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.
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 and Ultimate 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 Baker Mayfield
Right Thumb Dislocation: Out 3-4 Weeks
Mayfield hit his right hand on a defender during a follow through, and in the process, he dislocated his right thumb. On Monday, the MRI gave us good news with imaging showing no fracture, no tendon damage and most importantly, no ligament damage. This means the injury is strictly capsular in nature with the surrounding stabilizing ligaments intact, so no surgery will be required. From a healing perspective, Baker will have to battle swelling and pain in the thumb for a couple of weeks, but once he’s able to regain his strength and grip on the football, he should be able to resume playing with minimal long-term implications. For now, I’d consider Baker out for Weeks 4-6 with the possibility that he could return in Week 7 or 8. Until then, it’ll be UDFA Jalon Daniels under center.
Players impacted: Jalon Daniels, Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Ted Hurst, Cade Otton
RB De’Von Achane
Torn Left ACL: Out for the year
Achane’s 2026 season is over after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. The injury happened in the first half when he planted on his left leg and tried to cut up field. Unfortunately, this is the classic mechanism of injury for most non-contact ACL tears. It remains to be seen if there is additional damage to the joint, but if this is an isolated ACL tear, Achane will have a great chance to be ready for training camp and cleared for Week 1 of the 2027 season. Behind Achane, the Dolphins have Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon, but it’s worth noting that Wright was inactive in Week 3 because of a stinger and a foot injury. Jarquez Hunter and Carlos Washington are on the practice squad.
Players impacted: Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon
RB Breece Hall
Quad Strain: Out Week 4, Questionable for Week 5
Hall exited in the second half Sunday against the Lions with a quad injury and did not return. An MRI on Monday confirmed a mild quad strain for Breece with reporters describing him as “week to week.” Obviously, it’s difficult to play NFL RB with a quad injury, so even if this is a Grade I, I’d be very surprised if Hall can go in Week 4. For now, I’d consider him questionable for Week 5 unless we get more definitive information on the severity of the strain.
Players impacted: Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis
RB Travis Etienne Jr.
Left Hamstring Strain: Out multiple weeks
Achane took a carry in the second half, picked up speed and immediately grabbed for the back of his left thigh as he was sprinting for the sideline. He entered the week on the injury report because of a hamstring injury, so you never like to see these aggravation type injuries, which generally take a bit longer to heal. On Monday, head coach Kellen Moore didn’t provide an exact timeline on his RB but did confirm he’ll miss time. We should expect Etienne to miss multiple games with an outside chance he lands on IR if this is a Grade 2 injury.
Players impacted: Kendre Miller, Alvin Kamara
WR Justin Jefferson
Left Ankle Eversion Sprain: Questionable for Week 4
Jefferson got his left ankle and foot trapped under a defender while trying to change direction, causing an eversion (medial) sprain. Reporters on Monday are stating that Jefferson got “good news” on his MRI, so it sounds like we avoided an AJ Brown-style high ankle sprain situation, but I do have my concerns on his availability for Week 4. With the Vikings sitting at 3-0 and the bye week coming up in Week 6, they do have some flexibility with the face of their franchise. In other words, they could be conservative over the next two weeks in an effort to ensure JJetts is good to go for the rest of the season. At the very least, I expect minimal practice time this week for JJetts as he attempts to get swelling under control and regain strength/stability in the ankle.
Players impacted: Kyler Murray, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson
WR Mike Evans
Rib Injury: Questionable for Week 4
Death, taxes and San Francisco WR injuries. Before Week 3, SF placed Demarcus Robinson on IR with a high ankle sprain, so he joins Ricky Pearsall (PCL), De’Zhaun Stribling (Ankle) and Christian Kirk (Calf) on that list. This week, it was Mike Evans who got injured. He took a shot to the ribs on Sunday while hauling in a pass over the middle of the field. He left in obvious pain and discomfort, looking like he was struggling to catch his breath. Of course, the rib cage expands when inhaling, so it was likely pretty painful to try to breathe after taking that big hit to the mid-section. The location of where he got hit is usually more rib cartilage than the actual ribs themselves, and those are usually even more painful and more difficult to play through. He’s being called “day to day” by reporters, but I still wouldn’t be surprised to see Evans miss Week 4. If he does play, it’ll be tough to play full snaps. At the very least, we can expect minimal practice time this week, especially after he dealt with a hip injury last week.
Players impacted: Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey
WR Jalen Coker
Quad Strain: Doubtful for Week 4
Coker entered the week questionable because of an ankle injury, but he exited Week 3 with a quad strain and did not return. The reporting on the injury is optimistic with reporters calling the strain “mild.” If we assume this is a Grade I strain, he theoretically has a chance to play in Week 4, but he will not be at 100%. I’m labeling Coker as Doubtful given the schedule for Carolina and the pre-existing ankle sprain. To me, it makes a lot of sense for Carolina to rest Coker in Week 4 given that they have their bye in Week 5. Giving him that extra week off could help him get healthy for the remainder of the season. Either way, fantasy managers will need to monitor his health ahead of Week 4. Teammate Xavier Legette did not play in this game because of a knee injury that he suffered in Week 2, so it’s possible the Panthers enter next week’s game short handed in the WR room.
Players impacted: Bryce Young, Tetairoa McMillan, Darren Waller
WR Jalen McMillan
Aggravated PCL Injury: Will be placed on IR; Out 6+ weeks
McMillan missed multiple weeks in training camp because of an undisclosed knee injury, and in fact, he didn’t play in Week 1. He made his debut in Week 2 but was only a part-time player before re-injuring the same knee this past Sunday against the Vikings. We now know that the injury is a sprained PCL in his left knee. Per ESPN’s Jenna Laine, McMillan will have a second opinion, but this sounds like a Grade 2 PCL sprain. Traditionally, these take time to heal, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see McMillan miss half the season or longer. It’s shaping up to be a lost season for the former Washington Husky.
Players impacted: Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Ted Hurst
TE Terrance Ferguson
Right Medial Ankle Sprain: Out Week 4; Could miss multiple games
Ferguson was on the Rams’ injury report this week because of an ankle injury, and he was in and out of Sunday Night Football against the Broncos with that right ankle injury. In the first half, he appeared to aggravate the ankle injury while blocking. He attempted to continue playing but was unable to plant and cut off that right ankle. He did exit to the locker room for X-rays and returned with his ankle heavily taped, but he barely played after that. Following the game, Sean McVay didn’t provide an update on T Ferg’s health. Fellow TE Colby Parkinson was also questionable for this game because of a left knee injury, but he was able to play with a brace on his knee. Parkinson suffered a sprained AC joint in this game, so I expect to see him on the injury report ahead of Week 4 against the Eagles. We know the Rams love to play those multi-TE sets, and while they do have TE depth, they could be down their top options in the short term.
Players impacted: Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee