We’re officially through two weeks of the NFL season and the injuries are already piling up. San Francisco 49ers superstar Christian McCaffrey was placed on injured reserve with Achilles tendinitis, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will miss time with a fractured fibula, and the Los Angeles Rams are running out of wide receivers.
Here’s a list of the most significant players dealing with injuries and their latest statuses ahead of Week 3.
Quarterbacks
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Status: Questionable vs. Titans
Love sprained his MCL in the final seconds of Green Bay’s Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Backup QB Malik Willis replaced him in a 16-10 win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, going 12-for-14 passing for 122 yards and a score while running for 41 yards on six carries. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said, “If [Love is] ready, he’ll be ready. If he’s not, we’ll proceed with Malik.”
Love was a limited participant at practice on Friday.
“I’m hopeful that I can get to that 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: Questionable vs. Steelers
Herbert injured his right leg in the third quarter of Week 2’s 26-3 win against the Carolina Panthers trying to escape the pocket. He walked off the field but returned to the game. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said X-rays came back negative. He was a limited participant on Friday and NFL Network reported he will test out his ankle before Sunday’s matchup with the Steelers.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
Tagovailoa sustained at least the third concussion of his career in Week 2’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. On Sept. 17, Miami placed him on the injured reserve list, and he will be out until at least Week 8 vs. the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 27. There’s a strong chance he doesn’t return this season. Skylar Thompson is expected to start in his place.
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Status: Questionable vs. Chargers
Wilson has yet to play this season because of a calf injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that the Steelers expect him to miss more time and that as a result, Justin Fields will continue starting in his place. Pittsburgh faces the Chargers in Week 3.
Running backs
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
McCaffrey, arguably the biggest offensive threat in the NFL, was placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury and is expected to miss at least six weeks. Backup running back Jordan Mason has stepped up in his absence, averaging 5.1 yards a carry with 247 yards and two scores in two weeks.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
Many thought this was Pacheco’s season to breakout, but sadly 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 vs. Atlanta.
Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
Status: Out vs. Vikings
Mixon suffered an ankle injury midway through the Texans’ 19-13 win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, but it appears he avoided any long-term injury. He came back in 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 labeled Mixon as out vs. Minnesota on Sunday.
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Status: Doubtful vs. Dolphins
Walker is dealing with an oblique injury, and he missed Week 2 vs. the New England Patriots. Zach Charbonnet stepped in as starter and finished with 38 rushing yards with a score in Seattle’s 23-20 win. He had a limited practice with the team on Thursday.
Wide receivers
Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
Status: Out vs. 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 more targets by rookie QB Caleb Williams to go to DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet if Allen remains out. He did not practice Friday and was officially listed as out for this weekend.
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Status: Out vs. 49ers
The veteran wideout, who started the season with 18 receptions and 147 yards, could be placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. He was listed as out against San Francisco. It’s horrible news for Los Angeles, who already lost star receiver Puka Nacua. Speaking of that …
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Status: Out, placed on injured reserve
Nacua could be out until Week 9 with a posterior cruciate ligament strain he re-aggravated in Week 1. A breakout star in his first year — he broke a 63-year record for the most receiving yards for a rookie in NFL history last season — Nacua joins his teammate Cupp on the sidelines, greatly depleting Los Angeles’ offensive potential.
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Status: Out vs. Saints
Brown missed Philadelphia’s 22-21 loss to Atlanta on Monday with a hamstring injury he sustained at practice last week. He told ESPN he expects to miss a couple of weeks in recovery and will indeed be out against New Orleans.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Out vs. Rams
Samuel strained his calf late in San Francisco’s 23-17 loss to the Vikings. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters he will “probably miss a couple of weeks.” It’s a big blow to an offense that is already without McCaffrey. Brandon Aiyuk will need to step up more than his Week 2 effort, a four-reception, 43-yard game.
Tight ends
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Out vs. Rams
Another big blow for a San Francisco offense already dealing with injuries to star running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Kittle was downgrade to out this weekend with a hamstring injury.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Status: Out vs. Giants
Njoku missed Week 2 with an ankle injury, and the Browns officially on Friday ruled him out for Week 3.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Status: Questionable 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 that matchup. Expect him to suit up in a huge game against Baltimore. He participated in Wednesday’s practice.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Status: Doubtful vs. Eagles
Hill, New Orleans’ do-it-all “tight end,” sustained a chest injury in the Saints’ Week 2 win against the Cowboys. Head coach Dennis Allen said Hill avoided serious injury and is “doing good” but the team listed him as doubtful for the Philadelphia matchup.