NFL Week 17 injuries: Lamar Jackson ruled out; Mike Evans to play in limited capacity, per report

With the start of Week 17 on the horizon, several NFL teams are expected to be short-handed as they head into their second-to-last game of the regular season. These teams will have to rely on backup players on Sunday if they are going to strengthen their odds at getting into the postseason. 

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the prominent injuries ahead of Sunday’s games. 

• Buccaneers‘ receiver Antonio Brown is expected to face the Jets after being ruled as questionable with an ankle injury. Fellow receiver Mike Evans, who is dealing with an ankle injury, is expected to play but in a limited capacity, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
• Lamar Jackson’s will miss his third straight game with an ankle injury. With Jackson out, the Ravens will start Tyler Huntley for Sunday’s home game against the Rams. 
• San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is not expected to face the Texans on Sunday, according to Schefter. The 49ers are optimistic that Garoppolo — who is dealing with a torn UCL in his right thumb — will be able to return for the team’s Week 18 showdown against the Rams. 
• 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) is expected to face the Titans, per Schefter. Mitchell was labeled as questionable on the team’s final injury report. 
• Bears quarterback Justin Fields is expected to be inactive as he works through an ankle injury, according to Rapoport. Andy Dalton will start in Fields’ place for Sunday’s game against the Giants. 
• Eagles‘ running back Jordan Howard is expected to play against the Washington Football Team despite dealing with a stinger, per Schefter. Howard was officially labeled as questionable to play in Washington’s final injury report. 
• Despite practicing this past week, Rams running back Cam Akers will not face the Ravens on Sunday, per Schefter. Akers has not played this season after sustaining an Achilles injury in July. 
• Broncos running backs Melvin Gordon (thumb) and Javonte Williams (knee) are expected to face the Chargers, per Schefter. Both players were listed as questionable on Denver’s final injury report.