Week 17 runs from Thursday, December 25 through Monday, December 29, with 16 games and playoff seeding on the line across the entire league. The official injury reports have never carried more weight – multiple starting quarterbacks, elite pass rushers, and key skill players are either ruled out or carrying significant designations into the final week of the regular season. Teams that have already clinched are managing risk; teams still fighting for postseason spots cannot afford to lose another starter.
Below is a game-by-game breakdown of the most critical injury statuses for every Week 17 matchup, drawn from the official NFL.com injury report. Each entry covers the key players ruled out or in doubt, who steps in, and what the absence means for the game.
Cowboys vs. Commanders: Jayden Daniels OUT, Washington turns to emergency QB options
The Commanders head into their Christmas Day matchup at Northwest Stadium without their franchise quarterback. Jayden Daniels is officially OUT with a left elbow injury, and backup Marcus Mariota is also OUT with a right hand and quad issue, leaving Washington’s QB situation in serious trouble.
The Cowboys arrive with five players ruled out, including RB Phil Mafah (shoulder), OT Tyler Guyton (ankle), and LB DeMarvion Overshown (concussion). Dallas also has five players listed as QUESTIONABLE, including DT Quinnen Williams (neck) and CB Caelen Carson (hamstring).
Daniels has been one of the most dynamic first-year starters in the league in 2025, and his absence guts Washington’s offensive identity. The Commanders are down to practice-squad options under center, which dramatically shifts the game’s competitive balance heading into a matchup with real NFC implications.
Lions vs. Vikings: Detroit’s depth tested with 11 QUESTIONABLE; J.J. McCarthy OUT
Detroit arrives in Minneapolis for the Christmas afternoon game carrying one of the messiest injury reports in the league – two players officially OUT and 11 listed as QUESTIONABLE, including WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) and RB David Montgomery (knee). Whether those two play will go a long way toward determining how the Lions move the ball.
Minnesota is also in rough shape at quarterback. J.J. McCarthy is OUT with a right hand injury, and the Vikings are also missing RB Jordan Mason (ankle), TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), and TE Gavin Bartholomew (back). OL Brian O’Neill is QUESTIONABLE with a heel issue.
Montgomery ran for over 900 yards during the regular season before this point, making his questionable tag critical for Detroit’s ball-control approach. St. Brown’s status is equally significant – he’s been the Lions’ primary target in the passing game all year. Expect the full injury picture to clarify with final inactives 90 minutes before the 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
Broncos vs. Chiefs: Kansas City playing it close with five QUESTIONABLE
The Christmas night game at Arrowhead draws significant attention to how Kansas City manages its depth. The Chiefs have just one player officially OUT – TE Jake Briningstool (hamstring) – but five players are listed as QUESTIONABLE, including DE George Karlaftis (illness) and LB Nick Bolton (illness).
Denver is without WR Pat Bryant (concussion), TE Nate Adkins (knee), C Luke Wattenberg (shoulder), and both LBs Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) and Karene Reid (hamstring) – five players ruled out entirely.
The Chiefs’ questionable designations carry the familiar look of a team managing bodies ahead of a deep postseason run. Kansas City has made this calculation before, and betting markets have already responded to uncertainty around how many starters actually suit up.
Texans vs. Chargers: Houston depleted with five OUT, LA missing four
The Saturday matinee at SoFi Stadium features two AFC clubs with significant absences across the roster. Houston is without WR Justin Watson (calf), OT Trent Brown (ankle/knee), DE Darrell Taylor (ankle), LB Jamal Hill (calf/wrist), and CB Ajani Carter (hamstring), with OT Aireontae Ersery QUESTIONABLE with a thumb injury.
Los Angeles is missing WR Derius Davis (ankle), S R.J. Mickens (shoulder), OT Jamaree Salyer (hamstring), and CB Benjamin St-Juste (shoulder). G Mekhi Becton (knee), DL Teair Tart (groin), and RB Kimani Vidal (neck) are QUESTIONABLE.
Both offensive lines are compromised heading in, which could open up pass rush opportunities on both sides. The Texans’ quarterback situation has been under a microscope all season – readers tracking C.J. Stroud’s injury progression since his Week 12 concussion will understand how depth concerns have stacked up in Houston throughout the second half of the year.
Ravens vs. Packers: Lamar Jackson DOUBTFUL, Jordan Love OUT at Lambeau
The Saturday night game on Peacock is the most significant quarterback injury story of Week 17. Lamar Jackson is listed as DOUBTFUL with a back injury for Baltimore – a designation that rarely results in a player taking the field. Ravens DT Taven Bryan is OUT (knee), and LB Jay Higgins is QUESTIONABLE (knee).
Green Bay’s situation is arguably worse. Jordan Love is OUT with a left shoulder injury and concussion, meaning the Packers must rely on QB Malik Willis – who is himself QUESTIONABLE with a right shoulder and illness. Love has been Green Bay’s offensive engine all season, and his absence removes the entire foundation of the Packers’ scheme. Willis missing time would push Green Bay toward an emergency option.
Three other Packers starters are OUT: OG John Williams (back) and LB Kristian Welch (ankle), with eight additional players QUESTIONABLE, including RT Zach Tom (back/knee) and LG Aaron Banks (neck/illness). Not ideal for a team still fighting for playoff positioning. Jackson’s back injury is the single most significant status to monitor across all of Week 17.
Cardinals vs. Bengals: Marvin Harrison Jr. QUESTIONABLE, Arizona missing LT
Arizona heads to Paycor Stadium with four players OUT, most notably LT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) and S Budda Baker (concussion/thumb). WR Marvin Harrison Jr. is QUESTIONABLE with a heel injury – his status matters enormously for a Cardinals passing attack that has leaned on him as its primary weapon throughout 2025. Six total Cardinals are QUESTIONABLE, including CB Will Johnson (thumb/chest).
Cincinnati has four players OUT: WR Charlie Jones (ankle), TE Cam Grandy (chest), C Matt Lee (knee), and DE Joseph Ossai (ankle). TE Noah Fant (ankle) and DT B.J. Hill (ankle) are QUESTIONABLE.
Harrison Jr. was taken with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft, and his breakout first season has been one of the story lines in Arizona’s rebuild. A missed Week 17 start would be a significant blow to his rookie year production totals.
Steelers vs. Browns: T.J. Watt OUT, Dillon Gabriel QUESTIONABLE
Pittsburgh travels to Huntington Bank Field with five players ruled out, the most prominent being OLB T.J. Watt, who is OUT with a lung injury. Watt – a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate – has missed time after undergoing treatment for a partially punctured lung, and his absence removes Pittsburgh’s most disruptive pass rusher from an AFC wild-card-relevant matchup.
Cleveland’s own situation is unsettled at quarterback. Dillon Gabriel is QUESTIONABLE with a left shoulder injury – a significant concern for a Browns offense that has already cycled through multiple starters this season. TE Harold Fannin Jr. (groin), RG Wyatt Teller (calf), and four others are also QUESTIONABLE. TE David Njoku is OUT (knee/non-injury related).
Watt leads all NFL edge rushers in disruption metrics most weeks he plays. Losing him in a game Pittsburgh needs to win is a serious problem, and the Browns have every incentive to exploit that edge if Gabriel is healthy enough to operate effectively.
Jaguars vs. Colts: Anthony Richardson OUT, Indianapolis with eight players ruled out
Indianapolis carries the league’s most damaged injury report into Week 17 – eight players officially OUT, including QB Anthony Richardson (eye), WR Anthony Gould (foot), TE Andrew Ogletree (neck), DT DeForest Buckner (neck), and S Daniel Scott (knee). Richardson’s eye injury removes their starting quarterback, and without Buckner anchoring the interior, the Colts’ defense is significantly undermined on both sides of the ball.
Jacksonville is without five players: RB Bhayshul Tuten (finger), RG Patrick Mekari (back), DE Danny Striggow (ankle), LB Jalen McLeod (ankle), and CB Jourdan Lewis (foot).
Richardson, a former top-five pick, has had a turbulent 2025 season, and the eye injury is an unusual designation that creates real uncertainty about his immediate future. The Colts are in a difficult position regardless of who lines up under center at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Buccaneers vs. Dolphins: Tristan Wirfs OUT, Minkah Fitzpatrick ruled out for Miami
Tampa Bay loses starting LT Tristan Wirfs (toe) for the trip to Hard Rock Stadium – a significant blow to a protection unit tasked with keeping the pocket clean for a Buccaneers passing game that needs every advantage it can get. DT Calijah Kancey (pectoral) and OLB Anthony Nelson (knee) are also OUT for Tampa.
Miami has four players OUT: OL Andrew Meyer (tricep), DT Benito Jones (back), CB Isaiah Johnson (knee), and S Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf). WR D’Wayne Eskridge is DOUBTFUL with a toe injury. K Jason Sanders is QUESTIONABLE with a right hip issue, which is worth monitoring in a game that could come down to late-game field position.
Wirfs is one of the premier offensive linemen in the NFC and his absence puts pressure on Tampa’s backup options to handle a Dolphins defensive front.
Patriots vs. Jets: New England with seven OUT at MetLife
The Patriots arrive at MetLife Stadium with seven players officially ruled out – the joint-highest total in Week 17 alongside the Giants. New England is missing WR Kayshon Boutte (concussion), WR Mack Hollins (abdomen), LG Jared Wilson (concussion), DT Khyiris Tonga (foot), DT Milton Williams (ankle), LB Harold Landry (knee), and LB Robert Spillane (ankle). RB TreVeyon Henderson is QUESTIONABLE with a concussion.
New York has four players OUT: TE Mason Taylor (neck), DE Will McDonald IV (knee), DT Jay Tufele (foot), and LB Francisco Mauigoa (neck).
Both rosters are depleted, which gives this late-season division game a chaotic energy that’s hard to project. Henderson’s concussion status is the most fantasy-relevant variable heading into the weekend.
Saints vs. Titans: Alvin Kamara OUT, Chris Olave QUESTIONABLE
New Orleans is without RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) for the trip to Nissan Stadium – the Saints’ most critical offensive weapon ruled out entirely. WR Chris Olave is QUESTIONABLE with a back injury, and TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden (knee), RG Cesar Ruiz (ankle), and DT Bryan Bresee (knee) are also OUT.
Tennessee has four players OUT: WR Bryce Oliver (knee), OLB Ali Gaye (knee), OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo (fibula), and CB Marcus Harris (knee).
Kamara has been the engine of the New Orleans offense for years, and losing him alongside a questionable Olave leaves the Saints short on proven playmakers at exactly the wrong moment in the schedule.
Giants vs. Raiders: New York with seven OUT, Maxx Crosby ruled out for Las Vegas
The Giants travel to Allegiant Stadium missing seven players, including LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), OG Evan Neal (neck), C John Michael Schmitz (finger), DT DJ Davidson (neck/concussion), and S Tyler Nubin (neck). Three more are QUESTIONABLE. New York’s offensive line is operating well below full strength.
Las Vegas is missing OT Kolton Miller (ankle) and DE Maxx Crosby (knee) – Crosby’s absence removes the Raiders’ most productive pass rusher from an otherwise low-stakes matchup. RB Raheem Mostert is QUESTIONABLE with an ankle/knee issue.
Crosby has logged double-digit sacks in multiple seasons and is among the most impactful edge rushers in the AFC. His absence makes a difficult Year for Las Vegas even harder to close out with any momentum.
Eagles vs. Bills: Lane Johnson OUT, Buffalo missing two kickers and both TEs questionable
Philadelphia heads to Highmark Stadium without starting RT Lane Johnson (foot), alongside LB Nakobe Dean (hamstring). OT Cameron Williams is QUESTIONABLE with a shoulder injury, meaning the Eagles’ right side of the line is in flux against a Buffalo pass rush that generates consistent pressure.
The Bills have four players OUT – DT DaQuan Jones (calf), DT Jordan Phillips (ankle), S Jordan Poyer (hamstring), and K Matt Prater (right quad) – with both TE Dalton Kincaid and TE Dawson Knox QUESTIONABLE with knee injuries.
Prater’s absence puts Buffalo’s kicking situation under scrutiny in what could be a tight game with genuine AFC seeding implications. The Eagles’ protection concerns are real without Johnson, one of the best right tackles in the NFC.
Bears vs. 49ers: Kurtis Rourke OUT, George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall QUESTIONABLE
San Francisco is without QB Kurtis Rourke (knee) for the Sunday night matchup at Levi’s Stadium, and both TE George Kittle (ankle) and WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) are QUESTIONABLE. Brock Purdy’s own injury history this season has put the 49ers’ depth chart under consistent stress, and the Week 17 report reflects another round of unavailability across the skill positions.
Chicago has two players OUT – WR Rome Odunze (foot) and CB Nick McCloud (illness) – with eight QUESTIONABLE, including WR DJ Moore (illness), RT Darnell Wright (illness), and S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (knee).
Kittle and Pearsall’s statuses are the most fantasy-significant variables in this game. If both are limited or inactive, San Francisco’s passing game loses its two most reliable targets in a late-window showcase matchup.
Rams vs. Falcons: Davante Adams DOUBTFUL, Atlanta closes with injury questions of its own
The Monday night closer at Mercedes-Benz Stadium features Los Angeles without a fully healthy receiving corps. WR Davante Adams is DOUBTFUL with a hamstring injury – a designation that typically signals non-participation – and LT Alaric Jackson is QUESTIONABLE with a knee issue, adding protection concerns to the offensive equation. RG Kevin Dotson (ankle) and CB Josh Wallace (ankle) are both OUT.
Atlanta has four players OUT: DL Sam Roberts (knee/ankle), LB Josh Woods (personal), CB Mike Hughes (ankle), and CB Clark Phillips III (tricep/illness). WR Drake London is QUESTIONABLE with a knee injury. The Falcons have been navigating quarterback uncertainty since Michael Penix suffered a serious knee injury in Week 11, and London’s questionable status adds another layer of offensive instability to a team still finding its footing under Kirk Cousins.
Adams, a future Hall of Famer, has delivered in his first season with the Rams whenever healthy. His hamstring will be the final status worth tracking before Monday night’s kickoff.
With six starting quarterbacks either OUT or DOUBTFUL across Week 17 and multiple contenders carrying cluster injuries at premium positions, this is as volatile a final regular-season week as the NFL has seen in recent memory. Final inactives post 90 minutes before each kickoff – that is when the full picture comes into focus. Which team navigates its injury situation cleanly enough to clinch the seeding it needs heading into the postseason?
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