We’re officially two weeks into the NFL season and the injuries are already piling up. San Francisco 49ers superstar Christian McCaffrey has been placed on Ihurt Lto book Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will be out due to Achilles tendonitis with a fractured fibulaand the Los Angeles Rams are short on receivers.
Here’s a list of the most important players dealing with injuries and their latest statuses heading into Week 3.
Quarterbacks
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Status: Doubtful vs. Titans
Love suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in the last seconds of Green Bay’s Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Backup quarterback Malik Willis replaced him in a 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, going 12-of-14 for 122 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 41 yards on six carries. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said: “If [Love is] ready, he will be ready. If he is not, we will continue with Malik.”
Love participated in limited practice Friday.
“I hope I can get to a 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: Doubtful vs. Steelers
Herbert injured his right leg in the third quarter of Week 2’s 26-3 win over the Carolina Panthers while trying to escape the pocket. He left the field but returned to the game. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said X-rays were negative. He was a limited participant Friday, and NFL Network reported he would test his ankle before Sunday’s game against the Steelers.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
Tagovailoa suffered at least his third concussion of his career in a 31-10 Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. On September 17, Miami placed him on the reserve injured listand he’ll be out at least until Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 27. There’s a good chance he won’t return this season. Skylar Thompson is expected to start in his place.
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Status: Doubtful regarding chargers
Wilson has yet to play this season because of a calf injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that the Steelers expect him to miss more time and that Justin Fields will continue to replace him. Pittsburgh faces the Chargers in Week 3.
The running backs
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
McCaffrey, arguably the NFL’s top offensive threat, was placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury and is expected to miss at least six weeks. Backup running back Jordan Mason has picked up the slack in his absence, averaging 5.1 yards per carry with 247 yards and two touchdowns in two weeks.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
Many thought this season would be Pacheco’s, but unfortunately, 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 against Atlanta.
Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
Status: Eliminated against the Vikings
Mixon suffered an ankle injury midway through the Texans’ 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, but he appeared to avoid any long-term injury. He returned to the game later in the second half and finished with 25 yards on nine carries.
While he may not miss multiple games, the Texans officially declared Mixon out against Minnesota on Sunday.
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Status: Doubtful vs. Dolphins
Walker is dealing with an oblique injury and missed Week 2 against the New England Patriots. Zach Charbonnet took over and finished with 38 rushing yards and a touchdown in Seattle’s 23-20 win. He had a limited practice with the team on Thursday.
Wide Receivers
Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
Status: Eliminated against the 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 rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to target DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet more if Allen remains out. He did not practice Friday and has been officially listed as out for this weekend.
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Status: Eliminated against the 49ers
The veteran receiver, who started the season with 18 receptions and 147 yards, could be placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. He was on injured reserve against San Francisco. This is terrible news for Los Angeles, which already lost star receiver Puka Nacua. Speaking of which…
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
Nacua could be out until Week 9 with a strained ACL that he reaggravated in Week 1. A budding star in his rookie year — he broke a 63-year-old record for most receiving yards by a rookie in NFL history last season — Nacua joins teammate Cupp on the sidelines, significantly reducing Los Angeles’ offensive potential.
AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Status: Eliminated against the Saints
Brown missed Philadelphia’s 22-21 loss to Atlanta on Monday with a hamstring injury he suffered in practice last week. He told ESPN he expected to miss a few weeks recovering and would indeed be out against New Orleans.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Eliminated against the Rams
Samuel tore his calf late in San Francisco’s 23-17 loss to the Vikings. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters he’ll “probably miss a couple of weeks.” It’s a big blow to an offense already without McCaffrey. Brandon Aiyuk will need to do more than his Week 2 effort, a four-reception, 43-yard game.
Tight ends
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Eliminated against the Rams
It’s another blow to a San Francisco offense already struggling with injuries to star running back Christian McCaffrey and receiver Deebo Samuel. Kittle was benched over the weekend with a hamstring injury.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Status: Eliminated against the Giants
Njoku missed Week 2 with an ankle injury, and the Browns officially ruled him out for Week 3 on Friday.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Status: Doubtful 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 this game. Expect him to be in uniform for a big game against Baltimore. He participated in Wednesday’s practice.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Status: Doubtful against Eagles
Hill, New Orleans’ versatile tight end, suffered a chest injury in the Saints’ Week 2 win over the Cowboys. Head coach Dennis Allen said Hill avoided serious injury and is “doing well,” but the team listed him as doubtful for the game against Philadelphia.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
