NFL

NFL Week 3 injury report: Justin Herbert, Jordan Love game-time decisions, Justin Jefferson to play

by
SaC Bot
September 20, 2024

Two star quarterbacks will be game-time decisions on Sunday. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is dealing with a high ankle sprain, while Packers signal caller Jordan Love’s rapid recovery from his knee injury has made his status for Sunday a possibility.

Herbert and Love are the headliners, but there are plenty of other notable injuries to sort through. Here’s a look at every team’s final injury Week 3 report, along with some analysis as to what those injuries could mean for Sunday.

All NFL odds courtesy of SportsLine consensus.

Giants: CB Nick McCloud (knee) OUT; OLB Brian Burns (groin), ILB Darius Muasau (knee) QUESTIONABLE
Browns: TE David Njoku (ankle), RB Pierre Strong Jr. (hamstring) OUT; OT Jack Conklin (knee), OT Jedrick Wills (knee) QUESTIONABLE

Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder) has no injury designation for Sunday after appearing on the injury report this week. For the Browns, Wills was limited all week in practice, while Conklin was limited after not appearing on the injury report the previous two days. Fortunately for the Browns, they have a very capable backup tackle in James Hudson III, a four-year veteran who started in the team’s first two games.

TBA

Bears: WR Keenan Allen (heel, personal), FB Khari Blasingame (hand/knee), DL Zacch Pickens (groin), RB Travis Homer (finger) OUT; OL Nate Davis (groin) QUESTIONABLE
Colts: None

With Allen still out, this should give rookie Rome Odunze more targets after he was targeted just one during the Bears’ first three games. Davis was a full participant on Friday, so the odds of him playing on Sunday appear to be good.

Texans: RB Damien Pierce (hamstring) OUT; RB Joe Mixon (ankle) DOUBTFUL; C Jarrett Patterson (calf), C Juice Scruggs (groin), S M.J. Stewart (knee) QUESTIONABLE
Vikings: WR Jordan Addison (ankle), OLB Dallas Turner (knee), LB Ivan Pace Jr. (quad) OUT

Mixon didn’t practice all week, so it appears that Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers will get the carries for Houston. Patterson didn’t practice on Friday, while Scruggs was limited the past two days.

While Addison’s absence hurts, the Vikings will have Justin Jefferson (quad), who was a full practice participant on Friday. Look for Jalen Nailor to get more targets with Addison out.

Eagles: WR A.J. Brown (hamstring) OUT; CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (foot) QUESTIONABLE

The Eagles desperately need a wideout other than DeVonta Smith to step up with Brown out. That player could be Britain Covey, who has caught each of his six targets through two games. Expect Smith, Saquon Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert to receiver the most of Jalen Hurts‘ targets, though.

Chargers: Junior Colson (hamstring) OUT; QB Justin Herbert (ankle), WR Josh Palmer (elbow/calf), OLB Bud Dupree (illness), S Alohi Gilman (knee), CB Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) QUESTIONABLE
Steelers: G Isaac Seumalo (pec), TE MyCole Pruitt (kneee) OUT; OT Troy Fautanu (knee), QB Russell Wilson (calf) QUESTIONABLE

As noted earlier, Herbert revealed Friday that he is currently dealing with a high ankle injury. Herbert didn’t practice Friday, was limited Thursday and did not practice on Wednesday. Backup Easton Stick, who went 0-4 as the team’s starting quarterback in 2023, would start against Pittsburgh if Herbert can’t go.

For the Steelers, Fautanu’s injury occurred on Friday, which means that former first-round pick Broderick Jones may get the start after he was benched during last week’s win over the Broncos. Rookie wideout Roman Wilson is set to make his NFL debut after an ankle injury kept him sidelined throughout the preseason.

TBA

Ravens: G Malaesale Aumavae-Laulu (personnal) OUT; WR Deonte Harty (calf), LB David Ojabo (quad), CB Nate Wiggins (neck/concussion) QUESTIONABLE
Cowboys: WR Jalen Brooks (ankle), DT Mazi Smith (back), TE John Stephens (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE

Harty and Ojabo were full practice participants on Friday, while Wiggins was limited for a second straight day. As expected, Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb (ankle) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (foot) are good to go after being on this week’s injury report. Each of the Cowboys’ questionable players were limited on Friday.

TBA