The NFL playoffs injury report has updates for players like Rob Gronkowski, Marshawn Lynch, Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, Jeremy Maclin, Tom Brady, Julian Edelman and Ted Ginn heading into the weekend.
The Steelers are dealing with a number of injuries, including to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has a sprained shoulder and ligament damage. Roethlisberger is hoping to play and expects to play, but there is a chance he could be out or limited on Sunday. According to ESPN.com, Brown has been ruled out with a concussion after getting hit hard in the Bengals game, while DeAngelo Williams has not been able to practice while dealing with a foot injury. The Steelers announced the news about Brown on Friday and he remains in the concussion protocol. UPDATE: Williams has been ruled out.
The Patriots have Rob Gronkowski dealing with knee and back injuries, but he is likely to play against the Chiefs on Saturday. According to Field Yates at ESPN, Gronkowski was limited in practice on Wednesday and sat out on Thursday. There were conflicting reports that the tight end also received an injection in his knee. Gronkowski is likely to play, while Tom Brady and Julian Edelman are "on track" to play after dealing with ankle and foot injuries, according to Adam Schefter at ESPN.
Jeremy Maclin is dealing with a high ankle sprain after getting injured against the Houston Texans last week and he could be out on Saturday. According to ESPN.com, Maclin was not able to practice on Thursday or on Wednesday, but there is a chance he could play as a decoy role for the Chiefs if he suits up against the Patriots. The Chiefs initially feared that Maclin tore his ACL, but he only suffered a high ankle sprain, which has been described as "mild" by head coach Andy Reid.
Marshawn Lynch is considered day to day heading into the game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Lynch did not play against the Vikings last week after being able to practice for the first time following abdominal surgery. Lynch has missed over a month for the Seahawks and has not played in a game for the team since November.
The Panthers will have Jonathan Stewart and Ted Ginn ready to play on Sunday after both players came into the playoffs banged up with injuries. Stewart was out for the last few games of the season with a foot injury, while Ginn has been dealing with a knee injury that forced him to miss the Week 17 regular season finale. Head coach Ron Rivera said both players would be ready to play and neither player was on the injury report on Thursday.
