The return of regular-season NFL action, unfortunately, also brings the return of injuries. Plenty of players got banged up in Week 3, while others suffered injuries that could knock them out for several weeks or more.
Let’s round up the most notable injury updates from this past week.
NFL Injury Updates for Week 3
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert suffered a high right ankle sprain in the Los Angeles Chargers’ Week 2 victory over the Carolina Panthers, then aggravated that injury in the team’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
The Bolts’ QB1 was in a walking boot after Week 3 and told reporters that he “really started to feel” his ankle injury after taking the fourth-quarter hit that ultimately knocked him out of yesterday’s contest.
On Monday, Herbert’s X-Rays came back negative, NFLN reported.
Although head coach Jim Harbaugh suggested last week that Easton Stick would start if Herbert couldn’t play, fellow backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke took over for Herbert on Sunday. The Chargers acquired Heinicke from the Atlanta Falcons at the end of August in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick.
High ankle sprains are typically considered four-to-six-week injuries, although quarterbacks can often beat that timeline.
Skylar Thompson, QB, Miami Dolphins
Tasked with replacing Dolphins starting QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), Skylar Thompson struggled through most of three quarters before being knocked out of Sunday’s game by a rib injury.
Thompson completed 13 of 19 passes for just 107 scoreless yards before departing. He was replaced by veteran journeyman Tim Boyle.
Tagovailoa is on the Injured Reserve list for at least the next three weeks. Miami could roll with Boyle in Week 4 if Thompson isn’t ready to play, while the Dolphins also signed former Baltimore Ravens QB Tyler Huntley to their practice squad last week.
Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaylen Warren received just four carries in Week 3 compared to fellow Steelers running back Najee Harris’ 18. After Pittsburgh’s win against the Los Angeles Chargers, head coach Mike Tomlin explained what was going on with his club’s backfield rotation.
Per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Tomlin noticed that Warren wasn’t “running smoothly” and removed him from Sunday’s game. The Steelers will evaluate Warren to determine if he’s still battling the hamstring injury that cost him practice time during the preseason.
DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith is in the NFL’s concussion protocol after taking a vicious hit from New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Kristian Boyd in Week 3.
Philadelphia defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson wasn’t pleased with Boyd’s hit, calling it a “cheap shot” and “the dirtiest s— (he) ever saw in football.”
Scary scene in New Orleans where Eagles WR DeVonta Smith took a brutal hit and was down on the ground for a bit.
He eventually got up and walked off under his own power. 👀👇 pic.twitter.com/LzrCiHT9WD
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) September 22, 2024
Smith is in danger of missing the Eagles’ Week 4 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team that knocked Philadelphia out of the playoffs in January.
The Eagles have missed WR A.J. Brown (hamstring) for the past two weeks. Running back Saquon Barkley (147 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and tight end Dallas Goedert (10-170) picked up the slack on Sunday.
Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans
While Houston’s medical staff examined Tank Dell’s hand near the end of the Texans’ blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, the second-year wideout doesn’t appear to be battling a severe injury.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans said in his postgame press conference that Dell “should be fine” but didn’t elaborate on his injury.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reported Monday that Dell is dealing with soreness and also took a shot to his ribs in Week 3.
As such, it will likely be worth watching Dell’s practice participation this week before Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
Amari Cooper went down on the second-to-last play of the Browns’ 21-15 loss to the New York Giants. He fell hard after laying out for a pass on 3rd-and-4 with 2:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Fortunately, Cooper left the field under his own power. However, he wasn’t allowed to stay in the game for Cleveland’s ensuing fourth-down play.
The Browns failed to convert on that and never saw the ball again. It’s unclear if Cooper would’ve returned to action had Cleveland’s offense received another opportunity.
However, Cooper told reporters he was “good” during his postgame media session.
Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers
Andy Dalton and Diontae Johnson got the Carolina Panthers’ offense back on track in Week 3, but they watched one of their other key offensive players go down on Sunday.
Wideout Adam Thielen was injured while catching a touchdown to make it 21-7 in favor of the Panthers near the end of the first half of their win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The 34-year-old went to Carolina’s locker room just before halftime. The Panthers initially announced that Thielen was questionable to return with a hamstring injury, then ruled him out for the rest of the game just minutes later.
Thielen said postgame that he would know more about his hamstring issue once he undergoes an MRI on Monday.
Jordan Schultz of The Score later reported that Thielen would miss time with his hamstring injury. While his exact timetable remains up in the air, Thielen “will be out a little.”
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions went up 20-10 on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday after executing a hook-and-ladder play that led to a lateral from WR Amon-Ra St. Brown to RB Jahmyr Gibbs.
But star tight end Sam LaPorta — who was blocking on the play — appeared to get his right ankle rolled up by a Cardinals defender.
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LaPorta was carted to Detroit’s locker room just before halftime. He returned at the start of the third quarter but played just a handful of snaps before limping off the field again.
The Lions subsequently announced LaPorta was questionable to return with an ankle injury. After Detroit’s win, head coach Dan Campbell specified that the second-team All-Pro is dealing with a sprained ankle.
Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
Trey McBride collided with Lions defensive back Brian Branch in a frightening helmet-to-helmet hit in the fourth quarter. McBride and Branch left the game and went to their respective injury tents.
Arizona announced that McBride was being evaluated for a concussion.
Terrifying play on this collision with Brian Branch and Trey McBride. pic.twitter.com/Ccf5aiOkkZ
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) September 22, 2024
If McBride suffered a brain injury, he could have trouble clearing the NFL’s concussion protocol in time for the Cardinals’ Week 4 game against the Washington Commanders.
Arizona has three other tight ends on its 53-man roster: Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman, and Travis Vokolek.