The 2025 NFL season hits the home stretch, but Week 13 is marred by an unprecedented wave of injury carnage that shatters playoff aspirations. Multiple star quarterbacks, including Baker Mayfield and C.J. Stroud, face serious setbacks, while the Saints lose Alvin Kamara for potentially a month. The league is officially in crisis mode.
QB Injury Report: Stars Go Down, Legends Return
The Buccaneers’ fight for first place took a massive hit after quarterback Baker Mayfield sustained an AC Joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder. According to Fantasy Alarm, the tough veteran is not expected to play in Week 13, forcing Teddy Bridgewater into the starting role.
Meanwhile, the Houston Texans must again pivot, as young star C.J. Stroud remains stuck in concussion protocol. Though he pushes for clearance, the team is likely to start Davis Mills. The Minnesota Vikings also face turmoil with J.J. McCarthy’s concussion status doubtful for their crucial showdown in Seattle.
However, two legends are back! Joe Burrow is a full participant and expected to start for the Bengals against the Ravens on Thursday night. The Steelers are also relieved, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers set to return from his wrist fracture this weekend against the Bills, according to Steelers.com reports.
Skill Positions and Offensive Line Decimated
The running back landscape is completely wrecked, as the Saints confirmed Alvin Kamara is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a knee/MCL injury, per fantasy reports. New Orleans now desperately scrambles to replace one of the league’s most versatile weapons.
The Buffalo Bills’ key matchup against the Steelers is already handicapped. Head Coach Sean McDermott ruled out starting tackles Dion Dawkins (concussion) and Spencer Brown (shoulder), crippling the team’s offensive line protection. The receiving corps also suffered a blow, with Curtis Samuel (elbow/knee) ruled out.
The Bengals lost top wide receiver Tee Higgins to a concussion for their Thursday night battle. And the Falcons are leaning toward holding out key playmaker Drake London (knee) for their game against the Jets.
Pure Chaos Dominates
The sheer volume of high-profile names hitting the NFL Week 13 Injury Report has sent fans and fantasy managers into a frenzy. Social media exploded, with many commenting on the physical toll of the late-season grind.
The vibe is one of anxious despair mixed with morbid curiosity: “Which star gets hurt next?” Pure chaos dominates the digital conversation as fan bases worry about their teams surviving this pivotal week.
Survival Is the Goal
For teams like the Buccaneers, Texans, and Vikings, survival is the only goal. They must find ways to secure wins with backups steering the ship to maintain their playoff positions. The short-term replacements for Alvin Kamara, such as Devin Neal in New Orleans, are crucial. It will be the biggest story to watch as coaches attempt to salvage the 2025 season’s final push. Every game this weekend will be a testament to team depth.
