Week 3 is already shaping up with a long injury ledger, and a few names jumped off the page before the final reports even came in. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is set to play this weekend for the first time since he hurt his hip in the early stages of Seattle’s Week 1 win over the Patriots.
Rams receiver Puka Nacua is headed toward a doubtful tag for Sunday night’s game against the Broncos in Denver because of hip and groin issues. The 49ers are bracing to be without Nick Bosa for a few weeks after he pulled his calf in Thursday’s practice, and Jaxson Dart had surgery Friday after the season-ending knee injury he suffered Monday night against the Rams.
His recovery timeline is 4-6 months.
The Texans may be dealing with the most painful absence of the weekend. Nico Collins is out with a hamstring injury, and Houston’s offense has already shown how thin it can look without him.
Last week, the Texans managed only six points, with Dalton Schultz leading the way at 140 receiving yards while no one else topped 37. Houston is also missing Ed Ingram, while Trent Brown is questionable after logging a full practice Friday, so the offensive line could be stretched even thinner.
Minnesota, by contrast, got a cleaner report. The Vikings will be without center Nick Samac and punter Brett Thorson, but the bigger development is Aaron Jones.
He went from no practice Wednesday to limited work Thursday and then full participation Friday, and he carries no injury designation into the weekend. That leaves Johnny Hekker to handle punting duties Sunday.
In Chicago, the quarterback picture is still murky for Monday night. Caleb Williams is out of practice with a hamstring injury, Tyson Bagent remains in the concussion protocol, and Ben Johnson said he expected Williams to miss some time.
That opens the door for Case Keenum. The Bears did get a better sign from Kyle Monangai, who moved from no practice Thursday to a full session Friday.
A few other teams are waiting on game-time calls. In Buffalo, Joe Brady said Keon Coleman and DJ Moore will be game-time decisions after both were limited Friday.
“I'm going to give them all the way through till game time,” Brady said. “And I have confidence in them.
When they're ready to go, they'll be ready to go.”
Carolina has its own mix of bad news and optimism. Devin Lloyd, who won NFC Defensive Player of the Week after piling up nine tackles, a sack, two interceptions, three pass breakups and a pick-six, is out after not practicing all week.
Dave Canales said Jalen Coker should be good to go, while Xavier Legette is a game-time decision. On the other side, the Browns will be without Teven Jenkins for the third straight week, though Todd Monken said he’s hopeful Tyson Campbell and Grant Delpit can play.
The Chargers will be short-handed against Buffalo, with Kayode Awosika, Charlie Kolar, Elijah Molden, Trey Pipkins III, Brenen Thompson and Dalvin Tomlinson all out, plus Trey Lance and Rodney Shelley questionable. Lance was added late, and if he can’t go, the Chargers can elevate DJ Uiagalelei from the practice squad. Jim Harbaugh said Trevor Penning will start at left guard in Awosika’s place.
Las Vegas is still waiting on Brock Bowers, who is questionable with a knee issue and remains on track for a possible season debut. He was limited Wednesday and Thursday, then did not practice Friday, which Klint Kubiak said was part of the plan. Aidan O’Connell is also questionable because of a personal matter, while Treydan Stukes is out with a concussion.
New Orleans will be missing Barion Brown and Christen Miller, and Martin Emerson Jr. logged a limited Friday session after not practicing earlier in the week. The Saints are also dealing with the absence of Jordyn Tyson, who hurt his hamstring before the season and is on injured reserve with a potential October return.
Elsewhere, the final reports for a number of games were listed as TBA, including Jets-Lions, Patriots-Jaguars, Chiefs-Dolphins, Titans-Giants, Bengals-Steelers, Seahawks-Commanders, Cardinals-49ers, Ravens-Cowboys, Rams-Broncos and Eagles-Bears for the games still awaiting Saturday’s final statuses.
In Other News...
Rams Suddenly Have A Puka Nacua Problem Heading Into Week 3
Puka Nacuas status has become a real storyline for the Rams heading into Week 3, even if Sean McVay is trying to keep the concern in perspective. The head coach said Nacua is dealing with a minor injury and may not be available this week, but he also framed it as something that should not linger, which at least gives Los Angeles some reason to stay calm for now.
Still, any uncertainty around Nacua lands differently for a Rams offense that has leaned on his presence as a central part of its identity. McVay did not paint this as a long-term issue, but the fact that availability is in question at all is enough to put a spotlight on the next few days of practice and the way the team manages its passing game if Nacua is limited or held out. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Suddenly Have A Broncos Decision Fans Will Want To Watch
Ronnie Rivers calf injury has created an immediate special teams opening for the Rams heading into their game against the Broncos, and Sean McVay said the club will turn to either Dean Connors or Jordan Waters to handle the spot. Rivers is expected to land on injured reserve with a recovery timeline of four to six weeks, so this is more than a one-game shuffle, even if the first decision arrives before the Denver matchup.
The choice comes down to special teams value, and both Connors and Waters are chasing their first NFL appearances. For a Rams roster trying to keep the bottom of the depth chart steady while one of its core special teams pieces recovers, the next call at that spot could offer an early look at how the team wants to manage the position over the coming weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Rams May Lose The Offensive Fix Sean McVay Just Found
The Rams found a useful wrinkle in their Week 2 win over the Giants, leaning more heavily on 13 personnel after Puka Nacua was out of the lineup. It gave Sean McVay another way to steady the offense and keep the structure of the passing game intact, with the tight end room helping bridge the gap as the receivers shuffled around the game plan.
Now the follow-up is whether that solution holds up for Week 3 against the Broncos. Colby Parkinson has missed practice this week because of a knee injury, leaving his status uncertain, while Terrance Ferguson was a full participant Thursday and is expected to play. If Parkinson cannot go, the Rams could be forced to keep adjusting on the fly just as they try to preserve the rhythm they found last Sunday. [Read more 🡒]