After several weeks of what felt like an endless stream of injuries, Week 6 finally gave fantasy managers a bit of a break. Compared to the chaos we've seen throughout the early part of the season, this week was relatively quiet on the injury front. Of course, quiet doesn't mean uneventful. With bye weeks starting to complicate lineup decisions, staying ahead of injury news becomes even more important. Some players will benefit from the extra rest, while others could be facing extended absences. Let's dive into the most important injuries from Week 6 and what they mean for your fantasy teams moving forward.
Key: Position Player, Team | Injury | Projected Return to Play
QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia | Blood Clot | Projection: NA
Easily the biggest injury news heading into Week 7 involves Jalen Hurts, who has been placed on injured reserve after being diagnosed with a blood clot. Unlike the typical muscle strains, ligament sprains, and other orthopedic injuries I cover each week, this situation carries a much different level of medical complexity.
First, Hurts is likely receiving blood-thinning medication, which presents a significant obstacle to returning to football. Athletes taking anticoagulants are generally advised against participating in contact sports because of the increased risk of serious bleeding, particularly following traumatic injuries. This makes Hurts' situation much more complicated than simply waiting for symptoms to resolve or feeling healthy enough to play.
The estimated return-to-play timeline carries a wide range of potential outcomes, but six weeks appears to one of the more reasonable projections, with the possibility of a substantially longer absence depending on his treatment plan. His eventual return will depend on several factors, including the underlying cause of the clot, the duration of anticoagulation therapy, and clearance from his medical team.
From a fantasy football perspective, I would prepare for an extended absence rather than counting on Hurts returning as soon as he's eligible to come off IR. Ultimately, this is one of those situations where the medical considerations extend well beyond football. Until we have more information about Hurts' treatment and anticipated duration of anticoagulation, I would approach his rest-of-season fantasy outlook with considerable caution.
WR Ladd McConkey, LA Chargers | Concussion | Projection: Week 8
It’s been an injury-riddled start to the 2026 season for Ladd McConkey. Last week, McConkey was technically active but never saw the field as he continued recovering from a foot injury. Although he appeared on the injury report with the same issue to start this week, he was ultimately removed ahead of Sunday’s game.
I was still nervous about McConkey heading into this matchup, and while the foot injury wasn't necessarily the reason for his disappointing fantasy performance, a concussion ultimately ended his day early.
Fortunately, the Chargers have a Week 7 bye, giving McConkey some additional time to recover from his various ailments. Historically, NFL wide receivers who suffer concussions miss an average of approximately one week before returning to play. With the bye providing extra recovery time, there's reason to be optimistic about McConkey's availability in Week 8, assuming he clears the concussion protocol.