Week 3 NFL injury report: Justin Herbert misses practice while Jordan Love returns; star WRs deal with issues

Injuries have already made their mark on the 2024 season. Just ask the Los Angeles Rams, whose season is already on the brink of being thrown off the rails following a rash of injuries that has left Sean McVay’s club decimated after just two weeks. 

The Rams aren’t the only team dealing with notable injuries, though. Miami recently placed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after he sustained another head injury last Thursday night against the Bills. New England is dealing with multiple injuries on both side of the ball going into Thursday night’s matchup with the Jets. The Steelers are still operating under the assumption that they will be without Russell Wilson for Sunday’s showdown against the Chargers. 

Here’s a look at every team’s notable injuries at this point in the week.

All NFL odds courtesy of SportsLine consensus.

Patriots at Jets (-6) (Thursday night) 

Patriots: OT Vederian Lowe (knee), G Sidy Sow (ankle), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (shoulder), LB Oshane Ximines Knee) OUT; C David Andrews (hip), OL Mike Onwenu (wrist), S Jabrill Peppers (shoulder), DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (shoulder) QUESTIONABLE 
Jets: LB Jermaine Johnson II (Achilles) OUT; LB C.J. Mosley (toe) QUESTIONABLE

As you can see, the injury bug has hit the Patriots linebacker corps and offensive line. Fortunately, each of the team’s questionable players were labeled as limited practice participants during the past two days. That said, the loss of Bentley is major, as he has been one of the team’s most productive players over the past several years. 

While Mosley labeled himself as 50/50 for Thursday’s game, his recent quotes seem to indicate he will be pretty physically compromised if he does play. Either way, it’s safe to say backup Chazz Surratt will get elevated reps. A 2021 third-round pick, Surratt started his career with the Vikings before joining the Jets in 2023. He has just 12 regular season tackles to his credit. 

The only Giants player who didn’t practice Wednesday was cornerback Nick McCloud, who is dealing with a knee injury. Fellow Big Blue defenders Darius Muasau and Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder) were limited. 

Tight end David Njoku (ankle), pass rusher Myles Garrett (foot) and offensive tackle Dawand Jones (knee) were among the five Browns players who did not practice Wednesday. Pass rusher Za’Darius Smith (back), cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder) and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (knee) were among Cleveland’s limited practice participants. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that it’s unlikely Njoku will suit up Sunday. 

Packers quarterback Jordan Love returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since he injured his knee during Green Bay’s season-opening loss to the Eagles. Love’s initial projected timetable to return was 2 to 6 weeks, so the fact that he is already back at practice would indicate he is trending in the right direction. Love was officially limited Wednesday, along with running back Josh Jacobs (back), tight end Tucker Kraft, defensive linemen Kenny Clark (toe) and Kingsley Enagbare (groin) and offensive linemen Josh Myers and Zach Tom (quadricep) and Rasheed Walker (shoulder). Offensive linemen Elgton Jenkins (illness/glute) and Jordan Morgan (shoulder), wideout Jordan Reed (calf) and cornerback Carrington Valentine (ankle) were among the Packers who did not practice. 

The Titans had a considerably smaller injury report. Running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) was the only player who did not practice Wednesday due to injury. 

Wideout Keenan Allen (heel) and offensive lineman Teven Jenkins (thigh) were two of four Bears players who didn’t practice Wednesday. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said there is timetable regarding the return of Allen, who didn’t play Week 2 after not practicing all of last week. 

In Indianapolis, kicker Matt Gay (right quad) and defensive end Laiatu Latu (hip) did not practice. Latu is being labeled as day-to-day, while Gay is dealing with a new injury after dealing with a hernia injury the previous two weeks. Spencer Shrader is slated to replace Gay if he can’t play Sunday. 

Running back Joe Mixon (ankle) and wideout Nico Collins (hip/foot) were two of seven Texans players who did not practice Wednesday. Mixon’s status for Sunday’s game is already being put into question after he injured his ankle during Sunday’s win over the Bears. 

In Minnesota, Vikings perennial Pro Bowl wideout Justin Jefferson (quad), veteran running back Aaron Jones (hip) were limited. Wideout Jordan Addison (ankle), right tackle Brian O’Neill (elbow) and pass rusher Dallas Turner (knee) did not practice. Jefferson is currently being labeled as day to day. 

Linebacker D’Marco Jackson (calf), defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (calf), tight end Taysom Hill (chest) and tackle Landon Young (foot) did not practice for the Saints on Wednesday. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), tackle Taliese Fuaga (back) and safety Tyrann Mathieu (heel) were limited. Saints head coach Dennis Allen said the plan is for Hill to be limited on Thursday. Lattimore is working his way back after not not playing in the Saints’ blowout win over the Cowboys. 

Philadelphia did a walkthrough instead of a full practice after playing on “Monday Night Football” in Week 2, and only two players showed up on their injury report in total, both listed as did not practice: wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring), who missed Week 2, and wide receiver Johnny Wilson (hamstring). 

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert missed Wednesday’s practice as he is dealing with an ankle issue. Head coach Jim Harbaugh, who said prior to practice that Herbert is feeling “much better,” doesn’t appear to be too concerned about his quarterback’s status for Sunday’s game. 

For the Steelers, quarterback Russell Wilson continues to be limited in practice as he continues to work through his calf injury. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that the team is operating with the idea that Justin Fields will make his third straight start. Receiver Roman Wilson (ankle) was also a limited practice participant. The rookie has not played this season after getting injured during the early portions of training camp. 

Linebacker Baron Browning (foot), defensive end John Franklin-Myers (concussion), and safeties Brandon Jones (foot) and JL Skinner (ankle) did not practice. Defensive end Zach Allen (shoulder), tight end Greg Dulcich (knee/ankle), wideout Josh Reynolds (Achilles) and tight end Adam Trautman (shoulder) were among the Broncos’ limited players. 

Many of the Buccaneers’ Week 2 inactives against the Detroit Lions once again didn’t practice on Wednesday: safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot), defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (calf), offensive tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion), cornerback Josh Hayes (ankle). Defensive tackle William Gholston (knee) and defensive tackle Vita Vea (knee) joined that crew on the DNP portion of the Buccaneers’ practice report. The following four Tampa Bay players were limited: cornerback Jamel Dean (knee), defensive end Logan Hall (foot), wide receiver Kameron Johnson (ankle) and running back Rachaad White (groin). 

Of the four Carolina Panthers did not practice statuses from Wednesday, only two — defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson (knee) and defensive tackle Shy Tuttle (foot) — were for true injuries. Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney received a veteran’s rest day and tight end Feleipe Franks (personal) were the other two DNPs. Three Panthers were limited: guard Robert Hunt (shoulder), guard Damien Lewis (groin) and tight end Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back). 

Only two Las Vegas Raiders didn’t practice on Wednesday: linebacker Divine Deablo (oblique/concussion) and cornerback Demcaerion Richardson (hamstring). Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby (ankle) was one of six limited practice participants along with linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (knee), offensive tackle Kolton Miller (shoulder), edge rusher Tyree Wilson (knee), defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (knee) and safety Chris Smith II (knee). 

Left tackle Terron Armstead (shoulder) was the only true Miami Dolphins player to not practice because of an injury on Wednesday. Veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell was the other DNP, but it was for a veteran rest day. Two Dolphins who were inactive on “Thursday Night Football” against the Bills last week were limited: running back Raheem Mostert (chest) and wide receiver Malik Washington (quadriceps). Wide receiver Grant DuBose (shoulder), offensive lineman Rob Jones (shoulder), edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (oblique) round out the limited practice participants. 

Two of the Seahawks’ Week 2 inactives against the New England Patriots did not practice on Wednesday: running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) and linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (knee). Guard Laken Tomlinson (vet rest day), tight end Brady Russell (shoulder), linebacker Jerome Baker (hamstring), linebacker Boye Mafe (knee), safety K’Von Wallace (shoulder), defensive end Leonard Williams (knee) and wide receiver DK Metcalf (hand) joined them as players who didn’t practice. 

Two other Week 2 inactives improved to limited practice participants on Wednesday in tight end Pharaoh Brown (foot) and offensive tackle George Fant (knee). Tight end Noah Fant (toe), wide receiver Tyler Lockett (thigh), linebacker Derick Hall (hip) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (hamstring) were also limited. 

Baltimore had six players not practice Wednesday, including safety Kyle Hamilton (back), tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), linebacker Kyle Van Noy (eye/groin) and cornerback Nate Wiggins (neck/concussion).

For the Cowboys, cornerback Trevon Diggs (foot), wideout CeeDee Lamb (ankle) and defensive tackle Mazi Smith (back) did not practice. Tight end Jake Ferguson returned to practice as a limited participant (knee) after missing Week 2 with a bone bruise/MCL sprain, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith (back) did not practice after departing early on Wednesday with head athletic Jim Maurer. There is no real concern regarding Lamb and Diggs’ statuses for Sunday.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) was the only San Francisco 49er who didn’t practice fully on Wednesday. The team expects him to miss some time with the calf injury he suffered on Sunday at the Minnesota Vikings. 

Four Rams, including 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle), missed practice. Coach Sean McVay said Kupp could miss “an extended period of time” after he suffered a left ankle sprain on Sunday at the Cardinals. Tight end Davis Allen (back), kicker Joshua Karty (groin) and cornerback Cobie Durant (toe) were the other three DNPs. Starting right guard Kevin Dotson (foot) practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday.

Four of the Lions’ five players who didn’t practice Wednesday are on the defensive side of the ball. The list includes linebacker Alex Anzalone (concussion), cornerback Terrion Arnold (illness), safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle), and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (hamstring). Guard Graham Glasgow (knee) was the only offensive player who did not practice. Wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown (quad) was a full practice participant.

The Cardinals are relatively healthy entering Week 3. Defensive lineman Dante Stills was limited on Wednesday with a shoulder issue. Right guard Will Hernandez (ankle) and backup receiver Xavier Weaver (oblique) were listed with injuries but were full-go in practice.

The back-to-back Super Bowl champion Chiefs saw everyone participate in practice fully on Wednesday. The Atlanta Falcons, coming off their nail-biting win on “Monday Night Football” against the Eagles, had everyone participate in practice to a certain extent. They only had four limited practice participants: running back Tyler Allgeier (hip), cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. (groin), defensive lineman James Smith-Williams (hip) and defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham (rest day). 

Jaguars at Bills (-5) (Monday Night)

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