Many QB rooms around the league were shaken up in Week 2 of the NFL due to injury. In San Francisco’s case, that is about the only position group left standing at this early start to the season. Let’s take a look at the fantasy football-relevant injuries heading into NFL Week 3 with the SGPN Fantasy Injury Report.
EXCLUSIVE SGPN FANTASY CONTENT
SGPN Fantasy Football Rankings
Week 3 Late Inactives:
Antonio Brown (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dalvin Cook (RB) Minnesota Vikings
Darrell Henderson (RB) Los Angeles Rams
Denzel Mims (WR) New York Jets
Jamison Crower (WR) New York Jets
Preston Williams (WR) Miami Dolphins
Albert Wilson (WR) Miami Dolphins
Josh Jacobs (RB) Las Vegas Raiders
Week 3 1 PM Inactives:
Tee Higgins (WR) Cincinnati Bengals
Jarvis Landry (WR) Cleveland Browns
Russel Gage (WR) Atlanta Falcons
Diontae Johnson (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers
Anthony Firkser (TE) Tennessee Titans
Josh Reynolds (WR) Tennessee Titans
Andy Dalton (QB) Chicago Bears
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB) New England Patriots
9/24/21 Update
Tee Higgins (WR) Cincinnati Bengals
Shoulder Injury, Initial Injury: 9/19/21?
The Cincinnati WR’s injury situation has a bit of mystery to it. Higgins did not noticeably appear to pick up an injury in last week’s game but did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Not much has been disclosed on the nature and severity of the injury, other than it is a shoulder injury and Higgins is officially listed as doubtful for Week 3. It was reported that Higgins did not appear to be very limited on the rehab field Thursday and the portion of practice available to the media Friday. This is a situation that will need to be monitored all the way until inactive reports are given out 90 minutes before kickoff. If Higgins is able to lower his shoulder pain enough to play, he should still receive a good volume of targets. Bengals WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd receive a boost if Higgins is unavailable.
Higgins is officially listed as doubtful for Week 3 but his practice Friday leaves the door open for him to play. – MONITOR
Deandre Hopkins (WR) Arizona Cardinals
Rib Injury, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
The Cardinals number one WR has been no stranger to the injury report throughout his career. Hopkins has frequently missed practices during a game week with minor injuries and produced at a high level on Sundays. This particular case is worth noting as he did not participate in any practices this week, not even in a limited fashion. Hopkins is officially listed as questionable for Week 3 with a rib injury. Rib injuries are painful, don’t feel good when hit, and can limit a receiver’s catch radius. However, given Hopkin’s history with minor injuries, I still expect him to play this week but this is another situation to monitor until kickoff.
Hopkins is listed as questionable and will be a game-time decision. History and his ability to produce with injuries have him as a start if he’s playing. – START/MONITOR
Carson Wentz (QB) Indianapolis Colts
Ankle Sprains, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
It did not take long for the Colts QB to find himself back on the fantasy football injury report. Wentz suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter last week and was unable to return for his team’s final two drives with the game on the line. It is now being reported that Wentz is dealing with ankle sprains in both legs, with the uncertainty of the sprains unknown. Wentz being unable to return to the game and him dealing with issues on both legs were not good signs for his Week 3 availability.
Wentz missed two consecutive practices to start the week on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing doubt to his game status. In a bit of a surprise, Wentz was able to practice Friday with his ankles supported by taping. Even more encouraging news are reports that the QB seemed to be moving around well and his mobility was not significantly limited. At this point it’s clear the Colts are really pushing for him to play. As long as Wentz’s ankles don’t have too much swelling or soreness after practice, he will likely play on Sunday. It is unclear whether Colts QB Jacob Eason or Brett Hundley would get the start if Wentz is out.
Wentz is officially listed as questionable with his ankle sprains and will be a game time decision. His mobility is still in question for me, making him a sit for me this week. – SIT/MONITOR
Dalvin Cook (RB) Minnesota Vikings
Mild Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
The Vikings stud RB suffered an ankle sprain during the second half of his Week 2 shootout with the Cardinals. The good news initially was that Cook was able to return to the game and play on the final drive. However, Cook was unable to practice all week except for what is being reported as a very limited Friday session. With the Vikings being winless, and how vital Cook is to this team I would expect him to try to make himself available for Sunday. This now becomes a riskier play with Cook clearly not at a 100% but the matchup against this poor Seahawks defense is too good. Monitor the situation to make sure he is available, but if Cook is playing, the opportunity is too good not to start him. Serviceable backup RB Alexander Mattison would be in line for a heavy workload if Cook was unable to play in Week 3.
Listed as questionable and a game time decision, make sure Cook is available Sunday. If so, he is too good and the Seahawks defense is too bad not to start him, even if he’s not 100% – START/MONITOR
Josh Jacobs (RB) Las Vegas Raiders
Toe/Ankle Injury, Initial Injury: 9/7/21- Toe, 9/13/21- Ankle
The Raiders RB has been battling a slew of injuries and illnesses these past few weeks. Jacobs is currently dealing with both a toe and ankle injury. In training camp he picked up a turf toe injury, which occurs when ligaments of the big toe are damaged. This injury can linger throughout the season and will often reinjure if not given proper rest and healing time. Jacobs was able to play in Week 1, scoring two TDs despite looking limited on the field. Unfortunately he suffered an ankle injury in that game and we unable to practice or play in Week 2.
The hope was for Jacobs to rest up last week and be ready for the Raiders Week 3 game against the Dolphins. However, Raider’s head coach Jon Gruden said Jacobs was “very questionable” to play against the Dolphins. Jacobs was unable to practice all week and is not expected to play against Miami. Although doubtful, if Jacobs was able to play he would be limited and not worth the fantasy football start. Raider’s RBs Kenyan Drake and Peyton Barber split carries last week in Jacob’s absence.
Jacobs Week 3 status is currently listed as doubtful and he is not expected to play after missing practice all week. – MONITOR/SIT
Diontae Johnson (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers
Knee injury, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson has proved he is a vital part of the offense to start the season. With 14 catches and a TD in two games, he has also been a quality fantasy football receiver. Johnson suffered a knee injury on the very last play of an already out-of-reach game in Week 2. There have not been many details provided yet but it is being reported that Johnson did not suffer a serious knee injury. After not practicing all week, Johnson has officially been ruled out for Week 3. Details on the nature of the knee injury have still not been provided.
Johnson has avoided a long term knee injury but is officially out Week 3. – SIT
Russell Gage (WR) Atlanta Falcons
Ankle Injury, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
The Falcons projected WR2 this season has got off to a disappointing start to the year. Gage injured his ankle in the second quarter of his Week 2 game but he was able to return to the game after halftime. The severity of the ankle injury is currently unknown but Gage being able to return to the game is a positive sign for his Week 3 availability but watch this report.
Gage has been very limited in practice this week and is currently considered unlikely to play in Week 3. The team will reevaluate his ankle on Friday to make an official determination on his game status. Falcons WR1 Calvin Ridley, TE Kyle Pitts, and RB/WR Cordarelle Patterson could see a boost in targets with Gage’s absence.
Falcon’s WR Gage suffered an ankle injury and is officially out Week 3. – SIT
9/23/21 Update
Elijah Mitchell (RB) San Francisco 49ers
Shoulder injury, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
San Francisco rookie RB Elijah Mitchell was originally thought to have suffered a stinger, a minor shoulder injury, but this seems to have been misleading. Mitchell has now been unable to participate in practice two days in a row, meaning that the injury is likely more severe than the initial diagnosis. Mitchell’s situation needs to be monitored closely but if he is unable to practice Friday, it would be very unlikely he is going to play Week 3. San Francisco’s backfield is quite the mystery this week, as it seemingly always is.
Mitchell suffered a shoulder injury that has currently kept him out of practice this week and is officially doubtful for Week 3. – SIT
Trey Sermon (RB) San Francisco 49ers
Concussion, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
Another horse on the San Francisco RB carousel was injured on Sunday, with a concussion. On what was his first NFL carry, rookie RB Trey Sermon was hit in the head and has been put in the concussion protocol. Sermon was unable to return to the game last Sunday and his Week 3 status is currently up in the air. The RB would have to be cleared by a neurologist to pass the concussion, practice, and play in Week 3. The severity of the concussion is unknown at this time, but recent concussions have been found to increase the likelihood of a future bodily injury.
Concussions are still largely a mystery, especially in the world of sports. However, through research studies analyzing injury data, there are some key pieces of information that have been found. Once a player returns to playing after a concussion, for a 12-week period, that player is at a higher risk for another injury. One study found a player coming off a concussion is 2.35 times more likely to be injured than a healthy player. Research has also shown, most players are able to return to playing in less than seven days from the initial injury. This percentage decreases drastically if the player lost consciousness during the injury.
Sermon is currently in the final stage of concussion protocol and is likely to play Sunday. The uncertainty of the 49ers backfield still makes Sermon a risky play here. – *Risky Start*/SIT
9/22/21 Update
Tua Tagovailoa (QB) Miami Dolphins
Rib Injury, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
The Dolphins young QB was hit in the ribs and knocked out of the game in the first quarter last Sunday. It was a scary sight for Tua-believing Dolphins fans, as the QB was carted off the field and was unable to return to the game. After initial reports of no structural damage, it has been announced that after further testing, Tua does have fractured ribs.
Tua has officially been ruled out for this week and would likely miss multiple weeks with this injury. The recovery timeline is normally three to eight weeks with this injury, depending on the severity of the fracture. This is a painful injury, that will limit his mobility and will discourage him from taking hits. Dolphins backup Jacoby Brissett will be taking over the starting QB position during Tua’s absence.
Tua has fractured ribs, ruling him out for this week. He will likely miss multiple weeks. – SIT/DROP
Antonio Brown (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
COVID-19 List
Bucs WR3 Antonio Brown has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday making his status for Week 3 uncertain. Brown is vaccinated, but will still need to produce two negative COVID tests 24 hours apart to be able to play on Sunday. The Bucs high-powered offense has plenty of options as they face off against the Rams this week. WRs Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Scotty Miller would see a boost in targets if Brown is unavailable this week.
Brown was added to the COVID-19 list making his Week 3 availability uncertain. – MONITOR
Jarvis Landry (WR) Cleveland Browns
MCL Sprain, Initial injury: 9/19/21
Cleveland WR Jarvis Landry suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of his Week 2 game against the Texans. Landry was unable to return to the game but it appears a severe injury was avoided. An MRI revealed a mild MCL sprain that will limit him for a few weeks. Landry has been officially placed on the short-term IR and will miss at least three weeks. An MCL injury refers to damage to the inner part of your knee and is key in side-to-side knee stability.
This injury usually comes with a two to three-week recovery timeline. This injury would limit the WR’s route running and run after catch ability due to lack of knee stability until properly healed. Cleveland WR’s Donovan Peoples-Jones and Odell Beckham Jr., who is slated to return this week, would see a bump in value in Landry’s absence. Monitor this situation beyond the Week 3 Injury Report.
Landry will miss at least three weeks after being placed on the short-term IR. – SIT
Andy Dalton (QB) Cincinnati Bengals
Bone Bruise, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
Chicago fans gave Dalton their friendliest applause all season, as he was leaving the field and letting the start of the Field’s era begin. Dalton was injured while scrambling in the second quarter of Week 2, with a non-contact knee injury. An MRI showed that Dalton avoided a major knee injury but is dealing with a bone bruise in his knee. A bone bruise refers to damage to the surface of a bone, which causes fluid and blood to build up. This is a painful injury that requires the swelling to go down for proper healing.
The recovery timeline for a bone bruise is pretty variable ranging from a few weeks to a few months. The timeline is based on how much bone damage occurred but in any case, it is very unlikely Dalton is able to play in Week 3. Ready or not Chicago, rookie Justin Fields is QB1 for the foreseeable future. Dalton landing on the Week 3 injury report means it’s Fields’ time to shine.
Dalton is dealing with a bone bruise in his which will require at least a couple of weeks of recovery, if not months depending on the severity of the injury- SIT/DROP
Darrell Henderson (RB) Los Angeles Rams
Rib Cartilage Injury, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
The Ram’s RB is dealing with a similar injury to Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, as both players injured their ribs Sunday. Henderson was forced to exit the game in the fourth quarter following a hit to his ribs. Fortunately, no fracture or serious damage was found with testing and the injury is being caused by a rib cartilage injury. The diagnosis implies that some structural damage occurred and that there is pain and swelling in the rib area.
The Rams are optimistic that the injury will not cause Henderson to miss time as he will be re-evaluated Friday. The hope is with rest and time to heal, Henderson will be able to play with the injury Sunday. This would be a painful ask for Ram’s RB but can be done. Recently acquired RB Sony Michel would be in line for an increase in workload if Henderson is unable to play.
Henderson is dealing with rib cartilage damage, which is a painful injury but it is possible for him to play in Week 3. Rams will reevaluate Friday but are optimistic he will be ready. – MONITOR
Tyrod Taylor (QB) Houston Texans
Hamstring Strain, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
Poor ATS legend Tyrod Taylor. His up and down career suffers another setback as he injured his hamstring during a TD run against the Browns in Week 2. The injury is being reported as significant after testing, leading to an extensive injury timeline. Taylor is looking at about a four to six-week recovery period with moderate damage to his hamstring.
Hamstring injuries are troublesome as they also tend to linger and reinjure easily. This limits Tyrod’s ability to make plays with his legs and throw the ball efficiently due to reduced lower body power. With Tyrod out multiple weeks, it will be the rookie Davis Mills’ turn to be the starting QB for the mighty Houston Texans. Be careful what you wish for kid as it’s your show with Tyrod on the Week 3 injury report.
Tyrod Taylor will miss multiple weeks with moderate damage to his hamstring. – SIT/DROP
JaMycal Hasty (RB) San Francisco 49ers
High Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
Unfortunately for JaMycal Hasty, this is the worse of the injuries suffered to San Francisco RB’s this Sunday. JaMycal exited his Week 2 game in the fourth quarter and was found to have suffered a high ankle sprain. This is a serious injury to the ligaments above the ankle that hold the lower leg bones together.
This injury limits a player’s ankle stability and causes pain with running and jumping. This injury usually comes with a four to six-week injury timeline and also can hinder a player’s season production. Hasty will be out at least this week, with the potential for the injury to linger much longer. San Francisco has signed RB Jacques Patrick to add some depth to this hurting backfield. With so many backs on the Week 3 injury report Patrick could be the guy.
Hasty suffered a high ankle sprain that will cause him to miss multiple weeks and could land him on IR. – SIT/DROP
Nico Collins (WR) Houston Texans
Shoulder Injury, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
Nico Collin’s rookie campaign has hit a speed bump as he suffered a shoulder injury early in his Week 2 game. The specifics of the injury were not disclosed. However, it is being reported that he is expected to miss three to four weeks with this injury. Texans WRs Brandin Cooks, Anthony Miller, and Danny Amendola, who is questionable Thursday with a thigh injury, receive a mild target boost without Collins.
Collins has been placed on IR with an undisclosed shoulder injury and will miss at least three weeks. – SIT/DROP
Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB) Washington Football Team
Hip Subluxation, Initial Injury: 9/12/21
Fitzmagic didn’t take long to make his yearly appearance on the injury report as he was forced to exit his Week 1 matchup with a hip injury. An MRI of the WFT QB’s hip showed a hip subluxation or partial dislocation. Basically, his hip bone got forced out of its socket. Fitz is lucky to have not broken a bone or had a complete dislocation. This is a painful and limiting hip injury which can lead to further hip problems.
This injury will take a significant amount of time to fully heal and at this point in his career, I would not be shocked if this is the last meaningful football we see Fitzmagic play. Washington QB Taylor Heinicke is in line to take over the starting QB reigns. Heinicke has shown he is a gamer who can make plays but has no real fantasy relevance at this point.
Fitzpatrick will likely miss six to eight weeks with his hip injury, and may not see the field again this year. Especially depending on how the Washington QB situation plays out. – DROP
Raheem Mostert (RB) San Francisco 49ers
Chipped Knee Cartilage, Initial Injury: 9/12/21
Your heart goes out to a player like Mostert who just can’t seem to stay on the field. The talented RB continues his injury-plagued career by suffering a significant knee injury in the Week 1 game against Detroit. An MRI showed that Mostert has some small pieces of cartilage that broke off into his knee joint. This is injury causes pain, swelling, and lack of motion in the knee. Surgery will need to be performed to remove the cartilage in the knee and the surgery will be season-ending. Fellow San Francisco RB’s Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell will see an increase in carries due to Mostert’s injury.
Mostert had season-ending knee surgery and is on the IR. – DROP
Jerry Jeudy (WR) Denver Broncos
High Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 9/12/21
It was a scary sight on Sunday when the Denver WR got tackled with his ankle pinned under him and was carted off the field. Thankfully, he did not break his ankle which was initially feared and the X-rays came back negative. Jeudy did still suffer a high ankle sprain which is a significant injury in itself. High ankle injuries are much worse than the common low ankle sprains that we more typically see.
These types of injuries lead to more playing time missed. They also are more likely to lead to a chronic issue. The timetable currently being reported is four to six weeks, but I would expect closer to six weeks of missed time. This injury is going to affect Jeudy’s route running and cutting ability moving forward in the season. Denver WR’s KJ Hamler and Tim Patrick will look to fill in Jeudy’s big role in the offense.
Jeudy is going to miss significant time with a high ankle sprain. His fantasy production will be affected the majority of the season. Especially the first eight to ten games- IR/DROP
Michael Gallup (WR) Dallas Cowboys
Calf Strain, Initial Injury: 9/9/21
The Cowboys potent offense received a significant blow as one of their top WRs suffered a calf injury in their game against the Bucs. Gallup has already been put on the short-term IR and was given a timetable of three to five weeks to return to play. A calf strain means that there has been damage to muscles in the back of a player’s lower leg. These injuries, like hamstring strains, have a tendency to linger. Additionally, they can be reinjured if not given enough time to properly heal. Gallup will have a difficult time accelerating and jumping with this injury due to the muscle not being as powerful. Fellow WRs Lamb and Cooper were already must-starts but should see an increase in targets with Gallup sidelined.
Gallup is on the short term IR with a calf strain and I would not expect solid fantasy football production until closer to Week 6 for the WR- SIT/IR
Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Football Team
Groin Injury, Initial Injury: 6/2/21, Short-term IR
Curtis Samuel is being placed on the short-term IR due to recently aggravating his groin injury. Samuel had missed over three months of practice with this injury and will be missing AT LEAST the first three weeks of the regular season. With how this injury has progressed I wouldn’t be surprised for him to miss closer to six to eight weeks. Additionally, I would not expect much production from Samuel in the early half of the season. Rookie WR Dyami Brown and WR Adam Humphries both see their fantasy stock raise with this news.
Tre’Quan Smith (WR) New Orleans Saints
Hamstring Injury, Initial Injury: 8/3/21, Short-term IR
One of the Saints’ projected top WRs coming into the season, Tre’Quan Smith has been placed on the short-term IR. He landed there with a hamstring injury that he suffered at the beginning of August. Expect a bump in WR Marquez Callaway’s targets in the early part of the season with both Saint’s WRs Smith and Thomas on the IR.
Gus Edwards (RB) Baltimore Ravens
ACL Tear, Initial Injury: 9/9/21
Gus Edwards suffered a significant knee injury in practice and tore his ACL. He is out for the season and the Ravens have lost their top three running backs for the season. Recently acquired veteran RB’s Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman, Latavius Murray, and RB Ty’Son Williams will now all compete for the top spot in the Ravens backfield. It is clear that Ty’son is the guy in Baltimore, but hey, we gotta keep the Week 3 injury report consistent.
Michael Thomas (WR) New Orleans Saints
Ankle Surgery, Initial Injury: 8/13/20, Surgery: June 2021
Let’s start with the diva of the fantasy football injury report. After a disappointing 2020 season due to an ankle injury, the general consensus was that Thomas was going to have ankle surgery in the offseason and there would be no lingering effects going into the 2021 season. Of course, things didn’t go as planned and he had the surgery done in June, basically guaranteeing he would miss the start of the 2021 season.
The Saints will be without their number one receiver for at least the first six weeks of the regular season as Thomas was placed on the Injured Reserve (IR). On the injury front, the surgery should improve his route running and run after catch ability. Michael Thomas is not a WR you are going to be able to depend on to get you to your fantasy playoffs this year, but he may help you win in the playoffs IF things go according to plan this time. Thomas is not an option in Week 3, but he might come off of the injury report at some point.
Rashod Bateman (WR) Baltimore Ravens
Core Muscle Surgery, Initial Injury: 8/10/21, Surgery: 8/13/21
Rookie WR Rashod Bateman’s career got off to a rough start as he was injured in training camp while attempting to make a cut during a route. The injury was deemed severe as he underwent core-muscle surgery three days later. Bateman was placed on the short-term IR to begin the season, making him eligible to return in Week 4. This injury was caused by quick sudden movements, AKA running routes, and it will take a significant amount of time for Bateman to feel comfortable running routes at full speed. Let’s remember that the Ravens just spent a first-round pick on Bateman. I wouldn’t expect them to rush him back before he is 100% ready.
N’Keal Harry (WR) New England Patriots
AC Sprain, Initial Injury: 8/19/21
Patriots WR N’Keal Harry was diving for a pass during the team’s second preseason game when he landed on and injured his left shoulder. This is a common way for a player to injure their AC joint, which connects your shoulder to collarbone. An AC sprain is a painful injury that affects a WR’s ability to reach across their body and dive for catches. The Patriots have decided to place Harry on the short-term IR while he recovers from this injury and he would be eligible to return by Week 4. Watch the injury report next week, but for Week 3 he is probably still out.
T.Y. Hilton (WR) Indianapolis Colts
Neck Surgery, Initial Injury: 8/25/21, Surgery: 9/1/21
Hilton suffered a neck injury in practice and was dealing with disc issues in his spine. Surgery was performed to help fix the issue and the procedure is not thought to be season-ending. The Colts have placed Hilton on the short-term IR, and he would be eligible to return in Week 4. However, it is unlikely Hilton will return this quickly as several months are usually required after a neck surgery. It is not realistic for you to expect Hilton to contribute much fantasy-wise during the first half of the regular season.
Tarik Cohen (RB) Chicago Bears
ACL Surgical Repair, Initial Injury: 9/27/20, Surgery: 10/6/20
During a Week 3 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, Bears RB Tarik Cohen suffered a torn ACL on a punt return and had surgery to repair his knee a short time after. Cohen has been placed on the IR to begin the season. This means that he will at least miss the first six games of the season. This is not a good sign for an RB whose role in the offense was already fading due to newfound stud and teammate David Montgomery. I would not expect much production out of Cohen in the beginning half of the year. However, he may be able to find a role in the offense again in the second half of the season.
This injury report will be updated until Week 3 ends. Make sure to stay up to date on all the latest injuries this season over on Twitter @SGPNFootballDoc!
RELATED CONTENT
