Top 3 NFL Injuries That Could Affect Betting Odds in Week 8

There’s no question that the NFL is one of the most exciting sports around. Every week, these world-class athletes make explosive and bewildering plays that leave fans picking up their jaws from the floor. But unfortunately, some downfalls come with such a violent game.

It’s also a given that there’s going to be a long list of NFL injuries. An inherent risk comes with playing in the NFL, and each week is a blessing for players if they don’t get a little banged up. But, of course, injuries also affect the NFL betting odds, and a missing key player can drastically shift the lines.

Let’s have a look at three injuries that could be key factors for sports bettors in Week 8.

Josh Jacobs Exits After TD

Josh Jacobs’ early exit against the Eagles. It was a curious injury as it came after Jacobs danced in for a seemingly harmless touchdown run. Sideline reporting soon confirmed that it was a chest injury for Jacobs, but the details surrounding it were murky.

Jacobs had looked great up to that point, catching three balls for 39 yards while rushing for 29 yards and a score – all in the first half. The Raiders went on to defeat the Eagles, improving their record to 5-2.

While Las Vegas is on bye in Week 8, the injury could affect sports bettors when it comes to futures bets like the AFC West Winner. The Raiders currently sit atop the West with a 5-2 record with +350 odds to be crowned division champions.

Miles Sanders Limps off the Field

Just when it looked like the Eagles were going to commit to the run this week, they were hit with a crushing blow when their star running back had to be helped off the field with an apparent ankle injury. Sanders had looked sharp early and had carved up 30 yards on six carries before the exit.

While we’ll wait for more information regarding the injury, it didn’t look good. If Sanders is forced to miss time, the Eagles backfield will rely on rookie Kenneth Gainwell and veteran Boston Scott to carry the backfield duties.

The Eagles are currently a three-point favorite against the Lions this week, but if there was ever a chance for Detroit to get their first victory, this might be it.

Jets QB Zach Wilson Goes Down

Zach Wilson’s disastrous rookie season just got worse. The former BYU star and second-overall pick in the 2021 draft suffered a knee injury in the Jets blowout loss to the New England Patriots. While Wilson will await an MRI, it didn’t look good, and by all accounts, it’s looking like he’s going to miss some time.

Backup quarterback Mike White took over for Wilson and completed 20 of 32 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions. The Jets will host the red-hot Cincinnati Bengals this week and are currently 9.5-point underdogs at home.

NFL Injuries Are Part of the Game

NFL injuries are just something that teams and sports bettors alike need to accept in a long, grinding football season. While some will be worse than others, rest assured that no team will go unscathed.

In the end, it comes down to which teams will be resilient enough to overcome the obstacles. Knowing who is on or off the field is paramount before heading to BetMGM, the best online sportsbook, to make your weekly picks. So sign up for an account and place your bets on all of this weekend’s NFL.