NFL Week 15 Injury Report: Key Players In and Out for Crucial Matchups

As the 2025 NFL season enters its crucial Week 15, injury reports have become a focal point for teams fighting for playoff positioning and division titles. With several key players dealing with significant health concerns, teams must adjust their strategies and rely on depth charts to maintain competitive momentum. This week's injury landscape features quarterback absences, concussion protocols affecting star receivers, and lingering issues for premier running backs, creating uncertainty across multiple matchups that could impact postseason trajectories.

Quarterback Carousel: Multiple Starters Sidelined

The most significant injury developments for Week 15 involve the quarterback position, with three teams forced to start backup signal-callers. According to the Week 15 NFL injury report, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will miss his seventh game of an injury-plagued season after re-aggravating a left elbow injury. Despite returning from a four-game absence last week, Daniels suffered a setback that will keep him sidelined against the Giants. Veteran Marcus Mariota will make his seventh start of the season for the 3-10 Commanders, who appear to be prioritizing caution with their franchise quarterback.

The New York Jets will also be without starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who is dealing with a groin injury that kept him from practicing all week. Taylor, who has led the Jets to a 1-3 record in his four starts this season, will be replaced by undrafted rookie Brady Cook making his first NFL start against the Jaguars. This represents a significant challenge for a Jets team trying to stay competitive in the AFC playoff picture.

In Las Vegas, Raiders quarterback Geno Smith will miss his first game of the season due to shoulder and back injuries. Smith has started all 13 games for the 2-11 Raiders this season, throwing for 2,648 yards with 16 touchdowns and a league-high 14 interceptions. Backup Kenny Pickett will start in Smith's place against the Philadelphia Eagles, adding another layer of uncertainty to a Raiders season that has struggled to find consistency.

Wide Receiver Concerns: Concussion Protocols and Foot Injuries

The wide receiver position features significant injury developments, particularly regarding concussion protocols. Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins will miss his second game in the past three weeks after sustaining a concussion in Week 14. This marks Higgins' second absence of the season, both coming against the Baltimore Ravens. Despite limited practice participation on Wednesday and Thursday, Higgins was ruled out for Sunday's crucial divisional matchup. In 12 games this season, Higgins has compiled 46 catches for 667 yards and nine touchdowns, making his absence particularly impactful for the Bengals' offensive scheme.

In more positive news for Dallas Cowboys fans, star receiver CeeDee Lamb will be active for Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Lamb sustained a concussion that forced him out of Week 14's game against the Lions, but ten days of recovery have allowed him to clear protocol. The Cowboys desperately need their top pass-catcher as they fight for a playoff spot in the competitive NFC. Through 10 games, Lamb has recorded 57 catches for 865 receiving yards and three touchdowns, serving as the focal point of Dallas' passing attack.

Chicago Bears rookie receiver Rome Odunze carries a questionable tag into Week 15 as he deals with a stress fracture in his foot. The injury kept Odunze out of last week's game for the first time this season, interrupting what had been a promising start to his NFL career. After a week of rest, Odunze could return to help Chicago in its fight for the NFC North division title, which they lost to the Green Bay Packers last week. Since sustaining the injury, Odunze's production has dipped significantly, with just 13 catches for 188 yards and one touchdown over the past five weeks compared to his earlier season performance.

Running Back and Tight End Injury Updates

The running back position features two notable injury situations with playoff implications. Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs carries a questionable tag into Week 16 (note: reference indicates Week 16, but context suggests Week 15) as he deals with a knee injury. Jacobs has played through various lower body injuries throughout the season and might attempt to do so again this week. Despite these persistent issues, Jacobs has been highly productive, totaling 817 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in just 12 games this season, making him a crucial component of Green Bay's offensive success.

San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey also enters Week 15 with a questionable designation due to a combination of illness and back issues. McCaffrey missed Wednesday's practice with an illness before returning on Thursday and being upgraded to a full participant on Friday. However, a Saturday addition to the injury report with a back issue has created uncertainty about his availability against the Tennessee Titans. McCaffrey's potential absence would significantly impact the 49ers' offensive capabilities as they pursue playoff positioning in the NFC.

At tight end, Cleveland Browns veteran David Njoku will miss Week 15's game against the Bears with a knee injury sustained while catching a touchdown pass in Week 14. Njoku has contributed 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns this season, serving as a reliable target in Cleveland's passing game. With Njoku sidelined, rookie Harold Fannin Jr. will assume all tight end snaps and look to build on what has been an impressive debut season for the young player.

Strategic Implications and Team Adjustments

These injury developments force significant strategic adjustments for affected teams. The Commanders, Jets, and Raiders must reconfigure their offensive game plans around backup quarterbacks, potentially simplifying play-calling and relying more heavily on running games and short passing routes. For Washington, starting Mariota represents a shift to a more experienced but less dynamic quarterback, while the Jets' decision to start rookie Brady Cook introduces substantial uncertainty against a Jacksonville defense that will likely test the first-time starter with complex blitz packages and coverage disguises.

Teams missing key receiving threats like the Bengals without Tee Higgins must redistribute targets to secondary options, potentially increasing opportunities for players like Ja'Marr Chase to face additional defensive attention. The Bears' potential absence of Rome Odunze would further strain a receiving corps already adjusting to quarterback changes, while the Cowboys' relief at having CeeDee Lamb available cannot be overstated as they face a Vikings secondary that has shown vulnerability at times this season.

For running back situations, the Packers and 49ers face difficult decisions about player health versus competitive necessity. Green Bay must weigh the risk of aggravating Jacobs' knee injury against their need to maintain offensive balance, while San Francisco must determine whether McCaffrey's back issue represents a short-term concern or requires more cautious management given his importance to their Super Bowl aspirations. These decisions will reveal much about each team's risk tolerance and roster management philosophy during the critical late-season stretch.

Conclusion: Navigating the Injury Landscape

Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season demonstrates how injury management becomes increasingly critical as teams approach the playoffs. The quarterback absences for Washington, New York, and Las Vegas highlight the importance of depth at football's most important position, while the concussion protocols affecting star receivers underscore the league's continued emphasis on player safety. The questionable statuses of premier running backs like Christian McCaffrey and Josh Jacobs illustrate the delicate balance teams must strike between short-term competitive needs and long-term player health.

As the season progresses toward its conclusion, these injury situations will significantly influence playoff races, division titles, and ultimately which teams advance to the postseason. Teams with superior depth and effective injury management protocols often find themselves better positioned for late-season success, while those struggling with health issues at key positions face additional challenges in their pursuit of championship aspirations. The ability to adapt to these weekly injury developments separates contenders from pretenders in the competitive landscape of the National Football League.