The National Football League's injury list expanded significantly in Week 3, with a fresh wave of health concerns impacting numerous key players. Quarterback Sam Darnold, for instance, sustained a glute injury a mere five snaps into the season opener. He was later anticipated to return to practice on Wednesday, indicating a potential comeback against Washington.
Jaxson Dart, another signal-caller, suffered a knee injury during the New York Giants’ Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Reports suggest he will undergo season-ending surgery. While his ACL remained intact, his MCL, PCL, and meniscus were damaged, with the meniscus identified as the primary issue. The Giants are now set to rely on Jameis Winston at quarterback. Caleb Williams also contended with a hamstring injury, and Tyson Bagent, who stepped in for him, received a concussion diagnosis.
Key Offensive Losses
Beyond the quarterbacks, several prominent players across other positions found themselves sidelined. Myles Garrett, a significant defensive presence, was placed on injured reserve after Week 1. Alec Pierce aggravated a right heel injury in the Colts’ Sunday night defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was subsequently placed on IR following surgery to repair the injury. His earliest possible return is Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings, with coach Shane Steichen stating, "We're going to monitor it, and we'll go from there." Jonathan Brooks also landed on IR after a groin injury sustained in Carolina’s Week 2 victory over the Atlanta Falcons; he's expected to miss approximately six weeks.
Fantasy implications are already shifting dramatically for many teams. Running back Saquon Barkley missed the first half of Sunday’s game due to a neck stinger. He returned with a neck roll and managed to finish the contest. This suggests his availability for Week 3, though his snap count might be reduced in favor of Tank Bigsby and Jordan Shipley. Wide receiver Zay Flowers was inactive in Week 2 because of a hamstring injury. A full practice on Wednesday would indicate he's on track to play at Dallas on Sunday. Nico Collins is projected to miss two weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in practice last week; he was inactive on Sunday, and his original timetable appears unchanged.
Further Player Setbacks
DJ Moore departed last Thursday’s game against the Lions with a shoulder injury. He was diagnosed with a sprained AC joint and is considered day-to-day. Brock Bowers, a tight end, returned to practice after sitting out the first two games following a knee cleanup procedure. He's expected to make his season debut against the Saints. Andrei Iosivas suffered a torn ligament in his thumb, but this injury isn't anticipated to be season-ending. The extensive injury list also includes Jayden Daniels, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Drew Lock, Isaiah Likely, Malachi Fields, Cam Skattebo, Josh Downs, Tyler Warren, Jonathan Taylor, Keenan Allen, Laquon Treadwell, Darius Slayton, Chuba Hubbard, AJ Dillon, Austin Ekeler, Dohnte Meyers and Colbie Young, all factoring into fantasy discussions as teams adjust their strategies.