NFL Picks: Week 5 Injury Report And Odds Update

After 4 weeks of NFL football, a few more injuries have popped up to give pause to how we select our NFL picks for Week 5. What injuries in specific are shifting around the betting odds? Which ones are affecting our bets the most?

NFL Week 5 injury report and odds update 

Week 4 saw some guys held out of the game, and some other guys who left early. A few of these players are having some affect on the NFL Odds for Week 5 as well. Much like Matt Stafford’s early questionable status last week, there are a few guys that have moved the numbers with just a questionable status.

We’ll start with the guys who missed Week 4, and obviously, Hakeem Nicks was the biggest name. Nicks has been troubled by a foot injury even since last season, and Nicks has now developed knee soreness because of it. This seems like an injury that will need more than a week or two to get well, and I can’t see Nicks playing at all this week against the Browns. You can already start to see the line drop, as the Giants have gone from -12 to -9 ½ since Sunday. 

There were several bad injuries on Sunday, and a few teams will be without some of their best players in Week 5 and beyond.

Jake Locker left the game after he re-injured his non-throwing shoulder against the Texans. His status for Week 5 is seriously in doubt. Matt Hasselbeck looks to be in line for the start, and already the line has moved a half point more towards the Vikings from -5 ½ to -6.

Another bad injury was to the Jets’ Santonio Holmes. Word hasn’t dropped about how bad the injury is, and whether or not there was structural damage. However, it didn’t look good. Holmes was tackled and rolled up on in the blowout against the 49ers and even though there are tons of other reasons the public is fading the Jets, this doesn’t help at all.

Greg Jennings also left the game against the Saints. Jennings has been banged up all season, and this most recent injury is just another bad blow to the Packers. Even though Green Bay has enough options behind Jennings, if he can’t go, they will lose their main double team threat. 

Finally, Ben Tate left the game against the Jets with a toe injury. Even though Arian Foster is still the number one guy in Houston, Tate is probably the best back up running back in the NFL. He has been solid this season, even though he only sees about 10 touches a game. This is big if he can’t go, because it will put more pressure on Foster, and Matt Schaub.

Some guys who could see the field for the first time in a few weeks could also make the lines shift. Aaron Hernandez could see the practice field this week, and if he does, there is a good chance he could make his return for New England, even if it’s on a limited basis. He is New England’s all-purpose main weapon of attack, and with him back in the lineup, he gives Brady yet another gun. Watch his status carefully if you have a play on the Patriots and Broncos game. 

Rashard Mendenhall is another guy that could make his return this week. Mendenhall hasn’t played a game this season because of his recovery from a torn ACL last season, but the Steelers need all the help they can get. Watch his status, as Mendenhall could be thrown right into the fire against the Eagles this week.