The 2025 NFL Week 5 Injury Report contains several key players who could significantly impact each team and the betting market. Our guy Juan Carlos Blanco analyzes the biggest names dealing with NFL Week 5 injuries.
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NFL Week 5 Injury Report: Key Players
It’s quite the Week 5 on the injury front, especially at wide receiver, where two of the biggest stars at the position are now lost for the season.
In this article each week, we’ll highlight some noteworthy players who have opened the practice week with an injury designation of some sort and offer some quick hits on the expected impact of their absences, if those come to fruition.
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson, Ravens, DOUBTFUL (hamstring):
Jackson is the biggest name by far on this week’s injury report in terms of shorter-term potential absences.
The star signal-caller is all but certain to be ruled out officially at some point Friday afternoon for Sunday’s game against the Texans, and needless to say, the ripple effect on his offense will be significant.
Cooper Rush would take the reins under center in Jackson’s absence, and the veteran already offered a glimpse of what he brings to the table in this offense during his second-half stint at the helm in Week 4.
Rush completed nine of 13 passes for 52 yards with no TDs or interceptions while running a conservative game plan in a game that got increasingly out of hand for Baltimore.
Rush will have a full array of skill-position weapons to work with and has had the benefit of a full week’s worth of first-team practice reps, which theoretically helps. However, he’ll face an aggressive Texans defense that will have a load off its collective mind with Jackson unavailable, and which has 11 sacks to go along with a pair of interceptions in its first four games.
Without Jackson’s elite rushing ability to worry about, Houston could also be better equipped to defend against Derrick Henry, who’s likely to be relied on a fair amount to take pressure off Rush.
Houston checks in allowing a relatively stingy 4.15 RB yards per carry, and will likely devote an extra man regularly in the box to Henry due to his role as the primary rushing threat.
It is worth noting Rush does have a solid track record as a starter from his time with the Cowboys, most recently completing 61.3 percent of his passes for 1,677 yards with an 11:4 TD:INT over eight full games, leading Dallas’ offense to finish off last season while Dak Prescott was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Other notable short-term QB injuries to monitor: J.J. McCarthy, Vikings, OUT (ankle)
Running Back
Bucky Irving, Buccaneers, OUT (foot/shoulder):
Irving sat out each practice this week and was ruled out for Sunday’s Week 5 clash against the Seahawks by midday Friday.
The absence will be the first of Irving’s career, and it will tee up one-time starter Rachaad White and speedy No. 3 back Sean Tucker to handle Tampa Bay’s ground attack versus Seattle.
Irving has been averaging 22.5 touches per game through the first four contests of the season, so he leaves behind plenty of opportunity.
White is less explosive than his teammate but offers the same versatile skill set, while Tucker is a true home-run threat who memorably compiled 192 total yards and both a rushing and receiving TD in a blowout win over the Saints in Week 6 last season, which White was sidelined for.
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers, OUT (calf):
Hubbard sat out every practice this week due to his troublesome calf injury, which also had him listed as questionable going into the Week 4 matchup against the Patriots before he was able to suit up and log 35 snaps in that contest.
Hubbard’s absence against a Dolphins defense allowing 4.7 yards per carry to RBs will afford Rico Dowdle a start. Dowdle scored his first TD as a Panther two games ago and then posted a season-high 32 rushing yards on nine carries in Week 4.
Additionally, he does have an encouraging track record as a starter, having accrued 1,079 rushing yards and two touchdowns across 16 regular-season games for the Cowboys in 2024.
Dowdle and rookie Trevor Etienne are also capable of absorbing Hubbard’s pass-catching work – the former posted a 39-249-3 receiving line for Dallas last season, while Etienne had 53 receptions for 366 yards and a touchdown over the 21 games encompassing his last two college campaigns.
Other notable RB injuries to monitor: Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants, QUESTIONABLE (shoulder); Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars, QUESTIONABLE (shoulder); Braelon Allen, NYJ (IR-knee)
Wide Receivers
Malik Nabers, Giants, OUT (IR-knee):
Nabers’ season-ending ACL injury ironically transpired in rookie Jaxson Dart’s first career start, short-circuiting the opportunity to see what the exciting young duo could accomplish the rest of the season.
Nabers’ absence for the remainder of the season shifts plenty of work elsewhere in New York’s receiving corps, with Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton now set to operate as Dart’s top two WR options and Jalin Hyatt settling into the No. 3 role.
It’s naturally not possible to fully replace Nabers’ otherworldly ability, but Slayton has the speed to take on many of his sidelined teammates’ downfield routes, as does Hyatt.
Some additional pass-catching work should also theoretically shift to versatile rookie RB Cam Skattebo (112 career college catches), while tight end Theo Johnson, who’s recorded 38 receptions over his first 16 career NFL games in a complementary role, could also see more passes come his way.
Tyreek Hill, Dolphins, OUT (IR-knee):
There’s no real Hill-less sample to evaluate from his time in Miami, making the star receiver’s absence the rest of the way due to the gruesome injury he suffered on MNF in Week 4 uncharted territory for the Dolphins’ offense.
Naturally, all eyes will first turn to Jaylen Waddle and RB De’Von Achane, the latter essentially a wide receiver in many respects in addition to serving as the No. 1 running back.
Waddle played his rookie 2021 campaign without Hill since he was still on the Chiefs, but that was in a completely different offensive system. Waddle turned in a stellar 104-1,015-6 line that season across 16 games, but this year, he’s averaged a modest 5.8 targets per game even when factoring in Hill’s second-half absence Monday night.
Meanwhile, Achane actually has two more targets than Waddle’s 25, and given head coach Mike McDaniel’s creativity, the third-year back could certainly be used out wide even more frequently Sunday against Carolina and moving forward.
Mike Evans, Buccaneers, OUT (hamstring):
Evans will remain sidelined for a second consecutive game due to his Week 3 hamstring injury. In his first full-game absence of 2025 during Week 4 against the Eagles, the debuting Chris Godwin saw a co-team-high 10 targets, albeit while only reeling in three of them for 26 yards.
Nevertheless, the immediate attention Godwin saw from Baker Mayfield certainly bodes well for him after another week of practice and having his first game in nearly a year under his belt.
Rookie No. 2 receiver Emeka Egbuka shared that team lead in targets with Godwin but was similarly inefficient with just four catches, yet he turned those into 101 yards and a touchdown.
The matchup against the Seahawks defense in Week 5 is no picnic – Seattle has allowed just a 41-412-2 line on 72 targets to WRs – but with Bucky Irving also sidelined, Mayfield will undoubtedly be peppering his two top healthy wideouts with targets.
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys, OUT (ankle):
Lamb remains out for a second consecutive game due to his Week 3 ankle injury. In the wild Week 4 overtime tie with the Packers on Sunday night, George Pickens took advantage of his No. 1 receiver status to turn a team-high 11 targets into eight receptions, 134 yards and two touchdowns.
No. 2 receiver Jalen Tolbert was more involved than usual as well, with a 4-61-0 tally on six looks, while TE Jake Ferguson caught all seven of his targets for 40 yards and a touchdown.
The trio should once again serve as Dak Prescott’s top options for Sunday’s Week 5 matchup against the Jets, although Dallas could certainly try to adopt a more run-heavy approach, especially considering New York has also surrendered 138.5 rushing yards per home game to date this season.
Terry McLaurin, Commanders, OUT (quadriceps):
McLaurin started doing some work off to the side this past week in practice, but he didn’t make the trip to Los Angeles for Sunday’s Week 5 battle against the Chargers. The veteran receiver will therefore sit out a second consecutive game and will be absent from Jayden Daniels’ return from a two-game absence due to a knee sprain.
With McLaurin unavailable versus Atlanta in Week 4, Deebo Samuel, who appears headed for a questionable tag due to a heel injury, led the way for Washington with six targets, six receptions, and 72 yards, while also recording a TD catch.
Zach Ertz (four targets) and receivers Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane (three targets apiece) were next in the pecking order, but that came with Marcus Mariota under center.
Other notable short-term WR injuries to monitor: Michael Pittman, Colts, QUESTIONABLE (hamstring); Calvin Ridley, Titans, QUESTIONABLE (knee); Deebo Samuel, Commanders, QUESTIONABLE (heel); Marvin Mims, Broncos, QUESTIONABLE (hip); KaVontae Turpin, Cowboys, QUESTIONABLE (foot); Alec Pierce, Colts, OUT (concussion); Darius Slayton, Giants, QUESTIONABLE (calf); Cedric Tillman, Browns, OUT (IR-hamstring); Noah Brown, Commanders, OUT (groin); Dyami Brown, Jaguars, QUESTIONABLE (shoulder)
Tight End
Brock Bowers, Raiders, QUESTIONABLE (knee):
Bowers sustained a knee injury in Week 1 that has plagued him since, and it appears to be seriously threatening his Week 5 availability against the Colts if his practice participation is any indication. The second-year tight end opened the week with a limited Wednesday practice before sitting out both Thursday’s and Friday’s sessions.
Bowers’ status may ultimately come down to pregame warmups, and if he’s sidelined, Las Vegas could be down to No. 3 tight end Ian Thomas, considering No. 2 option Michael Mayer is questionable due to a concussion.
Bowers has 27 targets through four games, and any absence on his part would boost the profile of No. 1 wideout Jakobi Meyers even further while also potentially adding more pass-catching opportunities for RB Ashton Jeanty and No. 2 receiver Tre Tucker.
Dallas Goedert, Eagles, QUESTIONABLE (knee):
Goedert already missed Week 2 due to a knee issue, and after logging 43 snaps and catching a pair of short TDs in the Week 4 win over Tampa Bay, he was absent from practice Wednesday before making an appearance as a limited participant Thursday.
The Eagles may simply be nursing the veteran along, but with one absence already on the books this season, the possibility of Goedert sitting out Sunday against the Broncos remains.
If he were to be sidelined, Grant Calcaterra would be the next man up if he can overcome the illness that caused his absence from practice Thursday. Calcaterra had minimal impact in Goedert’s Week 2 absence versus the Chiefs, catching one pass for six yards on two targets across 53 snaps.
Therefore, if Goedert sits out, it would be more likely to represent a small boost to receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith – albeit in a very difficult matchup – as well as the possibility of more pass-catching work for Saquon Barkley.
Juwan Johnson, Saints, QUESTIONABLE (ankle):
Johnson was able to progress to limited practices Thursday and Friday after opening Week 5 prep with a missed Wednesday session, but he officially carries a questionable tag into Sunday’s game against the Giants.
The veteran tight end has been a true security blanket for Spencer Rattler, averaging 8.0 targets per contest thus far and parlaying those into a 22-204-1 receiving line.
Given those numbers, there would be some extra work to go around for New Orleans’ other pass catchers should Johnson sit out. In terms of his direct replacement, journeyman Jack Stoll, who has three receptions and one TD so far this season, would step into the No. 1 tight-end role against New York.
However, Chris Olave and running backs Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller would potentially be the bigger beneficiaries in terms of handling the shorter-area targets that Johnson, who has an aDOT of 5.6 yards, would typically see.
Other notable short-term TE injuries to monitor: Will Dissly, Chargers, QUESTIONABLE (knee); Noah Fant, Bengals, QUESTIONABLE (concussion); Mason Taylor, Jets, QUESTIONABLE (ankle); Darren Waller, Dolphins, QUESTIONABLE (hip); Michael Mayer, Raiders, QUESTIONABLE (concussion); Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers, OUT (ankle)
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