NFL Week 17 injury roundup with Pro Football Doc Dr. David Chao analyzing Lamar Jackson’s back injury, Josh Allen’s ankle, George Kittle’s ankle and other key injuries shaping Week 18 playoff implications.
As the NFL regular season heads toward its final week, injuries sustained in Week 17 are already reshaping playoff races, quarterback decisions and betting markets. On the latest SICScore.com podcast, Pro Football Doc Dr. David Chao broke down the most significant injuries from a medical and performance standpoint, offering critical insight into what to expect in Week 18.
From Lamar Jackson’s lingering back issue to Josh Allen playing through an ankle injury, here are the most important injury takeaways entering the final week of the regular season.
Lamar Jackson Back Injury Raises Critical Week 18 Questions
Lamar Jackson remains the most closely watched injury situation in the league.
Jackson exited Week 17 with what the Ravens described as a significant back contusion, and while optimism exists about his availability for Week 18, Dr. Chao emphasized that effectiveness — not just availability — is the real concern.
“Lamar had a back injury and he couldn’t continue,” Chao said. “He tried everything he could in the locker room, but he couldn’t twist, couldn’t throw the ball.”
Chao believes Jackson could have played in Week 17 but only at a reduced level.
“That might be 60, 70 or 80 percent,” Chao explained. “And for a player like Lamar, that matters.”
Chao compared Jackson to a Formula One race car — elite but highly sensitive to even minor physical limitations.
“When he’s not close to 100 percent, he doesn’t run as well,” Chao said. “That leads to a legitimate question: do you want Lamar Jackson at 80 percent, or Tyler Huntley at close to 100 percent?”
The decision, according to Chao, will come down to the NFL’s “three-headed return-to-play process”: the player’s comfort, medical clearance and the team’s competitive judgment.
Josh Allen Plays Through Right Ankle Injury
Josh Allen once again showed his durability in Week 17, playing through a right ankle injury suffered during the game.
“That’s his right ankle — he turned it a little bit,” Chao said. “Josh Allen is a pickup truck. He’s going to keep rolling.”
Allen was visibly limping late but remained effective, nearly leading a comeback. Chao noted that postgame X-rays were taken strictly as a precaution.
“I don’t expect them to show anything significant,” Chao said. “He wasn’t 100 percent, but he kept going. That’s just who Josh Allen is.”
Barring unexpected findings, Allen is expected to play in Week 18 if seeding remains in question.
George Kittle Expected Back After Mild Ankle Injury
George Kittle was ruled out in Week 17 with a left ankle injury, but optimism is high for his return in Week 18.
“Even if he played, it would’ve been in a limited, blocking role,” Chao said. “It was better to get him one week healthier.”
Chao classified the injury as mild and dismissed any concern about toughness.
“I’m not calling George soft — he’s as tough as they come,” Chao said. “I expect him to be ready next week.”
Jordan Love Concussion Management a Strategic Decision
Jordan Love remains in the concussion protocol, but Chao explained that clearance timing can be strategically managed — especially for teams already locked into playoff positioning.
“An easy way to prolong the concussion protocol is simply not sending the player to the independent neurologist yet,” Chao said.
With Green Bay’s playoff spot secured, the Packers face a delicate balance.
“You don’t want Love rusty,” Chao said, “but you definitely don’t want him to suffer another concussion and miss the postseason.”
Malik Willis Shoulder Injury May Have Involved Pain Management
Malik Willis aggravated his shoulder on a throw rather than contact, raising questions about in-game pain control.
“That injury happened on a throw — not a fall,” Chao said. “It may have been an injection wearing off late in the game.”
Chao noted that halftime injections are not uncommon if pregame pain relief begins to fade.
Darnell Washington Forearm Fracture Could Linger into Playoffs
Steelers tight end Darnell Washington suffered a broken forearm, an injury Chao immediately suspected based on the quick ruling.
“When someone has a forearm injury and gets ruled out quickly, it’s usually broken,” Chao said.
While Washington is out for Week 18, a postseason return is not impossible.
“Remember Thomas Davis played in the Super Bowl with a forearm fracture,” Chao noted.
Final Outlook Heading into NFL Week 18
With playoff spots and seeding still on the line, several teams face critical health-related decisions in Week 18. According to Dr. Chao, availability alone won’t tell the full story — effectiveness and risk tolerance will dictate who takes the field.
All injury insights, health scores and updated Week 18 projections are available at SICScore.com, where injuries are evaluated through real NFL medical experience.
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