NFL Injury Roundup – Week 9

Week 8 is now in the rearview mirror, which means we have just passed the halfway point of the 2020 season. Crazy how time flies. Some teams around the league are separating themselves from the rest of their respective divisions, while others are fighting to stay relevant in the developing playoff picture.

Week 8 brought a number of notable injuries that could affect how things play out down the stretch of the campaign. How do these injuries affect the betting outlooks of their respective teams moving forward?

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers (Ankle)

Jimmy Garoppolo left Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks early in the fourth quarter after suffering an ankle injury. Garoppolo limped to the locker room after a miserable individual performance, and the team revealed afterward that he has suffered a high-ankle sprain.

The injury is expected to keep the Niners’ franchise quarterback on the shelf for a minimum of six weeks.

Nick Mullens came on in relief of Jimmy G. on Sunday and promptly out-produced the starter. Mullens finished with 248 passing yards with a pair of touchdown passes in less than a full quarter of play, and he’ll be under center on Thursday night when the Niners welcome the 5-2 Green Bay Packers to town.

On the season, Mullens has completed over 70 percent of his attempts for 852 yards with four touchdowns across four appearances. The 4-4 49ers are in the cellar of the NFC West, and with so many injuries it’s hard to imagine this team making a mad dash to the postseason at this point. The division is the deepest in football. Even with the expanded playoff format, San Francisco is a +1400 long shot to win the division.

George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers (Foot)

To make matters worse, the 49ers also lost George Kittle during Sunday’s game. Kittle suffered a fractured foot after catching a pass from Mullens in the fourth quarter, and he immediately left the game. An MRI confirmed the fracture on Monday, and Kittle is expected to be out of the lineup for at least eight weeks. That may well mean his 2020 season is over.

Kittle is one of the most productive pass-catching tight ends in football, so his absence is certainly notable. The San Francisco 49ers‘ offense is now without Kittle, Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel, and Tevin Coleman, which means Kyle Shanahan’s offense is essentially a skeleton crew at this point.

Ross Dwelley, who caught a touchdown pass after Kittle left Sunday’s game, will likely fill in as the 49ers’ No. 1 tight end. Kittle’s normal backup, Jordan Reed, is already on injured reserve.

Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions (Hip)

Kenny Golladay left Sunday’s loss to the Colts early with an apparent hip injury. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has said that Golladay is officially week-to-week with the hip issue and that he is expected to miss at least one game. The Detroit Lions will likely be without Golladay when they take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9.

#Lions WR Kenny Golladay is expected to be out this week and will be considered week-to-week going forward with a hip injury sustained yesterday, sources say. He’ll have more tests, but that is where it stands now.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 2, 2020

Golladay is the Lions’ leading receiver this season, with 338 receiving yards through his first seven games. The pass-catcher has recorded two straight seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving. Without Golladay, expect Marvin Jones Jr. and Marvin Hall to see more work in the passing game, while tight end Tyler Hockensen could see a heightened role. Detroit is also expected to work out veteran receiver Mohamed Sanu this week.

Detroit is listed at +1600 to win the NFC North, which gives them the second-worst odds ahead of only the Vikings (+2500). The Lions have opened as 4.5-point underdogs on the road this week against a Minnesota team that just upset the Packers in Week 8.

Jamaal Williams, RB, Green Bay Packers (Illness)

The Green Bay Packers had to put running back AJ Dillon on the COVID/reserve list after Sunday’s game. Because of his close contact with Dillon, the Packers will also be without Jamaal Williams on Thursday against the 49ers. League protocols stipulate that Williams and linebacker Kamal Martin are ineligible to play after coming into close contact with Dillon.

Aaron Jones is already dealing with a calf issue, which means the Packers are incredibly thin in the backfield. The only running backs on the active roster are Tyler Ervin and Dexter Williams. Ervin has four carries for 43 yards this season, while Williams has spent the entire season on the practice squad.

Jamaal Williams has shouldered a heavy load in the rushing attack with Jones sidelined, and it remains to be seen now Matt LaFleur deals with his shorthanded backfield in a short week. The Packers are five-point favorites on the road against the injury-plagued 49ers. At 5-2, Green Bay is also still in the driver’s seat to win the NFC North (-335) this season.

Ronnie Stanley, OT, Baltimore Ravens (Ankle)

Last week, the Baltimore Ravens inked All-Pro tackle Ronnie Stanley to a lucrative new contract extension. On Sunday, Stanley was lost for the season with a devastating ankle injury. Stanley suffered the “severe” injury in the first quarter of the Ravens’ 28-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers before being carted off the field.

Stanley suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle on the play, and he was forced to undergo season-ending surgery. While he likely faces a lengthy rehab period, the team is optimistic that Stanley will be ready to return to the team ahead of next year’s training camp.

Stanley became the NFL’s second-highest-paid offensive lineman behind Houston’s Laremy Tunsil thanks to last week’s new contract. Orlando Brown switched from right tackle to left tackle after Stanley left the game with his injury, but the Ravens subsequently struggled in pass protection. Lamar Jackson was sacked four times while completing worse than 50 percent of his throws against the Steelers.

The Ravens began the season as heavy favorites to win the AFC North, but the undefeated Steelers (-335) have since overtaken them. Baltimore’s odds have dipped to +250, while their chances to win Super Bowl 55 have declined to +900.