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: C/G Erik McCoy (calf) OUT
- Patriots: OL Trent Brown (calf), DB Adrian Phillips (not injury related), LB Josh Uche (back) QUESTIONABLE
McCoy did not practice all week, and is the only player given an injury designation. Marshon Lattimore (hand) was a full participant in Friday’s practice — and will play against New England. Cesar Ruiz will play center.
The good news for New England? Damien Harris (finger), Matt Judon (knee), and Kyle Van Noy (throat) were not given injury designations and will play Sunday. Brown did not play last week and was limited Friday. Personal reasons have kept Phillips out.
Baltimore Ravens (-7.5) at Detroit Lions
- Ravens: T Ronnie Stanley (ankle), DE Derek Wolfe (hip/back) OUT; S DeShon Elliott (concussion), CB Tavon Young (knee), WR Marquise Brown (ankle) CB Jimmy Smith (ankle), QB Lamar Jackson (illness), LB Chris Board (other), LB Pernell McPhee (shoulder) QUESTIONABLE
- Lions: LB Jamie Collins Sr. (not injury related) OUT; DE Michael Brockers (shoulder), OLB Trey Flowers (shoulder/knee), OLB Julian Okwara (neck), OLB Romeo Okwara (shoulder), WR Kalif Raymond (thigh), RB D’Andre Swift (groin), DE Kevin Strong (concussion/thigh) QUESTIONABLE
As if the Ravens weren’t already banged upm, outside linebacker Justin Houston, nose tackle Brandon Williams, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday. Baltimore doesn’t seem concerned about Jackson not being available to play Sunday (he was a full participant in Friday’s practice). Brown and Smith were limited in Friday’s practice, but practicing is a good indicator they will play Sunday.
The Lions are banged up too, but Collins is the only player ruled out as he seeks a trade. Tyrell Williams was placed on injured reserve due to a head injury, so Amon-Ra St. Brown is in line to become the top wide receiver. Flowers did not practice all week while the rest of the questionable players were limited.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (-7)
- Chargers: CB Chris Harris Jr. (shoulder) OUT; DL Justin Jones (Calf) DOUBTFUL; DE Joey Bosa (knee) QUESTIONABLE
- Chiefs: DE Frank Clark (hamstring) DOUBTFUL; DT Chris Jones (wrist), CB Charvarius Ward (quad) QUESTIONABLE
While it appears Clark won’t play against the Chargers, head coach Andy Reid pointed out it’s the other hamstring injured (not the one that was bothering Clark earlier in the year). Reid said he won’t put guys out there if they can’t go. Reid also said Ward is getting treatment on his quad and didn’t practice Friday. Jones was a limited participant.
Chargers head coach Brandon Staley gave an update on Bosa’s injury, saying is knee was sore and the coaching staff wanted to be careful with the injury. Staley didn’t consider the injury a long-term one.
New York Jets at Denver Broncos (-10.5)
- Jets: RB Tevin Coleman (illness/Non-COVID) OUT; WR Jamison Crowder (groin) DOUBTFUL; DL John Franklin-Myers (calf) QUESTIONABLE
- Broncos: NT Mike Purcell (knee), G Graham Glasgow (illness) QUESTIONABLE
Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Crowder will be a game-time decision for Sunday and thinks he’ll “jump right in” if he’s good to go with his knowledge of the scheme. Zach Wilson (groin) practiced in full all week and was not given an injury designation.
Both players that are questionable for the Broncos have a good chance of playing. Head coach Vic Fangio thinks Glasgow will play Sunday, which is great news for Denver’s offensive line.
Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders (-3.5)
- Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa (ribs) OUT
- Raiders: G Richie Incognito (calf), S Dallin Leavitt (concussion), S Roderic Teamer (ankle) OUT; RB Josh Jacobs (ankle) DOUBTFUL
Tagovailoa was ruled out for the Dolphins Thursday, meaning Jacoby Brissett will get the start Sunday. Will Fuller had a full week of practice and will make his season debut for the Dolphins.
Neither Jacobs nor Incognito practiced all week. Incognito was already ruled out and Jacobs will likely join him with lingering toe and ankle injuries. John Simpson will start for Incognito and Peyton Barber and Kenyan Drake will split the workload if Jacobs is out.
Seattle Seahawks (-2) at Minnesota Vikings
- Seahawks: T Brandon Shell (ankle), WR Dee Eskridge (concussion), RB Rashaad Penny (calf) OUT; LB Benson Mayowa (neck) QUESTIONABLE
- Vikings: LB Anthony Barr (knee), T Christian Darrisaw (groin), CB Harrison Hand (hamstring) OUT; RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
Eskridge and Penny will miss their second consecutive game for the Seahawks. Defensive tackle Bryan Mone (elbow) is set to return after not being given an injury designation after missing last week’s game.
All eyes will be on Cook in Minnesota, who is questionable for Sunday’s contest. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said Cook would really have to be hurting in order to miss the game. Cook did not practice all week, but Zimmer thinks he’ll be ready to go on game day if missing the whole week of practice.
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: G Elgton Jenkins (ankle) DOUBTFUL; TE Dominique Dafney (hip) QUESTIONABLE
- 49ers: DL Kevin Givens (ankle), RB JaMycal Hasty (ankle) OUT; RB Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) DOUBTFUL; DL Arik Armstead (adductor), DT Javon Kinlaw (knee), CB Emmanuel Moseley (knee) QUESTIONABLE
Trey Sermon cleared the concussion protocols, so he’ll be good to play Sunday. The 49ers are carrying four running backs currently and are expected to promote Trenton Cannon and Kerryon Johnson regardless of whether Mitchell can play or not. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Mitchell can play if he feels like he can and doctors say he can’t risk further injury, so there’s hope he’ll suit up.
Green Bay may be down its left tackle in Jenkins, who hasn’t practiced all week. Head coach Matt LaFleur says there’s an “outside chance” he’ll play if he improves within the next 48 hours. Dennis Kelly and Yosh Nijman are the candidates to step in at left tackle if Jenkins can’t go.
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (-3.5)
Analysis to come
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