By Scott Kacsmar
Another week, another starting quarterback injury in the NFL. By now you probably have seen the video or images of New England quarterback Mac Jones in a lot of pain as he needed help to leave the field. His season is unlikely over, but in a week where some key offensive linemen also went down, it is going to put more stress on these quarterbacks to stay upright.
Here are some of the notable injuries in Week 3 that will have you thinking about adjustments for your fantasy teams, DFS lineups, Same Game Parlays, and other prop bets this week.
QB Mac Jones, New England Patriots
Jones was injured on his final snap in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens, a game where he passed for a career-high 321 yards and scored his first NFL rushing touchdown. It has been reported as a “severe” high ankle sprain, which might explain why he looked to be in so much more pain than usual. This type of injury has often kept quarterbacks out for a game or two, but it could be that and then some for Jones given the “severe” designation. However, it should not end his season after just three games.
This leaves the starting job in veteran Brian Hoyer’s hands. Hoyer has had multiple stints with the Patriots since 2009, including one start back in 2020 in Kansas City against the defending champs and an eventual Super Bowl team. It did not go well as the team lost 26-10, but Hoyer is one of the better backup options in the league and the Patriots will not shy away from letting him pass.
New England has been relying heavily on its top four wide receivers with very little in the way of the tight ends or running backs getting targets. That is unlikely to change with Hoyer, though the Patriots did just play without leading receiver Jakobi Meyers in Week 3. He’s had a left knee injury since the preseason that has been bothering him. This might be good news for Nelson Agholor and DeVante Parker in Green Bay. Parker came to life with 156 yards against the Ravens after having one catch for 9 yards in Weeks 1-2.
But the Patriots are still going to have to rely on the running game as well. Hoyer is not someone you want to rely on in fantasy or pick as your DFS quarterback.
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
One of the strangest injury situations we have seen happened to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in Miami on Sunday. He clearly banged his head on the ground after being pushed on a play. He was visibly wobbly and needed help to leave the field. Most would call that a concussion, but to the shock of everyone, Tua returned to the game and finished it.
Not only that, but it is being considered a back injury now. He is expected to play Thursday night in Cincinnati despite also being listed with an ankle injury. The Dolphins need him to stay undefeated as backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater would really need to break some career tendencies to get the most out of the speed of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
The Dolphins also have not been able to get the ground game going yet this season despite head coach Mike McDaniel specializing in that area under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco. Miami ranks 31st in both rushing yards and yards per carry through Week 3. Throw in an ailing quarterback on a short week, and you may not see a real explosive offense on Thursday night in Cincinnati.
RB Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Cook dislocated his shoulder and did not finish the game on Sunday against Detroit. This area of the body has been a problem for Cook in the past, but the team is hopeful he will wear a harness and play on Sunday in London against the Saints.
However, an overseas trip may not be the best idea for Cook’s health, so a one-game absence could very much be in the cards for him. That makes Alexander Mattison a trendy name for Week 4 as he is one of the best backups in the league.
In six career starts, Mattison has rushed for at least 90 yards four times. However, it should be noted that three of those big games were against the Lions, notoriously not a good defense. But the Saints have been vulnerable against the run this season and just allowed Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey to rush for 108 yards on Sunday.
RB David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
It was an unfortunate day for David Montgomery to suffer an early ankle injury because the Houston Texans cannot stop the run this season. Khalil Herbert took full advantage of Montgomery’s absence and rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the best game of his career.
Montgomery is considered day-to-day, so there is a chance he plays Sunday at the Giants, a defense that was just shredded by Dallas’ backfield duo. If Montgomery can’t go, then Herbert is a must-play in all formats for a Chicago offense that is afraid (or incapable) to throw the ball.
WR Sterling Shepard, New York Giants
The news is bad for slot receiver Sterling Shepard. His non-contact knee injury late in the Monday night game was in fact a torn ACL, and he will miss the remainder of the 2022 season.
Shepard was the most trustworthy receiver in an offense that is lacking reliable targets for Daniel Jones. Shepard leads the team with 24 targets and 154 receiving yards. He has the Giants’ only completion of 25-plus yards this season.
With Kenny Golladay looking like one of the biggest free-agent busts in some time, and 2021 first-round pick Kadarius Toney struggling to see snaps, this could be a big opportunity for Richie James. The former San Francisco wideout has had at least four catches in every game this season for the Giants, and he should expect to get more looks without Shepard.
WR Michel Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Ever since he broke the record with 149 catches in 2019, it has been one injury after another for Michael Thomas in New Orleans. A foot injury causing him to leave Sunday’s game is not a good sign for a player who missed the entire 2021 season with an ankle injury. This is a toe injury that should be far less serious, but you cannot just pencil him into Sunday’s lineup give his history.
Jarvis Landry also banged up his foot on Sunday. This is why the team had to draft a young talent like Chris Olave in the first round. He is heating up with 13 targets in consecutive games and 147 yards on Sunday. He could be a great matchup against a Minnesota defense that is allowing big numbers to wide receivers this season.
WR A.J. Green, Arizona Cardinals
Green could miss Week 4 with a bone bruise after exiting Sunday’s loss to the Rams. He only has five catches for 29 yards this year, but it’s another loss for an offense that has had to play without DeAndre Hopkins (suspended) and Rondale Moore (hamstring) all season.
But given that Green is averaging 2.2 yards per target and was playing 80% of the offensive snaps in Weeks 1-2, the Cardinals may be better off giving more playing time to a youngster.
OT Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
We don’t usually dwell on injuries to one offensive lineman, but it may be noteworthy to the run-based 49ers when they have arguably the best left tackle in the game in Trent Williams. He was injured in the second half and could miss 4-to-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain.
The 49ers scored just three points after halftime in a disappointing loss in Denver. Now with the Rams up next, this is not ideal timing for Williams to go down when Jimmy Garoppolo has his own durability issues. This offense has already lost Trey Lance (fractured ankle) for the season and starting running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) for an extended period of time.
This may be an offense to fade for some time until they prove they can play at a high level again.
Quick Healers
Finally, here is a list of notable skill players who had an injury scare in Week 3, but early reports indicate they should be fine for Week 4:
- WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets (ribs)
- WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (passed a concussion test during the game)
- WR Jarvis Landry, New Orleans Saints (foot)
