The 2026 NFL season has reached its halfway point, but injuries continue to trouble several teams. Week 8 brought some major setbacks, with several players leaving games early and others facing long spells on the sidelines. Now, as teams get ready for Week 9, the injury list has become an important talking point.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is one of the biggest concerns after hurting his thumb against the Buffalo Bills. His backup, Tyler Huntley, also suffered an injury. This leaves Baltimore with a serious problem at quarterback ahead of its Thursday night game against Jacksonville. Meanwhile, Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love is expected to miss several weeks, while New York Jets running back Breece Hall could finally make his return.

The official NFL injury reports will become clearer as teams share their practice updates. Baltimore and Jacksonville have less time to prepare because they play on Thursday Night Football.

Fantasy managers and NFL fans should watch the final reports before kickoff. A player who practices early in the week is not always ready to play on game day.

Here is a closer look at the latest NFL Week 9 injury updates.

Lamar Jackson’s injury creates a quarterback crisis in Baltimore

The biggest injury concern heading into Week 9 comes from the Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback room.

Lamar Jackson returned in Week 8 after missing three games with an ankle injury. However, his comeback against Buffalo ended almost as soon as it began. Jackson suffered a thumb injury on his first offensive play. He now needs surgery and could move to injured reserve, which may end his regular season. Either way, he’ll be out for a long time.

Head coach Jesse Minter confirmed that Jackson’s injury could keep him out for the rest of the campaign. He will miss at least four games while he recovers.

But Jackson was not Baltimore’s only injury concern. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley also left the game with a turf toe injury. He is expected to miss an extended period and will not be ready for the Week 9 matchup.

Rookie Joe Fagnano came into the game, but he struggled to get the offense going. He completed just 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and threw an interception. He also picked up an ankle injury. However, head coach Minter has said that Fagnano is expected to start against Jacksonville.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray is another player to watch after dealing with a hamstring issue in Week 8. Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford also has an arm injury, but the team will need to provide more updates about his availability.

Running Backs: Breece Hall nears return as Jeremiyah Love heads to IR

Running back injuries are another big talking point ahead of NFL Week 9. 

Breece Hall (Jets): Hall missed Week 8 even though many expected him to return against the Raiders. He is dealing with a quadriceps injury, but he could finally return against Kansas City. Braelon Allen has done a good job in Hall’s absence. He ranks as the RB5 in half-PPR scoring from Weeks 5-8. Even if Hall returns, Allen could still have a role in the offense.

Jeremiyah Love (Cardinals): Arizona suffered another setback as Love picked up a high-ankle sprain during the overtime win over Dallas. The rookie could miss four to five weeks and is expected to land on injured reserve. Bam Knight also suffered a concussion and is doubtful for Week 9. With both backs injured, Tyler Allgeier could lead the backfield. James Conner could also return later.

Bhayshul Tuten (Jaguars): Tuten missed back-to-back practices on Monday and Tuesday because of ankle and foot injuries. This is a concern as the team will face Baltimore on Thursday and has very little time to prepare. Tuten had a big performance in Week 8, recording 159 total yards and two touchdowns on 18 touches. If he cannot play, Chris Rodriguez Jr. could get more chances.

Christian McCaffrey (49ers): McCaffrey enters Week 9 with a mild hamstring strain after San Francisco’s bye week. He is expected to play against the Raiders, but the team could limit his workload. Rookie Kaelon Black may get more chances as the 49ers look to keep their star running back fresh.

Other running backs to watch include Cam Skattebo (Giants), Kyle Monangai (Bears), David Montgomery (Texans), Travis Etienne Jr. (Saints), TreVeyon Henderson (Patriots) and Brian Robinson Jr. (Falcons).

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: Several key players under watch

The injury concerns do not stop with the running backs. Several wide receivers and tight ends are also dealing with fitness problems ahead of the weekend.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson broke a rib during the Week 8 Thursday night game against Carolina. The team took him to the hospital, but he made a surprising return and finished the game. Watson caught eight passes for 113 yards on 10 targets.

If he plays, another hit could make his injury worse. Matthew Golden, Tucker Kraft and Savion Williams are the options available in case Watson misses out.

Arizona’s Michael Wilson is also dealing with broken ribs after the win over Dallas. He seems ready to play through the injury, but his availability against Seattle remains uncertain.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka could also return after missing the previous two games with foot and concussion concerns. His return would give Tampa Bay another option in the passing game against Chicago. 

Other wide receivers on the injury watch list include DeVonta Smith (Eagles), Jakobi Meyers (Jaguars), AJ Brown (Patriots), Deebo Samuel (49ers) and Mike Evans (49ers). 

At tight end, Dallas Cowboys’ Jake Ferguson suffered a low-ankle sprain against Arizona in Week 8 and did not return to the game. If he misses Week 9, Brevyn Span-Ford could get more playing time.

New England’s Hunter Henry and Los Angeles Rams’ Colby Parkinson are also dealing with injuries. Their teams will need to share more updates before the weekend.

Season-ending injuries and players on IR

Several teams have already lost important players for the rest of the season. These absences have forced teams to change their plans and depend more on backup players.

Here are some of the major names who are out or on injured reserve:

• Jaxson Dart (Giants, QB): Knee injury; expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
• Jalen Hurts (Eagles, QB): Blood clots; out for the season.
• Ricky Pearsall (49ers, WR): Knee injury; out for the season.
• Terry McLaurin (Commanders, WR): Knee injury; out for the season.
• Jaylin Noel (Texans, WR): Turf toe; expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
• Jayden Higgins (Texans, WR): Torn ACL; out for the season.
• Davante Adams (Rams, WR): Ruptured hamstring tendon; placed on injured reserve.
• Romeo Doubs (Patriots, WR): Shoulder injury; on injured reserve.
• Jalen McMillan (Buccaneers, WR): Knee injury; on injured reserve.
• James Conner (Cardinals, RB): Foot injury; on injured reserve.
• Travis Etienne Jr. (Saints, RB): Hamstring injury; on injured reserve.

Backup players now have a chance to step up, while coaches must find new ways to keep their offenses running.

What to watch before Week 9 kickoff

The next few practice reports will play a big role for NFL teams and fantasy football managers. Lamar Jackson’s absence is already a major blow for Baltimore. The possible returns of Breece Hall, Christian McCaffrey, Bhayshul Tuten and Mike Evans could have a big impact on their teams in Week 9.

Arizona must also find a solution at running back after losing Jeremiyah Love and possibly Bam Knight. Green Bay will also wait for updates on Christian Watson as he recovers from broken ribs.

Players who miss early-week practices can still return for game day. However, those with serious injuries may need more time to recover.

As Week 9 approaches, the final injury reports will help teams understand which players are ready to return and who will remain on the sidelines.