As the 2025 NFL regular season comes to a close in Week 18, there are two marquee Saturday matchups with division titles and the NFC’s top seed on the line.
We get two pivotal matchups kicking off Week 18; Panthers vs. Buccaneers for the NFC South title, and Seahawks vs. 49ers for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Below, we'll break down the key injuries in Saturday’s games, with the full NFL injury report for both games.
On Saturday, you can make your picks on PrizePicks and earn real money. Just pick your players and predict More or Less on projections, and cash in if your picks are correct.
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Panthers vs. Buccaneers Injury Report for Week 18
The NFC South title is on the line as the Carolina Panthers travel to Tampa to face the Buccaneers in a true win‑or‑go‑home matchup in Week 18.
The Bucs are 2.5-point favorites (1.75x payout) on the spread on PrizePicks Team Picks, with a 1.61x payout to win outright. Meanwhile, the road underdog Panthers carry a 2.22x payout to win outright on Team Picks.
The Panthers vs. Buccaneers over/under is set at 44.5 points, with a 2x payout on the over on PrizePicks.
All payouts listed are at the time of writing and are subject to change.
Carolina Panthers Injury Report for Saturday
- OUT: CB Robert Rochell (concussion), LB Claudin Cherelus (calf/ankle)
- QUESTIONABLE: LB Krys Barnes (back), DT Tershawn Wharton (hamstring), G Robert Hunt (biceps), WR David Moore (elbow)
Carolina's defense faces a significant challenge with key contributors sidelined for Saturday's must-win against Tampa Bay. Losing LB Claudin Cherelus (418 snaps) puts more pressure on a defense that has been league‑average, allowing 326.6 YPG (15th in the NFL).
Cherelus’ absence looms large for a Panthers run defense that allows 122.3 rushing YPG (19th‑most) and surrendered a season‑high 163 rushing yards to Seattle in Week 17.
It’s going to be a tough ask for the Panthers’ defense to stop the Bucs’ RB Bucky Irving, who turned in 71 yards on 19 carries against Carolina in Week 16, one of his most productive outings of the season.
Irving is projected for 58.5 rushing yards and 17.5 receiving yards in Week 18, projections courtesy of PrizePicks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Injury Report for Saturday
- OUT: CB Jamel Dean (shoulder), LB Anthony Nelson (knee)
- QUESTIONABLE: DT Calijah Kancey (pectoral)
Tampa Bay’s secondary faces significant challenges in Week 18 with veteran CB Jamel Dean (668 snaps) sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Dean, who recorded a league-best 26.6 passer rating when targeted this season, leaves a massive void in coverage alongside his 3 INT and 2 forced fumbles.
With Dean out and CB Zyon McCollum on injured reserve, the Buccaneers' pass defense — already ranked 26th in the NFL, allowing 236.4 passing YPG — becomes even more vulnerable.
Panthers QB Bryce Young has shown improvement in recent weeks, posting a 102.5 passer rating in his last matchup against Tampa Bay with 191 passing yards and 2 TDs.
Young's completion percentage sits at 63.2% with 2,745 passing yards and 21 TDs. The Panthers QB struggles under pressure, but faces a Bucs pass rush that averages just 2.3 sacks per game.
Young is projected for 195.5 passing yards and 0.5 passing TDs in Week 18; projections courtesy of PrizePicks.
Seahawks vs. 49ers Injury Report for Week 18
The biggest matchup on the Saturday slate takes place in Santa Clara, Calif., as the Seahawks visit the 49ers with a chance to clinch the NFC West and secure the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time since 2014. San Francisco enters on a six‑game winning streak.
The Seahawks are 2.5-point road favorites (1.88x payout) on the spread on PrizePicks Team Picks, with a 1.66x payout to win outright. Meanwhile, the road underdog 49ers carry a 2.12x payout to win outright on Team Picks.
The Seahawks vs. Seahawks over/under is set at 46.5 points, with a 1.72x payout on the over on PrizePicks.
All payouts listed are at the time of writing and are subject to change.
Seattle Seahawks Injury Report for Saturday
- OUT: OT Charles Cross (hamstring)
- DOUBTFUL: S Coby Bryant (knee)
- QUESTIONABLE: OT Josh Jones (ankle/knee)
The Seahawks will be without starting LT Charles Cross, a significant loss for the NFL’s eighth‑ranked offense (350.8 YPG). Seattle’s offensive line has been one of the best in the league, allowing only 1.6 sacks per game, sixth‑fewest in the league.
With the loss of Cross and potentially backup LT Josh Jones, QB Sam Darnold may see added pressure from the 49ers’ front-seven. When blitzed, Darnold’s completion rate drops to 61.4% (22nd in the NFL), and his 65.5% catchable‑ball rate ranks 28th among QBs.
Luckily, the Seahawks get one of the softest pass-rushing matchups in Week 18; the Niners rank 29th in pass-rush win rate (30%) and 32nd in sacks, with just 1.1 per game.
Darnold is projected for 237.5 passing yards and 1.5 passing TDs; projections courtesy of PrizePicks.
San Francisco 49ers Injury Report for Saturday
- QUESTIONABLE: WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle), TE George Kittle (ankle), OT Trent Williams (hamstring), DE Keion White (groin), CB Upton Stout (concussion)
San Francisco's offensive line faces a significant test against Seattle in Week 18. While All-Pro LT Trent Williams is a "long shot" to play due to his Week 17 hamstring injury, backup LT Austen Pleasants proved capable when pressed into duty against Chicago, helping the 49ers post 496 total yards.
The loss of Williams, who anchors a line allowing just 1.5 sacks per game (fifth‑fewest), creates a potential mismatch up front against a Seattle defense that generates 2.8 sacks per game (eighth‑most), ranks sixth in pass-rush win-rate (41%), and third in run-stop win rate, per ESPN.
49ers TE George Kittle's expected return vs. the Seahawks after missing Week 17 with an ankle sprain provides crucial relief for QB Brock Purdy. However, the 49ers’ fourth‑ranked passing attack (252.3 YPG) likely must operate without its premier blind‑side protector in the biggest game of the season.
Purdy is projected for 243.5 passing yards and 1.5 passing TDs; projections courtesy of PrizePicks.
Make Saturday NFL Picks on PrizePicks
Even with these injuries in the NFC West and NFC South title games on Saturday, there are still plenty of ways to earn money with your NFL picks and predictions.
On Saturday, you can make your picks on PrizePicks and earn real money. Just pick your players and predict More or Less on projections, and cash in if your picks are correct. Or make your picks on winners, spreads, and over/unders on Team Picks, now available in 30 states.
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