Injuries are a part of football. Unfortunately, Week 2 was an obvious reminder, especially at the quarterback position. Many teams will be trying to navigate significant injuries in the coming weeks, starting in Week 3.
Below are the injuries that could impact fantasy football in Week 3.
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals | Out
The most significant injury in Week 2 was Joe Burrow suffering a Grade 3 turf toe injury that will require surgery. Burrow has already been placed on the injured reserve (IR) and will miss at least three months of healing from the injury. There is a legitimate chance that he does not play another snap this season.
That puts veteran backup Jake Browning back under center for the Cincinnati Bengals. Browning performed well during a seven-game stretch as the starter in 2023 (71.5% completion rate, 1,868 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, plus 22 carries for 88 yards and three touchdowns).
Browning could have fantasy appeal with weapons like Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown in the passing attack. He’s a fringe top 20 option each week.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings | Out
It has been an uneven start to J.J. McCarthy’s first season under center with the Minnesota Vikings (58.5% completion rate for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions). That wasn’t unexpected after he missed his rookie season with a knee injury, after being a low-volume passer during his time at Michigan.
The most important thing for McCarthy in 2025 was getting reps. Unfortunately, a high ankle sprain in Week 2’s loss to the Falcons will keep him off the field for two to four weeks. The Vikings have an early bye week (Week 6), so they could realistically sit him for three weeks to heal and benefit from it to get him fully healthy.
Carson Wentz is set to be the starter in Minnesota for as long as McCarthy is out. Wentz will be without Aaron Jones for the foreseeable future, but still has access to Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson in the passing attack. He could have fantasy relevance based on his surroundings.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders | Out
Jayden Daniels has struggled to repeat his strong rookie season through two games. Daniels completes just 59.7% of his passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns through his first two games. During Week 2’s game against the Green Bay Packers, Daniels was clearly hobbled towards the end.
Daniels was downgraded to out on Friday (9/19) after suffering a knee sprain in Week 2. Veteran Marcus Mariota is set to start for the Commanders in Week 3 against the Raiders. Mariota had two games in 2024 with a 55% or higher snap share. In those games, he threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets | Out
Justin Fields suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. Fields had completed just three of 11 passes for 27 yards, but did have five carries for 49 yards in the game.
Fields was ruled out for Week 3’s game on Wednesday (9/17), meaning Tyrod Taylor will get the start for the Jets against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders | Out
Austin Ekeler suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in the fourth quarter of Washington’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 2.
Washington’s backfield could become a three-headed monster going forward, with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt taking on the primary rushing role and Jeremy McNichols becoming the primary pass-catching back. Chris Rodriguez Jr. could also factor in as a short-yardage power back.
Aaron Jones Sr., RB, Minnesota Vikings | Out
Aaron Jones Sr. suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2, resulting in his placement on injured reserve, which guarantees he will miss the next four weeks.
Jordan Mason is set to see a massive increase in his workload due to the lack of running back depth behind him. The Vikings also signed Cam Akers to the practice squad (he was with the team in 2024). Akers will likely be active on game days but will serve as a breather back for Mason.
Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles | Out
Will Shipley missed the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a broken rib after showing that he would have a role as the Eagles’ backup in Week 1.
With Shipley out, AJ Dillon (three carries for 19 yards) complemented Saquon Barkley in the backfield. If Barkley is healthy, there isn’t a running back worth rostering in Philadelphia.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers | Out
Jayden Reed broke his collarbone on an overturned touchdown in the first quarter of Greenwill Bay’s Week 2 game against the Commanders.
The slot receiver’s return timeline is a bit complicated. Not only did Reed undergo surgery on his collarbone that will keep him off the field for six to eight weeks, but he also had an operation on his foot injury. It isn’t clear how long the recovery process for both surgeries will take, but he is expected to return to the field this season. The Commanders placed him on IR Saturday.
Reed’s injury makes the Packers’ passing distribution a little less complicated, but far from clear. In Week 2, Dontayvion Wicks saw an uptick in his snap share and operated in the slot. He should be considered a WR3/FLEX play going forward.
Chris Godwin Jr., WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Out
Chris Godwin Jr. continues to ramp up towards game action after the ankle injury that ended his 2024 season. Godwin was ruled out of Week 3’s game on Friday, but there is a belief that he will have a chance to play in Week 4.
Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins | Out
On Wednesday, Darren Waller was ruled out for Week 3’s game against the Buffalo Bills. The team had hoped to get him on the field for his debut in Miami, but the short week before a Thursday game was too much to overcome.
However, Mike McDaniel announced that Waller will in fact make his debut in Week 4.
Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos | Out
Evan Engram did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday due to a back injury. Engram missed practice ahead of Week 2’s game against the Colts before ultimately suiting up, but he will officially be out in Week 3.
Players like Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant will see their roles increase with Engram unable to play Week 3.
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks | Out
Zach Charbonnet missed practice all week due to a foot injury. He was downgraded from questionable to doubtful on Friday.
Kenneth Walker III will take an even bigger workload in the backfield, but second-year running back George Holani could see a role on offense as a breather back.
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers | Out
Shoulder and toe injuries caused Brock Purdy to be inactive in Week 2’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Purdy has allegedly healed quickly. He logged limited practices throughout the week, but he will be out again in Week 3.
Mac Jones had a strong Week 2 performance under center (21.8 points) and is a streamable quarterback option if he gets starting opportunities.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Active
Emeka Egbuka was not spotted at the open portion of practice on Thursday due to hip and groin injuries. He returned to practice on Friday as a limited participant. Egbuka is listed as questionable heading into Week 3, but is expected to play.
On Sunday morning, Adam Schefter reported that Egbuka will play but is expected to have his snaps monitored and potentially limited based on how he feels during the game.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs | Out
Xavier Worthy was surprisingly able to log limited practices towards the end of last week after suffering a dislocated shoulder in Week 1. Unfortunately, he couldn’t reach full speed before Week 2’s loss to the Eagles.
Worthy will not play in Week 3.
Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers | Questionable
Jauan Jennings was able to play in Week 2, but was held out of practice on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday ahead of Week 3’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Jennings is questionable but trending towards being out in Week 3, which should translate to bigger roles for Ricky Pearsall and Kendrick Bourne.
Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts | Active
Update 09/21: Tyler Warren will play in Week 3.
Tyler Warren missed practice on Wednesday due to a toe injury he suffered in Week 2’s win against the Denver Broncos. He did not come off the field when he suffered the injury and said he expects to practice later this week. Warren did take part in Thursday’s practice.
If Warren were to miss, then Josh Downs (if healthy) would stand to benefit most from the opened targets.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers | Active
Update 09/21: Tucker Kraft will play in Week 3.
Tucker Kraft suffered a knee injury during practice on Thursday (9/18). Kraft did not practice on Friday. The injury does not sound serious, but head coach Matt LaFleur also couldn’t provide clarity on his availability for Week 3.
Kraft has been the most consistent option in the Packers’ passing attack, so players like Dontayvion Wicks and rookie Matthew Golden would need to step up if Kraft is absent.
Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens | Questionable
Isaiah Likely continues to work his way back onto the field after suffering a foot injury during training camp. The veteran tight end has missed the season’s first two games but was seen ramping up his activity on the side fields during practice last week.
Likely was a limited participant throughout the week and carries a questionable designation into Week 3.
The Baltimore Ravens’ passing attack has gotten nothing from Mark Andrews in 2025 (two receptions for seven yards), so Likely could quickly begin to earn targets once he’s healthy. He’s worth a bench stash in deeper leagues in anticipation of his return.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Thomas Jr. didn’t appear on the injury report ahead of Week 2’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Still, head coach Liam Coen stated after the game that he had a wrist injury that may have contributed to his drops.
Thomas Jr. was listed as questionable for most of the week, but dropped off the injury report on Friday. He does not carry an injury designation heading into Week 3.
Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Josh Downs missed practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. Downs was able to participate in practice on Thursday, indicating that he will be on the field for Week 3. He was officially removed from the injury report and does not carry a designation heading into Week 3.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Ladd McConkey did not practice on Wednesday due to a biceps injury. There is no reason to believe he is in jeopardy of playing in Week 3.
McConkey was removed from the team’s injury report and does not carry a designation heading into Week 3.
Christian Kirk, WR, Houston Texans
Christian Kirk has missed the first two weeks of the season due to a hamstring injury. Kirk was removed from the injury report on Friday, a strong indicator that he will make his Texans debut in Week 3.
None of Houston’s wide receivers has been able to provide a consistent presence outside of Nico Collins to start the year. Kirk’s ability to win quickly in the slot will help Houston offset their continued offensive line struggles and could lead to a high-volume target share as soon as his first game.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
A minor knee injury forced Dallas Goedert to miss Week 2’s matchup against the Chiefs. Goedert was a limited participant in practice on Thursday (9/18).
Goedert was removed from the injury report on Friday and will be active for Week 3’s matchup against the Rams.
