Week 3 Fantasy Football Injury Recap
As The Fantasy Footballers’ lead injury analyst and sports physical therapist, I’ll be recapping the previous week’s injuries and giving a projected timeline for recovery all season long. Let’s look at the biggest injuries from Week 3 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 4 and beyond.
If you’re looking for more detailed injury analysis, check out JoinTheFoot.com for additional premium resources, including access to the Injury Blitz Podcast hosted by yours truly. This bonus podcast, available to all #FootClan Premier members, is a short, yet informative injury podcast that drops late in the week in order to provide all the injury updates you need to set your lineup each week.
QB Justin Herbert
Aggravated Right High Ankle Sprain: Questionable for Week 4
Herbert injured his ankle in Week 2 and entered this week as a game-time decision after barely practicing this past week. Ultimately, he did play, but he aggravated his high ankle sprain and left the game early. Following the game, he was seen in a walking boot and told reporters his ankle was “a little more sore” than the previous week. John Harbaugh told reporters that when he saw his QB limping, he decided to pull him from the game. With the Chargers going on bye in Week 5, there’s a chance the Chargers let Herbert sit in Week 4 in order to give him extra time to recover. If Herbert does play next week against KC, his mobility will be severely limited as it was this past week against Pittsburgh.
Players impacted: Taylor Heinicke, Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey
QB Skylar Thompson
Rib Injury: Out Week 4 at a minimum
Thompson exited in the second half with a “very painful rib injury” per Mike McDaniel. I expect Thompson to sit in their next game as rib injuries are difficult for any NFL player, but they’re particularly difficult for a QB where you have to be able to rotate through your core to pass the ball. Assuming Thompson can’t go, either Tim Boyle or Snoop Huntley will start. For what it’s worth, Boyle was the team’s backup in Week 3 and relieved Thompson after the injury. Tua Tagovailoa remains on IR with his concussion.
Players impacted: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle
QB Sam Darnold
Minor Knee Injury: Day-to-day
Darnold tweaked his knee on Sunday against the Texans but is not expected to miss any time. He only missed one play then returned and was able to finish the game. On Monday, an MRI showed no structural damage, and Kevin O’Connell told reporters that he expects Darnold to play in Week 4 against the Packers. He may be limited this week in practice, but he’s not in danger of missing time.
Players impacted: Justin Jefferson, Jalen Nailor
RB Austin Ekeler
Concussion Protocol: Out Week 4
Ekeler was having a really nice game on Monday night against the Bengals when he was forced to exit early after taking a hit to the helmet. He’s now in the league’s concussion protocol and is very likely to miss Week 4 against the Cardinals due to the fact that his injury happened on Monday night compared to Thursday or Sunday. That gives him just six days to progress through the league’s concussion protocol, which is a tough thing to do in short order. Because of that shortened recovery timeline, I lean towards Ekeler missing Week 4.
Players impacted: Brian Robinson Jr.
Pittsburgh RBs – Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris
Warren – Knee; Harris – Shoulder: Situation to monitor
The league’s run heaviest offense is dealing with not just one but two injuries after Week 3. Jaylen Warren injured his knee in the team’s victory while Najee Harris picked up a shoulder injury at some point during the game and was seen with his right arm in a sling following the game. As of this writing, the specific diagnoses for these RBs is not known, but it’s worth mentioning that Warren was headed for an MRI on Monday. For now, this is a situation to monitor ahead of Week 4.
Players impacted: Cordarrelle Patterson
WR DeVonta Smith
Concussion Protocol: Week-to-week
Smith took a big hit following a reception on Sunday against the Saints and was quickly ruled out after being evaluated for a concussion. Smith now enters the league’s protocol, so he should be considered questionable for Week 4. Over the last two seasons, the vast majority of players in the protocol miss at least one game, so there’s a chance Smith could sit next week depending on how his symptoms resolve over the next six days. Fantasy managers will want to monitor Philly’s practice reports closely ahead of their game against the Bucs.
Players impacted: A.J. Brown, Jalen Hurts, Dallas Goedert
WR Adam Thielen
Hamstring Strain: Out Week 4 at a minimum, Likely out multiple weeks
Thielen strained his right hamstring on Sunday against the Raiders on his deep TD reception. Upon completing the play, Thielen immediately grabbed for his right hamstring, and he was quickly ruled out. Given his age, I would not be surprised to see Thielen’s injury linger for weeks. On Monday, head coach Dave Canales said that the team was still gathering info on Thielen’s injury, so he didn’t have any updates at that time. The vast majority of skill players miss at least one game with even a mild hamstring injury. Worth noting, Jordan Schultz reported that Thielen is “expected to miss some time” so it certainly sounds like this is going to be a multi-week injury. If this is a moderate injury, Thielen will be out 2-4 weeks. Either way, I do not expect him to play next week.
Players impacted: Diontae Johnson, Jonathan Mingo, Xavier Legette, Andy Dalton
TE Trey McBride
Concussion Protocol: Week-to-week
McBride took a helmet-to-helmet his with Lions DB Brian Branch on Sunday and was evaluated for a concussion after the hit. He was then ruled out and is now in the league’s concussion protocol. Like Smith, McBride should be considered “week-to-week” as he progresses through the league’s protocol. Monitoring his practice status will be key for fantasy managers this week.
Players impacted: Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., Greg Dortch, Michael Wilson
TE Sam LaPorta
Right Lateral Ankle Sprain: Questionable for Week 4
LaPorta got his right ankle trapped under a defender while blocking on one of the team’s TD scores, causing him to suffer a right lateral (low) ankle sprain. He was carted to the locker room for evaluation and did return, but he looked uncomfortable and quickly exited the game for a second time. After exiting for good, LaPorta was seen on the sideline with a heavy wrap and ice on the ankle. His Week 4 availability is in question if this is a moderate sprain. At a minimum, he’ll miss practice time this week. Worth noting, with the Lions set to go on bye in Week 5, there’s a chance the star TE sits in Week 4 in order to give him more time to get healthy. Recall that on top of the ankle, LaPorta missed a few weeks in camp battling a hamstring injury, so more time off could do wonders for his production following the bye. Regardless, I expect this ankle sprain to be a short term issue.
Players impacted: Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams
Additional Injury Notes
- QB Jordan Love – Love has not played since sufferingn his MCL injury in Week 1. He was back at a limited practice this past week and should be able to return in Week 4, likely with a brace. I expect his mobility out of the pocket to be limited.
- RB Christian McCaffrey – Remains on IR recovering from his Achilles tendinitis. News came out that he’s now in Germany for treatment, which suggests PRP injection. There’s hope this can improve his recovery, but PRP injections also require a period of relative rest and immobilization, meaning it will be longer than the four required weeks on IR.
- RB Joe Mixon – Did not practice at all last week coming off a mild medial/high ankle sprain. Has a chance to return in Week 4, but he’s unlikely to be 100% if he does play.
- RB Isiah Pacheco – Had surgery on his fractured fibula on September 18. He’ll return later this year but is expected to miss up to 8 weeks.
- RB Kenneth Walker – Missed Weeks 2 and 3 with an oblique injury. He has a chance to return this week, but with Charbonnet playing well in Week 4, the team could give Walker another week.
- WR Tank Dell – Was evaluated on Sunday for a hand injury but Texans HC DeMeco Ryans told reporters he should “be fine” moving forward. This is a situation to monitor.
- WR Cooper Kupp – Still recovering from a high ankle sprain. Sean McVay has already ruled him out for Week 4.
- WR AJ Brown – Has not played since Week 1 with a hamstring injury. Could return this week, but I lean towards him sitting in Week 4 and returning in Week 6 after the Week 5 bye week.
- WR Keenan Allen – Did not practice at all entering Week 2 or Week 3. He could return soon, but this plantar fasciitis injury is likely to continue to linger. Remember, that this injury is one that has been plaguing Allen since the end of 2023.
- TE Evan Engram – Missed Weeks 2 and 3 with a hamstring injury. Did not practice at all entering MNF, so he could easily miss one more game.
- TE David Njoku – Has missed the last two games with a high ankle sprain. Has a chance to return in Week 4 but the fact that he has not practiced since the injury says Week 5 may be more realistic.
- TE Taysom Hill – Was downgraded late in the week and missed Week 3 with a chest injury suffered in Week 2. Has a chance to return in Week 4.