The NFL playoff race is heating up and these remaining four or five games will ultimately determine who has a chance to compete for the Super Bowl. Some teams are bouncing back at the right time, while others are hanging by a thread. Sifting through injury reports, injured reserve and more, here’s the most pressing need for each contender aside from the Packers and Lions, who played on “Thursday Night Football,” entering Week 14:
FCA
Bills: defensive tackle
Wide receivers Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman had been battling injuries in recent weeks but should be available this week. Linebacker Matt Milano is back. The team recovers at the right time. Rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter is on injured reserve and the Bills have been looking for street help at that position all season.
Broncos: offensive guard
Denver is one of the healthiest and most attractive teams in the league right now. Quarterback Bo Nix is coming off the best stretch of games in his young career and the wide receivers are stepping up as well. The Broncos have 22 drops this season, fifth most in the league. Cornerback Riley Moss had been dealing with an injury, but perhaps that will be resolved during the bye week.
Chargers: linebacker
You can’t look at Los Angeles’ roster and judge their needs based solely on the names listed, because they are getting the most out of players new and old. Rookie linebacker Junior Colson is recovering from an injury that left him on the reserve. Daiyan Henley did not practice Wednesday and Denzel Perryman, who has been his backup in the middle, has been limited by a lingering groin injury.
Chiefs: wide receiver
Outside of the wide receiver position, Kansas City is pretty healthy. Hollywood Brown, Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice are on injured reserve. Kicker Harrison Butker was added to injured reserve last month.
Colts: Offensive Line
The Colts offensive line has been working through injuries for quite some time. This week’s Bye serves as an opportunity to be healthier. Four offensive linemen are on injured reserve, including guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly. Tanor Bortolini, Braden Smith and Bernhard Raimann have been limited of late.
Dolphins: Secondary
Offensive tackles Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm were out of practice with different injuries. Depth will be challenged if neither are able to take on the Jets.
Running back Jaelan Phillips is on injured reserve and Bradley Chubb has yet to make his 2024 debut. Rookie Chop Robinson has been explosive, but has had little impact in the big picture.
Ravens: Secondary
Baltimore is relatively healthy, but should only get stronger in the bye week. Cornerbacks TJ Tampa, Arthur Maulet and Trayvon Mullen remain on injured reserve. The Ravens have been susceptible to explosive plays in the passing game this season.
Steelers: Offensive line
Russell Wilson has breathed some life into the offense, but the offensive line has taken some hits as Troy Fautanu, James Daniels and Nate Herbig are dealing with injuries. Rookies Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick have made big strides. The Steelers’ pressure rate has improved (38.2%) but remains sixth-worst in the league, according to TruMedia.
Wide receiver isn’t a group that inspires much confidence outside of George Pickens.
Texans: offensive line
The interior offensive line has been leaking and that’s why they were linked to the position at the trade deadline. His 37.1% pressure allowed is the ninth-highest in the league, according to TruMedia. Offensive guard Kenyon Green has found his way to injured reserve.
NFC
49ers: running back
Christian McCaffrey is on injured reserve and the player who replaced him when he was injured, Jordan Mason, may not be far behind. The running game would be handed to rookie Isaac Guerendo and whoever they sign on the street in any given week.
The offensive and defensive lines are also battered in the Bay Area. San Francisco is already without defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Kevin Givens. Offensive guard Aaron Banks, running back Nick Bosa and offensive tackle Trent Williams missed practice Wednesday.
Buccaneers: Secondary
Tampa Bay is banged up right now. Safety Jordan Whitehead is on injured reserve. Tykee Smith was limited and Mike Edwards did not practice. Elsewhere, wide receiver Mike Evans missed practice and Chris Godwin finished the season.
Offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and running back Bucky Irving are some other notable players who haven’t practiced.
Cardinals: edge rusher
The Cardinals have the eighth-lowest applied team pressure rate (30.4%), according to TruMedia, but their dominant performance against the Bears is doing much of the work. Rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson has yet to make his season debut. Defensive tackles Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones are on injured reserve. Baron Browning was acquired from Denver, but time will tell what kind of impact he will have on the roster.
Commanders: runner
Austin Ekeler is on injured reserve and Brian Robinson Jr. has been limited. They got good production from Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Robinson last week.
Opposing quarterbacks have had a 100.9 rating against Washington this season, which is the fourth-highest in the league, according to TruMedia. They acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline, but he still hasn’t adjusted due to a hamstring injury; That is expected to change after the Bye.
Cowboys: Quarterback
Once Dak Prescott was added to injured reserve, a quarterback competition ensued between Cooper Rush and Trey Lance. Rush was named the starter and that has led to mediocre performances. There is little to be done regarding the quarterback position at this point in the season and the Cowboys have lost a lot of rhythm in the NFC.
Edge rushers Demarcus Lawrence and Sam Williams remain on injured reserve, but Micah Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland have returned.
Eagles: Interior offensive line
The loss of center Jason Kelce to retirement has taken its toll on Philadelphia’s offensive line. It has the highest pressure rating allowed (41.2%), according to TruMedia. Landon Dickerson and Mekhi Becton start at guard with Cam Jurgens between them.
Tight end Dallas Goedert and safeties Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown missed practice Wednesday.
Falcons: edge rusher
Atlanta has the second-lowest pressure rate this season (27.7%), according to TruMedia. Matt Judon was brought in to be the solution, but it’s actually Arnold Ebiketie who leads the team in pass rush win rate (10.3%) ranking 70th in the league among players with at least 200 pass rush snaps . The 3.6% sack rate is by far the worst in the league; almost half of the league average (7.1%).
Rams: offensive tackle
Los Angeles is as healthy as it has been this season. Offensive tackle Alaric Jackson appeared on the injury report last week and was absent again Wednesday. Right tackle Rob Havenstein participated fully, but was slowed by an ankle injury.
Seahawks: offensive line
The injured wide receivers are regaining their speed, but the offensive line continues to hinder the entire unit. Abe Lucas missed practice Wednesday as he continues to deal with a knee injury. Olu Oluwatimi entered the mix at center when Connor Williams abruptly retired. Offensive guard has continued to be a sore point.
Vikings: linebacker
Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was added to injured reserve this week. Defensive tackle also has limitations. The Vikings’ run defense is more vulnerable than ever.
Minnesota allows pressure on 37.9% of dropbacks, which is the eighth-worst rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. Trade acquisition Cam Robinson replaced the injured Christian Darrisaw.
