Week 2 of the NFL season wreaked havoc on a number of teams, leaving five with injured starting quarterbacks, one with zero healthy running backs and dealing a season-ending injury to a Pro Bowler who hasn’t been hurt in a decade.
It’s still early in the season, but as teams jockey for position in the standings, these games missed by high-impact players could have a lasting effect on the outcome of the season.
Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of all the biggest injury news following Week 2:
Arizona Cardinals
Kelvin Beachum is considered “day-to-day” after missing the second half with a rib injury. The right tackle was replaced by Justin Murray against the Vikings. Murray was credited with allowing one of the three sacks suffered by the Cardinals on Sunday.
Atlanta Falcons
Cornerback A.J. Terrell left Sunday’s game with a concussion and his evaluation is still ongoing. Terrell played well on Sunday, notching a pair of pass break-ups on three targets. T.J. Green replaced Terrell and allowed a one-yard completion for a touchdown.
The Falcons defense has allowed the most passing touchdowns in the NFL through two weeks and are one of the eight remaining teams still without an interception.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens had to finish their comeback win without Brandon Williams because he left early with a neck injury. However, John Harbaugh told reporters that the nose tackle is dealing with something minor.
The Ravens played their first game since placing left guard Tyre Phillips was added to the IR. Ben Cleveland and Ben Powers split time on Sunday night and neither Ben allowed a quarterback pressure. In fact, the Ravens allowed just one quarterback pressure all night and that was attributed to tight end Patrick Ricard.
Buffalo Bills
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds left the game due to cramping, but he was able to return later in the contest. This shouldn’t be an issue for the Bills moving forward. They have a date with Washington on Sunday.Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have a quick turnaround before their Thursday night game against the Houston Texans. As a result, Matt Rhule has already ruled out Yetur Gross-Matos (ankle) and Pat Elflein (hamstring).
Gross-Matos has played in a limited role so far this season and the Panthers pass-rush isn’t hurting for options. As for left guard, Dennis Daley filled in for Elflein and should start on Thursday night. Daley has been one of the lowest-graded guards on Pro Football Focus this season, but he didn’t allow a quarterback pressure on Sunday.
Chicago Bears
One of many starting quarterbacks to go down on Sunday, Andy Dalton is dealing with a knee injury. Justin Fields struggled as his replacement on Sunday, but the rookie should get his first NFL start in Week 3.
While Matt Nagy has made it clear that Dalton will still be the Bears quarterback when he’s healed up, Fields has a big opportunity in Cleveland. The Browns defense has allowed the fourth-most passing touchdowns and their three sacks are the sixth-least in the NFL.
Cincinnati Bengals
The big name on the Bengals injury report is Tee Higgins, but his issue appears to be minor and shouldn’t affect his availability for Week 3.
What’s more pressing is the leg injury suffered by right guard Xavier Su’a-Filo. While Su’a-Filo is also considered day-to-day, his replacement is rookie second-round pick Jackson Carman, who has yet to play an offensive snap in the NFL.
Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield suffered an injury to his non-throwing shoulder on Sunday, but initial tests have shown there’s no structural damage and he shouldn’t miss any time.
The news wasn’t so kind to Jarvis Landry, who is considered “week-to-week” after injuring his MCL on the second play of the game. Landry has missed just one game since joining the Browns and it was a disaster. Mayfield completed just 52-percent of his passes and was sacked four times in a loss to the 1-13 New York Jets.
Dallas C0wboys
Amari Cooper left Sunday’s win in the closing seconds with a rib injury after coming down with a 12-yard catch. The high-priced wide out will certainly benefit from the Cowboys playing on Monday Night Football next week, but his status is worth monitoring come later in the week.
Also keep an eye out for Randy Gregory. The defensive end missed all of last week while on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but is expected to join the team in the middle of the week. Thursday would mark ten days since Gregory moving off the active roster and would be the first day he’s eligible to return if he tested positive and was showing symptoms or is unvaccinated.
Denver Broncos
Bradley Chubb spent most of the offseason nursing an ankle injury that caused him to miss Week 1. Well, it seems to be back as Vic Fangio told reporters that Chubb’s current ankle injury is the same as before.
The Broncos have struggled to get Chubb and Von Miller healthy at the same time, but Malik Reed did a fine job starting for Miller last season and is a capable replacement for Chubb. Reed led the Broncos in sacks last season with eight.
Detroit Lions
The Lions are already down Jeff Okudah for the season and rookie Ifeatu Melifonwu could be out for a substantial amount of time as well after injuring his leg on Monday night.
Safety Bobby Price ended up finishing the game at cornerback for Detroit, but it would be surprising if the Lions stick with that long-term, especially with veterans like Nickell Robey-Coleman and Daryl Worley currently occupying spots on the practice squad. Undrafted rookie Jerry Jacobs is the only other option on the active roster.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers did not suffer any new injuries on Monday night against Detroit.
Houston Texans
Tyrod Taylor is expected to miss four weeks after suffering a hamstring injury on Sunday. The Texans obviously still have Deshaun Watson on their active roster, but it would be a shock if the team let’s him suit up after not allowing him to practice all season.
Instead, rookie third-round pick Davis Mills will get the start on Thursday night against the Panthers. It’s a tough assignment for Mills, the Panthers dominated the Saints in Week 2, allowing just 128 yards of offense while sacking Jameis Winston four times and intercepting him twice.
Indianapolis Colts
Carson Wentz was unable to finish Sunday’s game due to not one, but two, sprained ankles. Wentz’s status for Week 3 is up in the air as Frank Reich refused to commit to anything this early in the week.
Wentz has been beaten up through two games, getting pressured on 31 dropbacks, third-most in the NFL. His replacement would be Jacob Eason, the fourth-round rookie out of Washington.
Eason struggled in the closing minutes against the Rams, throwing a game-sealing interception on his second-career attempt.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Wide receiver Laviska Shenault injured his shoulder on Sunday, but he won’t need surgery as the injury doesn’t seem to be major. In fact, Shenault isn’t expected to miss any time with this issue.
Shenault was second on the team in targets in Week 2, but caught just two passes for negative three yards.
Kansas City Chiefs
No new injury news for the Chiefs, who got Tyrann Mathieu back from COVID-19 on Sunday night. The Honey Badger made his presence felt with two interceptions and a touchdown.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are also dealing with a quarterback injury as Derek Carr suffered an ankle injury on Sunday. However, after undergoing tests on Monday, Carr isn’t expected to miss any time, according to Jon Gruden.
An absence for Carr would be detrimental for the upstart Raiders, who only have Nathan Peterman as a backup with Marcus Mariota nursing a quad injury.
As for Josh Jacobs, Gruden described the running back as “very questionable” for Week 3. The Vegas rushing attack struggled against Pittsburgh with Kenyan Drake and Peyton Barber combining for 41 yards on 20 carries.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers aren’t dealing with anything major right now. Linebacker Kenneth Murray spent time getting treatment on an ankle injury during the game, but later returned.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are already down Cam Akers for the year, but luckily Darrell Henderson’s rib injury isn’t expected to be a long-term thing. Expect him to be limited in practice as he tries to deal with the pain.
Sony Michel is the only other Rams running back to see extended playing time, rushing for 48 yards on 11 carries this season.
Miami Dolphins
Second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was carted off the field due to a rib injury after playing just two series on Sunday.
As of now, the Dolphins are in a pattern of wait-and-see until we get more conclusive tests to see if there is cartilage damage. Jacoby Brissett struggled in relief of Tagovailoa, getting shut out by the Bills.
Minnesota Vikings
Vikings fans held their breath more than a few times during the fourth quarter of their loss to Arizona, but they can exhale when it comes to the health of their running back. Dalvin Cook suffered just a “little ankle sprain” according to Mike Zimmer.
We will have to wait until later in the week to know if this will affect Cook’s availability for Week 3, but he was also looked at by trainers in the first half of Sunday’s game as well. Even with the injuries, Cook managed to carry the ball 22 times for 131 yards.
New England Patriots
The Patriots better hope Trent Brown’s calf injury doesn’t linger like it did a year ago because their right tackle situation isn’t great in his absence. Yasir Durant started at right tackle on Sunday, but was benched after allowing three sacks.
Justin Herron was the next man off the bench and while he didn’t allow any sacks, his play didn’t inspire much confidence. Bill Belichick was tight-lipped about the situation on Monday, but left guard Michael Onwenu did start 13 games at right tackle last season and could move back there in a pinch.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints defense struggled with Kwon Alexander, Marcus Davenport, Marshon Lattimore and C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Sunday. The loss of the cornerbacks especially loomed large as the Panthers targeted replacement Paulson Adebo 11 times, completing nine passes for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Lattimore and Gardner-Johnson were both late additions to the injury reports last week and we haven’t received updates on either guys. On the positive side, Bradley Roby played well in his first action of 2021. The Saints will play the Patriots in Week 3.
New York Giants
The Giants lost their starting left guard on Thursday night when Nick Gates went down with a fractured leg. He was replaced by Ben Bredeson, who allowed three quarterback pressures.
The Giants are extra thin at guard after putting Shane Lemieux on the IR with a knee injury prior to Week 2. Bredeson has just 148 snaps of NFL experience.
New York Jets
The Jets didn’t suffer any new injuries on Sunday, but Jamison Crowder was inactive due to a groin injury that “flared up” on Friday. Crowder is still waiting to make his 2021 debut after spending Week 1 on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles lost Brandon Graham for the year after the defensive end suffered a torn Achilles on Sunday. Graham hasn’t missed a game due to injury since 2011.
Ryan Kerrigan took most of Graham’s snaps in the second half, but has struggled as an Eagle. He’s managed just three quarterback pressures and zero tackles or QB hits in 66 defensive snaps.
Philadelphia will also be without Brandon Brooks for a while after the right guard suffered a strained pectoral muscle. Rookie second-round pick Landon Dickerson is the favorite to start in his place.
The Eagles also placed Zach Ertz on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday. Dallas Goedert and Jack Stoll are the only other tight ends on the roster, so a move could be made if Ertz isn’t active for Week 3.
Pittsburgh Steelers
T.J. Watt couldn’t finish Sunday’s game due to a groin injury. However, he is not yet ruled out for Week 3. If he is unable to go, expect Melvin Ingram III to start opposite Alex Highsmith. Ingram recorded his first sack since 2019 on Sunday and he leads the Steelers in quarterback hits.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers running back corps continues to get smaller as all three of their healthy backs suffered injuries on Sunday. Trey Sermon is in concussion protocol after taking a scary hit. JaMychal Hasty is “out for a while” with a high-ankle sprain and leading rusher Elijah Mitchell is just day-to-day with a shoulder injury.
As a result, veteran free agents Duke Johnson and Lamar Miller are scheduled to visit San Francisco this week.
Seattle Seahawks
D.K. Metcalf was limping at the end of Seattle’s game on Sunday, but Pete Carroll called it a sore knee. It shouldn’t be a lingering issue.
Right tackle Brandon Shell got an MRI on his ankle, and while the results seem positive, there’s no word as to whether he will miss Week 3. Veteran backup Jemarco Jones would be his replacement.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay didn’t suffer any new injuries on Sunday, but reserve linebacker Kevin Minter was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday. There is no word as to whether he tested positive, but the Bucs are hopeful to avoid another outbreak after placing four players on the COVID list in August.
Tennessee Titans
Taylor Lewan was inactive in Week 2 after getting injured in warm-ups. Mike Vrabel didn’t have an update on the left tackle’s knee on Monday.
The Titans finished the game with Ty Sambrailo at left tackle and Aaron Brewer at left guard after starting LG Roger Saffold left midway through the third quarter.
Sambrailo finished the game with zero quarterback pressures allowed and Brewer allowed a single QB hit.
Washington Football Team
Washington didn’t suffer any new injuries on Thursday night.
