NFL Week 3 injuries: The latest on Jordan Love, Justin Herbert, Joe Mixon and more

Posted by Admin September 19, 2024 NFL

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 i njured r eserve 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 Wednesday. “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 did not, however, practice on Wednesday.

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.

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 Wednesday.

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.

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.” The Vikings coach said Jefferson was able to go through the team’s walk-through practice on Wednesday.

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 Wednesday.

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.