NFL Week Eight Injury Report: Massive Star Absences Could Break the Board

San Francisco is essentially a shell of its former self. With Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Mike Evans all ruled out, the passing game is in shambles. And losing Nick Bosa on the defensive line means the Falcons should have all the time they need to find open receivers.

Lamar Jackson being ruled out is the biggest betting news of the day. This line should swing four or five points in favor of Cincinnati. The Ravens will try to hide their backup quarterback with a heavy run scheme, but the Bengals will be ready for it.

The Packers are missing their biggest game wrecker on defense with Micah Parsons out. And losing Jayden Reed on the offensive side takes away their most explosive playmaker. This matchup against the Lions just got a lot harder for Green Bay.

Jaxson Dart is out for the year, which leaves the Giants in a terrible spot at quarterback. And losing Brian Burns on defense makes it much harder to pressure the Houston backfield. This looks like a long day for the New York faithful.

Breece Hall is unlikely to play, which is a disaster for a Jets offense that already struggles to score. They are also missing several key defenders and offensive linemen. Monitor Hall before kickoff, but his absence would make the Under very tempting.

De'Von Achane is on injured reserve, which takes away the fastest player on the field. The Dolphins still have speed at receiver, but the run game loses its home run threat. This should lead to a more traditional and predictable offensive approach.

Davante Adams is on injured reserve, and Puka Nacua is a pregame decision. If Nacua can't go, Matthew Stafford will be throwing to a group of backups. The market is waiting on Puka's status before moving this line any further.

Sauce Gardner is out, which is a massive win for the Vikings' passing attack. The Colts' secondary is now very vulnerable to big plays. But the offense is also missing Alec Pierce, so they might struggle to keep up in a shootout.

Carson Beck is questionable with a back issue, and James Conner is on injured reserve. If Beck sits, the Cardinals are essentially starting from scratch on offense. This team is very banged up on both sides of the ball right now.

Baker Mayfield is expected to play through a thumb injury, but his effectiveness is a question mark. The defense is also missing Antoine Winfield Jr., which is a major blow to the secondary. This game could be higher scoring than expected if Baker is healthy.

David Montgomery being out takes away the physical identity of this run game. The Texans will likely lean more on their passing attack today. And with Jalen Pitre out in the secondary, there could be some holes for the Giants to exploit.

The Falcons are in a great position against a depleted Niners squad. Brian Robinson Jr. is out, so the backfield rotation will change. But the defense is missing Divine Deablo, which could hurt their ability to stop the run.

Rashee Rice being out is a huge loss for Patrick Mahomes. Rice has been the most reliable target in this offense lately. The Chiefs will need their other receivers to step up in a hostile Seattle environment.

Denzel Ward is a monitor pregame situation with a hand injury. If he plays, the Browns have a massive advantage in the secondary. But the defense is also missing Mike Hall Jr. on the interior line.

Calvin Ridley and Tyjae Spears are both questionable, which could leave the Titans very thin on offense. This team already struggles to move the ball, so missing their best playmaker would be devastating. Monitor their status closely before kickoff.

The Saints are playing in London and will be without Travis Etienne Jr. in the backfield. Cesar Ruiz is also out on the offensive line, which is bad news for the run game. This offense might struggle to find its rhythm against a tough Steelers defense.

Michael Pittman Jr. is on injured reserve, which takes away the team's best possession receiver. The Steelers will need their younger receivers to step up in a big way. And with several defensive tackles out, the run defense could be a concern.

Zach Charbonnet is out, so Kenneth Walker will likely see a massive workload tonight. The defense is also missing several linebackers, which could be an issue against the Chiefs' short passing game. Seattle will need their home crowd to help them overcome these gaps.

Pat Surtain II is unlikely to play, which is a massive blow to the Broncos' secondary. He is one of the few corners who can truly shut down an entire side of the field. Without him, the Cardinals' receivers have a much higher ceiling.

Isiah Pacheco is on injured reserve, which means the Lions lose their most physical runner. The offense still has plenty of weapons, but they will miss his ability to finish games. The defense is also missing several key players in the secondary.

Xavier Legette and Jaycee Horn are both on injured reserve, which hurts the Panthers on both sides of the ball. This team is already struggling to find wins, and losing their best young playmaker and top corner makes it even harder. Expect them to play a very conservative style.

The Bengals are relatively healthy compared to the Ravens, which gives them a massive edge. Andrei Iosivas is on injured reserve, but the top targets are all ready to go. This is a prime spot for Cincinnati to steal a divisional win.

The Raiders are missing some depth pieces at receiver and tight end. Jack Bech being on injured reserve is a blow to the special teams and offensive rotation. They will need a big game from their starters to keep up with the Rams.

Minnesota is missing Josh Oliver, which hurts their ability to block in the run game. But the rest of the offense is healthy and ready to take advantage of a Sauce Gardner less Colts secondary. This is a high upside spot for the Vikings' passing game.