Week 3 of the 2021 NFL regular season kicked off on Thursday night, as the Carolina Panthers defeated the Houston Texans 24-9. While they won their third straight game, the Panthers also suffered a couple of significant losses, as star running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a hamstring injury that will sideline him for a few weeks while first-round pick cornerback Jaycee Horn broke three bones in his foot.
Injuries are unfortunately a part of the game of football, and some teams are beginning to see them mount as we venture further into the regular season. Several starting quarterbacks are banged up this week, and Andy Dalton of the Chicago Bears has already been ruled out. There are other players who will be coming back this Sunday, however, such as Odell Beckham Jr. of the Cleveland Browns.
Below, we will examine all final injury reports for the 28 teams set to take the field on Sunday. If you have a question about a player’s status, this is the place to be.
Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants (-3)
- Falcons: WR Russell Gage (ankle), CB A.J. Terrell (concussion), WR Frank Darby (calf) OUT
- Giants: LB Cam Brown (hamstring) OUT; TE Evan Engram (calf), WR Kenny Golladay (hip) QUESTIONABLE
The Falcons will be missing a couple of important players on both sides of the ball this Sunday, as Gage and Terrell have been ruled out for Week 3. They along with Darby did not participate in practice all week.
There’s obvious concern for both Engram and Golladay on Sunday, but New York’s injury report did bring forth some good news. Running back Saquon Barkley has no injury designation after being a limited participant all week with his knee injury, and the same goes for safety Logan Ryan with his hamstring injury.
Arizona Cardinals (-7.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cardinals: OL Josh Miles (ankle), OL Brian Winters (personal) OUT; LB Devon Kennard (hamstring), CB Marco Wilson (ankle), OL Kelvin Beachum (ribs). WR DeAndre Hopkins (ribs), CB Byron Murphy (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
- Jaguars: CB Tre Herndon (knee), DL Roy Robertson-Harris (ankle), CB CJ Henderson (groin/illness) QUESTIONABLE
Hopkins did not practice Friday, raising even more questions on his availability for Sunday. He’ll be a game-time decision, but fellow wide receiver A.J. Green says Hopkins “doesn’t miss games.” Murphy, a starting cornerback, is also questionable and was limited in Friday’s practice. He’s a game-time decision.
Henderson returned to practice Friday after missing Thursday with an illness. If Henderson won’t be able to play, head coach Urban Meyer said Tyson Campbell would assume his duties on the outside.
Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns (-7.5)
- Bears: QB Andy Dalton (knee) OUT; DB Tashaun Gipson Sr. (hamstring) DOUBTFUL; LB Jeremiah Attaochu (hamstring), DL Akiem Hicks (illness/knee), DL Eddie Goldman (knee), WR Darnell Mooney (groin), WR Marquise Goodwin (ankle), DB Eddie Jackson (toe), DL Bilal Nichols (back) QUESTIONABLE
- Browns: OT Chris Hubbard (triceps), LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring) OUT; C JC Tretter (knee), OT Jedrick Wills (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
The Bears have a loaded injury report which is headlined by Dalton. He’s officially out, as Justin Fields will run the offense on Sunday. While seven players are listed as questionable for Chicago, Hicks, Goodwin, Jackson and Nichols were all full participants in practice on Friday.
There’s both good and bad when it comes to the Browns injury report. The good is that Odell Beckham Jr. was a full participant in practice all week and will make his 2021 debut on Sunday. The bad is that Cleveland is facing some serious questions along the offensive line. Hubbard will miss his second straight game with the triceps injury, while center Tretter and left tackle Wills Jr. are listed as questionable. They both were limited participants in practice on Friday, which is a step in the right direction.
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Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3)
- Bengals: WR Tee Higgins (shoulder), OG Xavier Su’a-Filo (knee), CB Trae Waynes (hamstring) DOUBTFUL
- Steelers: WR Diontae Johnson (knee), LB Alex Highsmith (groin), DT Carlos Davis (knee) OUT; LB T.J. Watt (groin) QUESTIONABLE
Ja’Marr Chase should get ready for touches this week. Higgins returned to practice on Friday, but was still limited. Su’a-Filo did not practice all week while Waynes was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday.
Ben Roethlisberger was a full participant in practice on Friday, and was not given an injury designation after suffering a pec injury against the Raiders. He won’t have his No. 1 receiver, however, as Johnson was ruled out with the knee injury he suffered last Sunday. Pittsburgh has some serious questions on defense, as Highsmith and Davis have already been ruled out. Their most important player in Watt is questionable with a groin injury, and was a limited participant in practice all week.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (-5.5)
- Colts: LB Jordan Glasgow (concussion), OT Braden Smith (foot/thumb) OUT; QB Carson Wentz (ankles) QUESTIONABLE
- Titans: CB Caleb Farley (shoulder), TE Anthony Firkser (knee), OLB Derick Roberson (knee) OUT; OLB Bud Dupree (knee) QUESTIONABLE
Firkser was ruled out, not surprising considering his knee injury kept him out of practice all week. The Titans will go with a tight end by committee of Geoff Swaim, MyCole Pruitt and Tommy Hudson. Taylor Lewan, who was inactive last week (knee), was not listed on the injury report. He’ll play against the Colts.
The Colts injury report is not as lengthy as it was last week, but it still has some noteworthy names. Wentz is officially listed as questionable, but did return to practice on Friday as a limited participant. It seems as though he’s trending in the right direction. Whomever plays quarterback on Sunday will be without starting tackle Smith, however, who is dealing with foot and thumb injuries.
Washington Football Team at Buffalo Bills (-7)
- Washington: DT Matt Ioannidis (knee) QUESTIONABLE
- Bills: CB Dane Jackson (knee), CB Levi Wallace (knee) QUESTIONABLE
Ioannidis is the only Washington player who is in danger of missing this week. Star running back Antonio Gibson was a limited participant earlier this week with his shoulder injury, but is now ready to roll.
Buffalo could be facing some issues in the secondary, as both Jackson and Wallace are questionable with knee injuries.
New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots (-3)
- Saints: TBD
- Patriots: TBD
Analysis to come.
Baltimore Ravens (-7.5) at Detroit Lions
- Ravens: TBD
- Lions: TBD
Analysis to come.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (-7)
- Chargers: TBD
- Chiefs: TBD
Analysis to come.
New York Jets at Denver Broncos (-10.5)
- Jets: TBD
- Broncos: TBD
Analysis to come.
Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders (-3.5)
- Dolphins: TBD
- Raiders: TBD
Analysis to come.
Seattle Seahawks (-2) at Minnesota Vikings
- Seahawks: TBD
- Vikings: TBD
Analysis to come.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1) at Los Angeles Rams
- Buccaneers: WR Jaydon Mickens (abdomen), LB Jason Pierre-Paul (hand, shoulder) OUT
- Rams: RB Darrell Henderson (ribs), TE Jacob Harris (hip) QUESTIONABLE
Bruce Arians was clear earlier in the week Mickens and Pierre-Paul would not travel with the team this weekend, confirming they won’t play in Sunday’s tilt vs. the Rams. Arians also said Antonio Brown and Kevin Minter are “very questionable” for Sunday’s game as both players are on the reserve/COVID-19 list, needing two negative tests in 24 hours in order to have a chance to play.
Rams head coach Sean McVay said the team will “be smart” on how they use Henderson in Friday’s practice, as he’ll be a game-time decision. Sony Michel would be set up to be the featured back if Henderson can’t play.
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (-3)
- Packers: TBD
- 49ers: TBD
Analysis to come.
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (-3.5)
Analysis to come
