The NFL Week 8 injury report for 2026 features several major fantasy football names ahead of Sunday’s games, including A.J. Brown, Lamar Jackson, Breece Hall, Calvin Ridley, Emeka Egbuka, Rashee Rice, Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith.
Thursday’s practices provided encouraging news for several stars, while other players remain important Friday watchlist names. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to final game designations before setting Week 8 lineups.
Jump to Week 8 Injury Updates
NFL Week 8 Injury Report Quick Summary
| Player | Team | Latest Practice Update | Fantasy Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.J. Brown | Patriots | DNP Thursday | Major Friday watch after being limited Wednesday. |
| Lamar Jackson | Ravens | Full Thursday | Strongly trending toward a return against Buffalo. |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Bengals | Full Thursday | Encouraging after Wednesday rest/ankle absence. |
| Calvin Ridley | Titans | Limited Thursday | Still needs Friday confirmation. |
| Tyjae Spears | Titans | DNP Thursday | More concerning after consecutive missed practices. |
| Brock Bowers | Raiders | Full Thursday | Trending positively after opening the week limited. |
| Breece Hall | Jets | Limited Thursday | Still needs monitoring before Sunday. |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | Lions | Full Thursday | Major improvement after missing Wednesday practice. |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | Lions | Full Thursday | Trending positively after Wednesday absence. |
| Emeka Egbuka | Buccaneers | Limited Thursday | Concussion and foot issues remain important. |
| Rashee Rice | Chiefs | Limited Thursday | Friday status remains important for Kansas City stacks. |
| Saquon Barkley | Eagles | DNP Thursday | Important Sunday Night Football watch. |
| DeVonta Smith | Eagles | DNP Thursday | Friday participation could materially change his outlook. |
A.J. Brown Injury Update
Watch Closely A.J. Brown – Patriots
Brown was limited Wednesday because of ankle and knee issues before missing Thursday’s practice.
The move from limited participation to no participation makes Friday’s practice report particularly important. Brown recently returned from injured reserve, so fantasy managers should avoid assuming he will handle a full workload until his Week 8 status becomes clearer.
New England faces Miami in the late Sunday window.
Monitor TreVeyon Henderson – Patriots
Henderson was added to Thursday’s report with an illness and did not practice.
Illness designations can improve quickly, but Friday participation will give fantasy managers a better idea of whether he is likely to play normally against Miami.
Lamar Jackson Injury Update
Trending Up Lamar Jackson – Ravens
Jackson has taken a significant step toward returning to Baltimore’s lineup.
He practiced fully again Thursday after also participating fully Wednesday. Jackson has missed multiple games with an ankle injury, but consecutive full practices are an encouraging sign before Sunday’s matchup with Buffalo.
If Jackson receives no restrictive final designation, he immediately returns to the QB1 conversation because of his combination of passing and rushing upside.
Calvin Ridley and Tyjae Spears Injury Updates
Monitor Calvin Ridley – Titans
Ridley has been limited in both Wednesday and Thursday practices because of a hip issue.
Two straight limited sessions are better than consecutive absences, but fantasy managers should wait for Tennessee’s final designation before locking Ridley into lineups.
Concern Tyjae Spears – Titans
Spears did not practice Wednesday or Thursday because of a knee issue.
Consecutive missed practices make his Friday status especially important. If Spears is unavailable, the Tennessee backfield could become more concentrated around Tony Pollard.
Trending Up Ja’Marr Chase – Bengals
Chase returned to full participation Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a combination of rest and an ankle designation.
The full practice is a strong positive sign ahead of Cincinnati’s matchup with Tennessee.
Brock Bowers and Breece Hall Injury Updates
Trending Up Brock Bowers – Raiders
Bowers opened the week limited because of a calf issue but upgraded to full participation Thursday.
That improvement makes his Week 8 outlook significantly more encouraging. Assuming there is no setback Friday, Bowers remains one of the strongest fantasy tight end options against the Jets.
Monitor Breece Hall – Jets
Hall was limited in both Wednesday and Thursday practices with a quad issue.
Braelon Allen upgraded to full participation Thursday after being limited Wednesday, adding another layer to the Jets backfield situation.
Hall remains the key fantasy player to monitor before Sunday’s Raiders-Jets matchup.
Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown Injury Updates
Trending Up Jahmyr Gibbs – Lions
Gibbs missed Wednesday practice with a shoulder issue but returned as a full participant Thursday.
That is an excellent sign for his availability against Minnesota and considerably reduces the concern created by his Wednesday absence.
Trending Up Amon-Ra St. Brown – Lions
St. Brown followed the same pattern. He missed Wednesday because of an ankle issue but practiced fully Thursday.
Unless the injury worsens Friday, fantasy managers should feel much more comfortable about his Week 8 availability.
Monitor Aaron Jones – Vikings
Jones did not practice Wednesday because of a knee issue before improving to limited participation Thursday.
The upgrade is encouraging, but his final Friday status remains important before Minnesota’s divisional matchup with Detroit.
Emeka Egbuka and Baker Mayfield Injury Updates
Monitor Emeka Egbuka – Buccaneers
Egbuka has been limited in both practices this week while dealing with concussion and foot issues.
Because concussion clearance can change quickly, Friday’s report will be important before fantasy managers make a final decision.
Trending Up Baker Mayfield – Buccaneers
Mayfield has practiced fully on both Wednesday and Thursday despite being listed with a right thumb issue.
His full participation is encouraging and currently gives fantasy managers little reason to move away from him because of the injury report alone.
Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes
Monitor Rashee Rice – Chiefs
Rice has been limited Wednesday and Thursday with hamstring and knee issues.
His participation level makes Friday’s final report important, especially for DFS players considering Kansas City stacks against Denver.
Monitor Travis Kelce – Chiefs
Kelce was a full participant Wednesday before being limited Thursday with an ankle issue.
The downgrade is worth monitoring, although a single limited practice does not automatically mean Kelce is in danger of missing the game.
Trending Up Patrick Mahomes – Chiefs
Mahomes has practiced fully despite being listed with a knee issue.
Barring an unexpected setback Friday, his practice participation is encouraging ahead of Kansas City’s matchup with Denver.
Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith Injury Updates
Watch Closely Saquon Barkley – Eagles
Barkley did not participate in Thursday practice.
Because Philadelphia plays Washington on Sunday night, fantasy managers may have fewer replacement options if Barkley’s status remains uncertain deep into the weekend.
Friday’s participation and final designation will be important before making lineup decisions.
Watch Closely DeVonta Smith – Eagles
Smith also missed Thursday practice, making him another important Friday watch for Philadelphia.
His availability would affect the target distribution throughout the Eagles passing game.
Positive Dallas Goedert – Eagles
Goedert practiced fully Thursday, providing a more encouraging outlook at tight end heading into the weekend.
Positive Jayden Daniels – Commanders
Daniels practiced fully Thursday despite being listed with a left elbow issue.
Stefon Diggs also returned to full participation after appearing on the report with hand, hamstring and rest designations.
Week 8 Fantasy Football Injury Strategy
Do Not Treat Practice Status as Game Status
A limited or missed Thursday practice does not automatically mean a player will miss Sunday. Friday’s final practice report is usually much more useful because teams begin assigning official game designations such as questionable, doubtful and out.
Pay Extra Attention to Sunday Night Players
Players such as Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith play in the Sunday night window. If either carries uncertainty into Sunday afternoon, fantasy managers should have a late-game replacement option available rather than relying on players from the early slate.
Watch for Full-Practice Upgrades
Players including Lamar Jackson, Brock Bowers, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown have already shown encouraging practice progress. Full participation is generally a much stronger signal than simply being listed on the injury report.
NFL Week 8 Injury Report FAQs
Is Lamar Jackson expected to play in Week 8?
Jackson has practiced fully on consecutive days, which is a very encouraging sign after missing multiple games. Fantasy managers should still check Baltimore’s final Friday designation before treating his return as confirmed.
Is A.J. Brown playing in Week 8?
Brown’s status remains uncertain. He was limited Wednesday with ankle and knee issues before missing Thursday practice, making his final Friday report especially important.
Is Breece Hall playing in Week 8?
Hall has been limited in practice with a quad issue. He has not been ruled out, but fantasy managers should wait for the Jets’ final designation and Sunday’s inactive list.
Is Brock Bowers healthy for Week 8?
Bowers improved from limited participation Wednesday to a full practice Thursday, which is an encouraging sign ahead of the Raiders’ matchup with the Jets.
Are Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown expected to play?
Both players returned to full practice Thursday after missing Wednesday. That is a strong positive development, although final Friday game designations should still be checked.
What happened to Christian Watson?
Watson suffered a broken rib during Green Bay’s Thursday night win over Carolina. He returned to the game and finished with eight catches for 113 yards. His recovery will be important to monitor heading into Week 9.
When are NFL inactive lists released?
Official inactive lists are generally released around 90 minutes before kickoff. Fantasy managers should check those lists before finalizing Week 8 lineups.
