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Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers Join Whopping 37 NFL Stars To Miss Regular Season Finale

Published 01/05/2024, 8:40 PM EST

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The Week 18 update is a daunting reminder of how injuries are the NFL’s greatest battle. In such a physical sport, injuries continue to hinder matters for crucial players, with Lamar Jackson being the latest addition to the sidelines. While the Ravens can afford to miss Jackson after securing the playoff spot, the New York Jets did not have the same luxury back when Aaron Rodgers became unavailable due to his Achilles tear.

Now, following the latest update surrounding the injuries of both players, the two superstars are joined by an astounding number of 37 players who missed out on the regular season finale. As the NFL regular season ends this weekend, many teams’ fates have already been sealed. Yet, some continue to have their season hopes lingering on the final week’s results. In such a predicament, the team’s injury can make or break the rest of their season.

Who’s the biggest miss for Week 18?

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Contrary to popular belief, Lamar Jackson is not the biggest miss for Week 18. The Baltimore Ravens have sealed their fate, and even though the AFC seed #1 spot remains open for them to claim, the team looks dominant enough, even in the absence of Jackson. While Aaron Rodgers’ miss continues to dampen the mood at the Jets for what many would have hoped to be a resurrection for a magnanimous franchise, even he isn’t the most significant absentee mentioned in Adam Schefter’s injury update.

Aside from Lamar Jackson, the Ravens’ prominent players, including Kevin Zeite and Odell Beckham Jr., will miss the Week 18 clash. But they are in a steady position, standing in the top position in the AFC. Browns players Myles Garrett, Amari Cooper, and Greg Newsome are spotted on the players’ injury list. Josh Jacobs and to round out the 39-player injury list. Some elite players of the Chiefs who fall under the injury list are Rashee Rich and Kadarius Toney.

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The Browns and Chiefs will be relatively unaffected by the injuries, as their fate is secured. Meanwhile, key Miami Dolphins players on that list, including Bradley Chubb and Xavien Howard, are on the injury list. The Dolphins have already clinched their playoff berth on Sunday night. The Texans are still grinding for a playoff spot, but their prime players, including Marlon Humphrey, Noah Brown, and Johnathan Greenard, are on the inactive list. The situation appears to be intense for them, mainly. Since a win-or-lose changes their trajectory for the entire postseason or rules them out entirely, it would be interesting to see how they pave their way out with the injuries causing trouble. Moreover, some teams are still in an uncertain situation. One such instance is the Miami Dolphins situation.

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Are the Dolphins going to struggle in week 18?

The Dolphins are set to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium. This game excites the Dolphins, as it’s set to happen on their home turf. But they are in an uncertain situation about the outcome. Their prime player, Raheem Mostert, has suffered an ankle injury and is listed under questionable status. Moreover, Bradley Chubb and Xavien Howard are ruled out of their games following their injuries.

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Although the team has booked their playoff spot, the Bills are not someone to be quickly taken. Furthermore, the Bills have defeated the Dolphins in Week 4 this season with a 48-20 win in the Highmark Stadium. Again, in the past few weeks, the Bills have made their names as one of the tough contendants in the league. With so much on the line for so many teams, the absentees could be pivotal in deciding who lands where when the dust settles.

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Written by:

Kushal Jain

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Kushal Jain is an NFL writer at EssentiallySports. Having started off writing as a hobby when he was 19, it has snowballed into becoming his full time profession. He is a passionate football fan, or as per the US etymology, soccer fan.
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Edited by:

Aazima Basharat