Countdown To Kickoff: NFL Week 7 Injuries, Weather, Pros Vs Joes

New York Giants running back #26 Saquon Barkley looks on from the sideline in a 2021 home game.
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Week 6 is in the books, but its impact lingers on with NFL Week 7 betting odds, most notably on the injury front. An AFC clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans has several players carrying the questionable tag.

This week and every week, Props.com’s Countdown to Kickoff serves as a one-stop-shop for details on injuries, weather conditions, and Pros vs Joes action. Check back regularly for injury updates, significant weather impacts, and notable contrasts between NFL Week 7 sharp bets and public money.

NFL Week 7 Injuries

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Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs had several questionables as of Wednesday, including wideout Tyreek Hill (quad) and tight end Travis Kelce (neck). By Friday, Kelce was a go, while Hill remained questionable. The SuperBook moved Kansas City from -4 to -5.5 by Tuesday, but dialed back to -4.5 by midday Thursday for this road clash with the Titans.

Tennessee Titans: Wideout Chester Rogers (groin) is out against the Chiefs, and fellow wideout Julio Jones (hamstring) is questionable but appears likely to play. Further, wideout A.J. Brown (illness) is apparently recovered and had no designation Friday, but left tackle Taylor Lewan (concussion) is questionable. Tennessee opened +4 at The SuperBook, reached +5.5 by Tuesday, and dipped back to +4.5 Thursday.

San Francisco 49ers: QB Jimmy Garoppolo (calf) had no injury designation Friday and will return to the starting lineup Sunday night against the Colts. That’s a good thing, because rookie backup Trey Lance (knee) was ruled out. It appears Garoppolo’s return was baked into The SuperBook’s cake, as the line remained 49ers -4 Friday. The Niners opened -4.5 and dipped to -3.5 Monday before going to -4 Wednesday. The total got down to 43 Friday from a 44.5 opener and 45.5 high point.

Indianapolis Colts: Wideout T.Y. Hilton (quad) on Saturday was ruled out for the Sunday nighter in San Francisco. The Colts moved from +4.5 to +3.5 to +4 by Wednesday at The SuperBook.

New York Giants: Running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) is out again Sunday against the Panthers. And the Giants’ starting receiving corps is a mess. Wideout Kenny Golladay (hamstring) who along with Barkley sat out Week 6, is again out, as is wideout Kadarius Toney (ankle). Wideout Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and tight end Evan Engram are questionable. Yet through Friday night, the Giants have been stable as 3-point home underdogs (even-money) at The SuperBook. The total dipped from 44.5 to 42.5.

Baltimore Ravens: Running back Latavius Murray (ankle) and wideout Sammy Watkins (thigh) are out for Sunday’s home tilt vs. Cincinnati. That news came Friday, but The SuperBook remained at Ravens -6, where the line spent most of the week after opening -6.5.

Arizona Cardinals: Running back Chase Edmonds (shoulder) was questionable earlier in the week for Sunday’s contest against visiting Houston. But Edmonds had no injury designation Friday. The Cardinals stretched from -17 to -18.5 by Tuesday at The SuperBook, then backed up to -17.5 Thursday, where they remained Friday.

Washington Football Team: Washington seems to have key skill players — often the same names — on the injury report every week. This week is no different. On Friday, wideout Curtis Samuel (groin) was ruled out at Green Bay, while running back Antonio Gibson (shin) remained questionable. Right guard Brandon Scherff (knee) and right tackle Sam Cosmi (ankle) are both out. Yet Washington remained +8 at The SuperBook, after opening +9.5 and initially moving to +10.

Las Vegas Raiders: Wideouts Henry Ruggs III (knee) and Bryan Edwards (hamstring) are questionable Sunday against Philadelphia. Las Vegas has been pinned to -3 all week at The SuperBook.

Chicago Bears: Running back Damien Williams (reserve/COVID list) is out for the moment, but might get cleared Saturday for Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay. Wideout Allen Robinson (ankle) is questionable. On Friday afternoon, The SuperBook moved the Bears straight from +12.5 to +11.5, on a spread that opened +12.5 and peaked at +13.5 Monday.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs) and wideout Antonio Brown (ankle) are out Sunday against visiting Chicago. Tight end O.J. Howard (ankle) is questionable. The Bucs bounced from -12.5 to -13.5 to -12, then returned to the opener Tuesday afternoon and remained there Thursday at The SuperBook.

Detroit Lions: Running back D’Andre Swift (groin), perpetually on the injury list this season, is questionable Sunday on the road against the Rams. Tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is also questionable. The SuperBook opened Detroit +15.5 and spent much of the week at +15, then moved to +16 Thursday.

Miami Dolphins: Wideouts DeVante Parker (shoulder/hamstring) and Preston Williams (groin) are questionable against Atlanta. The Falcons-Dolphins game opened a pick ’em at The SuperBook and has been at Dolphins +2.5 almost all week.

New Orleans Saints: Wideout Deonte Harris (hamstring) will miss the Monday nighter at Seattle, as will versatile backup QB Taysom Hill (concussion). New Orleans moved from -3.5 to -5.5 early in the week at The SuperBook, but by Saturday afternoon had peeled back to -4.

Cleveland Browns: Cleveland doesn’t have its top quarterback to throw the ball or its top two running backs to chew up yards. And the Browns could be minus a star wideout. And there’s a cluster of injuries on the offensive line. But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln …

Baker Mayfield (dislocated left shoulder) is out Thursday night, as is running back Nick Chubb (calf). And fellow running back Kareem Hunt (calf) went on injured reserve this week. Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder) is questionable, as are left tackle Jedrick Wills (ankle), right tackle Jack Conklin (knee) and center JC Tretter (knee). Those injuries caused The SuperBook to drop the Browns from -6 to -2 and, as of 12:30 p.m. ET Thursday, -1 at home against the Broncos. The total dipped from 43.5 to 41 to the current number of 40.

Denver Broncos: QB Teddy Bridgewater (foot/quad) is questionable Thursday at Cleveland. Denver opened as a 6-point ‘dog at The SuperBook and shortened to +2 Wednesday, then +1 on Thursday, mostly due to all the bad news on Cleveland’s injury front (see above).

NFL Week 7 Weather

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Indianapolis Colts at San Francisco 49ers: The City by the Bay could have the worst of the weather this week. On Saturday night, the projection was for a 100% chance of rain — potentially heavy — and winds of 15-20 mph for the Sunday night tilt. And that follows what’s expected to be an even windier and rainier day. The total bounced around a bit early in the week, from 44 to 45.5, then made its way down to 42.5 by Saturday night. Worth noting: The Over is 4-1-1 this season on Sunday Night Football.

Kansas City Chiefs at Tennessee Titans: Arguably the game of the week could see breezes of 10-20 mph Sunday in Nashville. But the temperature will be a perfect 80 degrees. The SuperBook’s total is at 57.5 Saturday night, after opening 56.

Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins: The Saturday night forecast shows a 1-in-3 chance of rain Sunday in Miami. The total at The SuperBook moved from 48 to 47 to 47.5, where it remained Friday night.

Washington Football Team at Green Bay Packers: The Sunday temperature will be in the low-to-mid 50s, no problem there. But there might also be winds of 10-20 mph in Green Bay. On Saturday night, the total at The SuperBook was down to 47.5, from a 49 opener.

Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It’ll be in the high 80s in Tampa Bay on Sunday, but scattered thunderstorms are also in the forecast, with a 60% chance of precipitation. The total opened at 49 at The SuperBook and has been at 47 since Monday morning, well before rain was in the forecast.

New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks: You’ll be shocked — shocked we say — to hear that there’s an 80% chance of rain Monday night in Seattle. The forecast also calls for winds of 10-20 mph. The total opened at 44, peaked at 44.5, and dropped to 43 by Wednesday morning at The SuperBook. But don’t be too quick to hammer the Under in this one, as the Over this season is a robust 5-1 on Monday Night Football.

Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns: For the second straight week, it’s expected to be windy in Cleveland, where it also might rain Thursday night. The forecast calls for a 70% chance of rain and winds of 15-25 mph. As of midday Thursday, the total at The SuperBook is down to 4o — the lowest on the Week 7 board — from a 43.5 opener and 44 high. But as noted above, Cleveland’s mounting injury issues were the key contributor to that move.

NFL Week 7 Pros Vs Joes

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens: It’s the total, rather than the spread, pitting sharp bets against square action in this contest. TwinSpires Sportsbook opened the total at 47.5 and was down to 46 Thursday night. The Over is taking 79 percent of tickets, but 61 percent of money is on the Under.

“Sharp money on Under 47.5. The public is on the Over,” TwinSpires trading analyst Zachary Lucas said.

Washington Football Team at Green Bay Packers: WynnBet opened the Packers -9.5 “anticipating sharp money on the Football Team,” junior trader Patrick Wall said. And they got it, this line first dropped to -8.5 and then dipped all the way to -7.5. Despite those stark line moves, the public is pounding the Packers, to the tune of 89 percent of bets/82 percent of cash Green Bay minus the points.