NFL injury tracker Week 9: Drake Maye clears concussion protocol, Lamar Jackson will play, T.J. Hockenson to make season debut

The New England Patriots announced on Saturday that quarterback Drake Maye has cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Maye was injured on a hit to the head in the second quarter against the New York Jets last week. Linebacker Jamien Sherwood chased down Maye on a scramble and made helmet-to-helmet contact on a hit from behind as Maye slid.

Maye went to the sideline medical tent after the hit and then to the Patriots’ locker room. Jacoby Brissett took over at quarterback on New England’s next possession.

There were Maye sightings at practice this week, but as he was still in protocol he was a participant in a limited capacity.

Lamar Jackson will play after missing practice

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to practice on Friday and told reporters he’ll be ready to play on Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

“Yeah, 100 percent,” Jackson said. “That wasn’t in doubt. Just resting the body, you know. It’s a long season. That’s all.”

Jackson missed practices on Wednesday and Thursday and appeared on the Ravens’ injury report with a back and neck issue. Head coach John Harbaugh labeled the quarterback’s absence on Wednesday as a rest day.

Through eight games this season, Jackson has thrown for 2,099 yards and 17 touchdowns with two interceptions for the 5-3 Ravens.

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson returns

The Minnesota Vikings will get tight end T.J. Hockenson back on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. It will mark the first time Hockenson will play since suffering a knee injury on Dec. 24, 2023.

Hockenson tore both his MCL and his ACL in the Week 16 loss to the Detroit Lions and began the season on injured reserve.

“It’s one of those things once the SKOL Chants go and I’m around the crowd actually playing, it’s going to mean a lot to me to be back on the football field and be back out there with the boys,” Hockenson said. “I’m just really excited. There’s a lot of emotions, obviously, that go through nine months of a rigorous injury like this, but to be out here moving and have no pain is absolutely incredible.”

Saints’ Derek Carr set to return after missing three games

Quarterback Derek Carr will be back under center for the New Orleans Saints against the Carolina Panthers after sitting out three games due to an oblique injury.

Jake Haener will serve as his backup despite the fact that rookie Spencer Rattler started the last several games in Carr’s absence.

“We felt like Rattler gave us the best chance at the time, and so I think we’ll see where we’re at come this weekend, what the expectation is. My expectation is that Derek’s going to be ready to go,” Dennis Allen said, via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. “In that case, Jake will be the backup. … I don’t want to get into the specifics of the reasons why, but I feel like that’s the best thing for our team.”

Carr went down in the Saints’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month after he took a hard hit near the end of that game. He hasn’t played since, which marks the longest stretch of time he’s missed since he broke his ankle in 2017 when he was with the Raiders.

The Saints, who started the season 2-0 with a pair of blowout wins, have not won a game since.

Here’s the rest of the Week 9 injury report.

Dallas Cowboys

CB DaRon Bland (foot): out
DE Micah Parsons (ankle): out
DT Jordan Phillips (wrist): out
CB Trevon Diggs (calf): questionable
DT Linval Joseph (back): questionable
LB Eric Kendricks (shoulder): questionable
G Zack Martin (shoulder): questionable
LB Nick Vigil (foot): questionable

Atlanta Falcons

LB JD Bertrand (concussion): out
DE Ruke Orhorhoro (ankle): out
LB Troy Andersen (knee): questionable
C Drew Dalman (ankle): questionable
G Chris Lindstrom (knee): questionable

Miami Dolphins

DL Zach Sieler (fractured orbital bone): out
TE Julian Hill (shoulder): out
CB Kader Kohou (neck): out
WR River Cracraft (shoulder): out
S Jevon Holland (knee): doubtful
CB Storm Duck (ankle): questionable
FB Alec Ingold (hand/ knee): questionable

Buffalo Bills

FB Reggie Gilliam (hip): out
WR Amari Cooper (wrist): questionable
WR Curtis Samuel (pectoral): questionable
CB Christian Benford (wrist): questionable

Las Vegas Raiders

C Andre James (ankle): out
G Dylan Parham (foot): questionable
LB Robert Spillane (knee): questionable
RB Zamir White (quadricep): questionable

Cincinnati Bengals

WR Tee Higgins (quad): doubtful
LT Orlando Brown (knee/fibula): doubtful
RB Zack Moss (neck): doubtful
S Geno Stone (shin): questionable
WR Charlie Jones (groin): questionable

Los Angeles Chargers

CB Kristian Fulton (hamstring): out
WR Brenden Rice (shoulder): out
TE Stone Smartt (ankle): doubtful
WR D.J. Chark (groin): questionable
LB Joey Bosa (hip): questionable
LB Denzel Perryman (toe): questionable

Cleveland Browns

LB Jordan Hicks (elbow, triceps): out
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck): out
LB Khaleke Hudson (ankle): questionable

New England Patriots

CB Alex Austin (ankle): questionable
S Kyle Dugger (ankle): questionable
LB Christian Elliss (abdomen): questionable
G Mike Jordan (ankle): questionable
T Vederian Lowe (ankle, shoulder): questionable
DT Jaquelin Roy (neck): questionable
LB Sione Takitaki (knee): questionable

Tennessee Titans

CB L’Jarius Sneed (quad): out
T Andrew Rupcich (triceps): out
RB Tyjae Spears (hamstring): out
QB Will Levis (right shoulder): questionable
CB Tre Avery (hamstring): questionable
WR Tyler Boyd (shoulder): questionable
S Amani Hooker (groin): questionable
RB Tony Pollard (foot): questionable
T Dillon Radunz (foot): questionable
DT T’Vondre Sweat (hip): questionable

Washington Commanders

New York Giants

P Jamie Gillan (left hamstring): out
K Greg Joseph (abdomen): out
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles): doubtful
LB Ty Summers (ankle): questionable

New Orleans Saints

CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring): out
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring): out
WR Bub Means (ankle): out
RB Kendre Miller (hamstring): out
RB Jamaal Williams (groin): doubtful
G Shane Lemieux (knee): questionable
CB Rico Payton (back): questionable
DT John Ridgeway (oblique): questionable
G Nick Saldiveri (shoulder): questionable
LB Nephi Sewell (knee): questionable

Carolina Panthers

TE Feleipe Franks (concussion): out
OT Ikem Ekwonu (ankle): out
S Jammie Robinson (knee): out
WR Adam Thielen (hamstring): doubtful
DT Jaden Crumedy (ankle): doubtful
S Jordan Fuller (hamstring): doubtful
WR Xavier Legette (toe): questionable
RB Jonathon Brooks (knee): questionable
TE Tommy Tremble (back): questionable
OLB DJ Johnson (ankle): questionable
OLB D.J. Wonnum (quad): questionable

Denver Broncos

Baltimore Ravens

RB Rasheen Ali (ankle): out
DE Brent Urban (concussion): out
CB Marlon Humphrey (knee): questionable
DT Travis Jones (ankle): questionable
RB Keaton Mitchell (knee): questionable
CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (knee): questionable

Jacksonville Jaguars

WR Christian Kirk (collarbone): out
DT Mason Smith (ankle): out
LG Ezra Cleveland (ankle): out
RB Tank Bigsby (ankle): questionable
WR Gabe Davis (shoulder): questionable
RB Travis Etienne (hamstring): questionable
RB Keilan Robinson (toe): questionable
G Brandon Scherff (knee): questionable
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (chest): questionable
S Andrew Wingard (knee): questionable

Philadelphia Eagles

Chicago Bears

LT Braxton Jones (knee): out
LT Kiran Amegadjie (calf): out
DB Jaquan Brisker (concussion): out
OT Larry Borom (ankle): questionable
OG Ryan Bates (shoulder): questionable
LG Teven Jenkins (knee): questionable
DE Montez Sweat (shin): questionable
CB Kyler Gordon (hamstring): questionable

Arizona Cardinals

RT Jonah Williams (knee): out
DL Darius Robinson (calf): out
DT Naquan Jones (thigh): questionable
DT Roy Lopez (ankle): questionable

Detroit Lions

DE Josh Paschal (illness): out
LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle): out
DT Brodric Martin (knee): out
RB Sione Vaki (knee): doubtful
DT Mekhi Wingo (ankle): doubtful

Green Bay Packers

S Evan Williams (hamstring): out
C Josh Myers (wrist) doubtful
CB Jaire Alexander (knee): questionable
CB Corey Ballentine (ankle): questionable
RB Josh Jacobs (ankle): questionable
QB Jordan Love (groin): questionable

Los Angeles Rams

P Ethan Evans (illness): out
DT Neville Gallimore (shoulder): out
T Joe Noteboom (ankle): out
WR Puka Nacua (knee): questionable
S Kam Curl (knee): questionable
WR Jordan Whittington (shouler): questionable
CB Charles Woods (toe): questionable

Seattle Seahawks

TE Noah Fant (groin): out
T Abraham Lucas (knee): out
WR DK Metcalf (knee): out
NT Cameron Young (knee): out
LB Ernest Jones IV (neck): questionable

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

LB Blake Cashman (toe): out
DT Taki Taimani (ankle): out
CB Akayleb Evans (hip): questionable
G Dalton Risner (back): questionable

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

LS Evan Deckers (hamstring): out
WR Mike Evans (hamstring): out
DT Greg Gaines (calf): out
RB Bucky Irving (toe): questionable
WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring): questionable
S Tykee Smith (concussion): questionable
S Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot): questionable