Science & Environment
NFL Week 3 injuries: The latest on Jordan Love,…
We’re officially through two weeks of the NFL season and the injuries are already piling up. San Francisco 49ers superstar Christian McCaffrey was placed on injured reserve with Achilles tendinitis, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will miss time with a fractured fibula, and the Los Angeles Rams are running out of wide receivers.
Here’s a list of the most significant players dealing with injuries and their latest statuses ahead of Week 3.
Quarterbacks
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Status: Questionable vs. Titans
Love sprained his MCL in the final seconds of Green Bay’s Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Backup QB Malik Willis replaced him in a 16-10 win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, going 12-for-14 passing for 122 yards and a score while running for 41 yards on six carries. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said, “If [Love is] ready, he’ll be ready. If he’s not, we’ll proceed with Malik.”
Love was a limited participant at practice on Thursday. “I’m hopeful that I can get to that point where I can get in there,” he told reporters, “but we’re just going to take it day by day.”
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Status: Questionable vs. Steelers
Herbert injured his right leg in the third quarter of Week 2’s 26-3 win against the Carolina Panthers trying to escape the pocket. He walked off the field but returned to the game. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said X-rays came back negative. He was a limited participant on Thursday.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
Tagovailoa sustained at least the third concussion of his career in Week 2’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. On Sept. 17, Miami placed him on the injured reserve list, and he will be out until at least Week 8 vs. the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 27. There’s a strong chance he doesn’t return this season. Skylar Thompson is expected to start in his place.
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Status: Questionable vs. Chargers
Wilson has yet to play this season because of a calf injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that the Steelers expect him to miss more time and that as a result, Justin Fields will continue starting in his place. Pittsburgh faces the Chargers in Week 3.
Running backs
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
McCaffrey, arguably the biggest offensive threat in the NFL, was placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury and is expected to miss at least six weeks. Backup running back Jordan Mason has stepped up in his absence, averaging 5.1 yards a carry with 247 yards and two scores in two weeks.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
Many thought this was Pacheco’s season to breakout, but sadly he’s likely to miss at least six weeks with a fractured fibula. With backup Clyde Edwards-Helaire also injured, the Chiefs signed Kareem Hunt to their practice squad. Carson Steele will be the primary back for Week 3 vs. Atlanta.
Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
Status: Questionable vs. Vikings
Mixon suffered an ankle injury midway through the Texans’ 19-13 win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, but it appears he avoided any long-term injury. He came back in the game later in the second half and finished with 25 yards on nine carries. Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans said they are taking it day by day. Reporters noted he was not at practice Wednesday.
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Status: Questionable vs. Dolphins
Walker is dealing with an oblique injury, and he missed Week 2 vs. the New England Patriots. Zach Charbonnet stepped in as starter and finished with 38 rushing yards with a score in Seattle’s 23-20 win. He did not practice with the team on Wednesday.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Status: Questionable vs. Broncos
White, Tampa Bay’s top back, suffered a groin injury in its 20-16 win against the Lions in Week 2. However, he isn’t expected to miss much time (if any), per ESPN. Bucky Irving could be in line for more carries if White isn’t able to go against Denver in Week 3. He was limited in practice on Wednesday.
Wide receivers
Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
Status: Questionable vs. Colts
Allen was inactive against the Texans in Week 2 with a heel injury. The veteran wideout is questionable against the Colts on Sunday. Expect more targets by rookie QB Caleb Williams to go to DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet if Allen remains out. He did not practice Thursday.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Status: Questionable vs. Commanders
Higgins has yet to suit up this season with a hamstring injury, but “everything is moving in a good direction,” Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor said. Considering Washington has surrendered 185.5 yards per game so far, he would be a welcome addition for the Monday night game. Higgins returned to a limited practice on Thursday.
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Status: Doubtful vs. 49ers
The veteran wideout, who started the season with 18 receptions and 147 yards, could be placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. It’s horrible news for Los Angeles, who already lost star receiver Puka Nacua. Speaking of that …
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
Nacua could be out until Week 9 with a posterior cruciate ligament strain he re-aggravated in Week 1. A breakout star in his first year — he broke a 63-year record for the most receiving yards for a rookie in NFL history last season — Nacua joins his teammate Cupp on the sidelines, greatly depleting Los Angeles’ offensive potential.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Status: Questionable vs. Texans
Jefferson sustained a thigh bruise in the third quarter of Week 2’s 23-17 win against the 49ers. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Tuesday that his star receiver is day-to-day but that he “came in feeling pretty good today.” Jefferson was a limited practice participant on Thursday.
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Status: Doubtful vs. Saints
Brown missed Philadelphia’s 22-21 loss to Atlanta on Monday with a hamstring injury he sustained at practice last week. He told ESPN he expects to miss a couple of weeks in recovery.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Doubtful vs. Rams
Samuel strained his calf late in San Francisco’s 23-17 loss to the Vikings. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters he will “probably miss a couple of weeks.” It’s a big blow to an offense that is already without McCaffrey. Brandon Aiyuk will need to step up more than his Week 2 effort, a four-reception, 43-yard game.
Tight ends
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Status: Questionable vs. Giants
Njoku missed Week 2 with an ankle injury, but it is yet to be determined whether he’ll be out for Cleveland’s game against New York. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is leaving the door open for a possible return, saying, “I wouldn’t rule him out yet.” He did not practice Thursday.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Status: Questionable vs. Ravens
Ferguson, a rising star, missed Week 2 with a knee injury, but Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday that Ferguson was “really close” to playing in that matchup. Expect him to suit up in a huge game against Baltimore. He participated in Wednesday’s practice.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Status: Questionable against the Eagles
Hill, New Orleans’ do-it-all “tight end,” sustained a chest injury in the Saints’ Week 2 win against the Cowboys. Head coach Dennis Allen said Hill avoided serious injury and is “doing good.” The team is optimistic he’ll return in the coming weeks, if not Sunday.
