on defense. Some good news, though: Burrow, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson were all full participants in practice by the end of the week.
Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams (-4)
- Seahawks: TBA
- Rams: TBA
Injury reports to come.
Green Bay Packers (-6.5) at Baltimore Ravens
- Packers: OT David Bakhtiari (knee), OG/OT Billy Turner (knee), TE Dominique Dafney (ankle) OUT; WR Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) DOUBTFUL; WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back), WR Malik Taylor (abdomen) QUESTIONABLE
- Ravens: OG Ben Powers (foot) OUT; DT Calais Campbell (thigh) DOUBTFUL; QB Lamar Jackson (ankle), FB Patrick Ricard (back, knee), TE Nick Boyle (knee), OT Alejandro Villanueva (knee), OG Tyre Phillips (illness), OL Patrick Mekari (hand), CB Chris Westry (knee) QUESTIONABLE
Another week, another game without Bakhtiari for the Packers, who are still flying high on the path to the NFC's No. 1 seed. Aaron Rodgers could have his receiver depth tested should both Valdes-Scantling and St. Brown sit out. Baltimore is even more banged up, with Tyler Huntley on track to start at QB in the event Jackson can't go.
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-11)
- Saints: TE Garrett Griffin (hamstring), OT Ryan Ramczyk (knee), OT Terron Armstead (knee) OUT; WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (hamstring), LB Kaden Elliss (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE
- Buccaneers: CB Jamel Dean (illness) OUT; CB Richard Sherman (Achilles) DOUBTFUL; RB Leonard Fournette (ankle), S Antoine Winfield Jr. (ankle), S Jordan Whitehead (calf) QUESTIONABLE
The Saints will be without both of their starting tackles in this key divisional showdown, leaving Taysom Hill without his top two blockers. More than that, New Orleans will also be without head coach Sean Payton, who tested positive for COVID-19 and will be replaced on the sidelines with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. As for the Bucs, Fournette would be a big loss for Tampa Bay's balanced offense if he can't suit up, while Todd Bowles' secondary remains banged up.
Minnesota Vikings (-5.5) at Chicago Bears
- Vikings: TBA
- Bears: TBA
Injury reports to come