Week 9 Injury Wrap: Matt Forte out, DeSean Jackson questionable
All things considered, it’s a reasonable Injury Wrap for Week 9. We’ll start with the running backs, then circle back to the receivers and quarterbacks.
• Matt Forte (knee) has officially been ruled out for Monday’s game at San Diego. Although John Fox insists on calling Forte day-to-day, it’s clearly a week-to-week injury, likely two games or more. Rookie RB Jeremy Langford will step in for Forte in the meantime, and gets a good initial draw against San Diego’s leaky rushing defense.
• Keep an eye on Ronnie Hillman (thigh), who was dinged up Thursday and had a partial Friday practice. It will come down to a game-time decision. The Colts rushing defense hasn’t been that poor on a per-play basis, but it’s allowing 125 rushing yards per game.
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• Carlos Hyde (foot) is no sure thing to play again this year. He’s definitely out for Week 9. A cast of thousands (Kendall Gaskins, Pierre Thomas, Shaun Draughn) is in line for work Sunday against Atlanta.
• Karlos Williams (post concussion) had a full week of practice and is expected to go against Miami, a team he trampled earlier this year. He’s listed as probable.
• DeSean Jackson (hamstring) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable for the Sunday date at New England. Washington seems to be optimistic about Jackson playing this week, but keep in mind his last activity came in Week 1.
• T.Y. Hilton (foot) missed the full practice week and although the tricky Colts insist on listing Hilton as questionable, it would be a surprised if he played against Denver. Either way, why would you want to use a gimpy Hilton against the outstanding Broncos secondary?
• Brandon Marshall (ankle/toe) had two limited practices to finish the week and is listed as questionable for the home game against Jacksonville. Things are more encouraging for Eric Decker (knee); he has the probable tag.
• Vincent Jackson (knee) won’t play in Week 9, which means Donteea Dye is forced into another start. But the Bucs could get TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder) back this week; he had a full practice Friday.
• Sammy Watkins (ankle) didn’t work Friday, though he thinks he’ll be able to go against Miami on Sunday.
• Anquan Boldin (hamstring) is unlikely to play against Atlanta.
[Week 9 rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Receiver | Flex | Tight End | All Positions]
• Ladarius Green (ankle) has yet to practice this week and looks like a reach for Monday against Chicago. Antonio Gates (knee) has been limited, but seems like a much better bet — and remember, he played through the knee discomfort last week.
• Rueben Randle (hamstring) is questionable, not that you want to talk yourself into him at Tampa. Use Dwayne Harris instead.
• Leonard Hankerson (hamstring) won’t play at San Francisco. Perhaps TE Jacob Tamme will benefit from Hankerson’s absence.
• Marcus Mariota (knee) is back in the saddle for the Titans, confirmed to start at New Orleans. We last saw him play against Miami in Week 6.
• Despite a left thumb that will eventually need surgery, Ryan Fitzpatrick will start against Jacksonville.
• With Colin Kaepernick benched, Blaine Gabbert picks up the start against Atlanta.
