NFL News & Analysis

Fantasy Football Week 3 injury report: Updates on Davante Adams, Julio Jones, Cam Akers and more

A player's injury status can have a significant effect on fantasy football — it can alter draft strategy, roster construction and, most importantly, it can determine start-or-sit decisions for your fantasy team.

Each week, I will comb through the official injury reports for each game and give updates and analysis for fantasy-relevant players. Injuries are fluid, so make sure to stay up to date by following @mario_pilato on Twitter.

ARZ | ATL | BLT | BUF | CAR | CIN | CHI | CLE | DEN | DAL | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LVR | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WFT

Safety worth way more than 2 points. Help protect your family with fast, free will.
Sponsor

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Christian Kirk WR 54.7 WR50 Groin Out

Mario's take: Kirk has been dealing with tightness in his groin since his Week 2 game against Washington. He missed practice on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Kirk missing consecutive days is concerning. I expect Kirk not to play in Week 3.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Julio Jones WR 71.4 WR3 Hamstring Out

Mario's take: Jones reinjured his hamstring during the game in Week 2. He did not practice Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Jones is known for playing through injuries, but not this one — the star pass-catcher has been ruled out for Week 3.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

N/A

BUFFALO BILLS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus Rank Injury Status
Dawson Knox TE 66.2 TE38 Concussion Out
Zack Moss RB 63.4 RB30 Toe Out

Mario's take: Knox suffered a concussion during the first quarter in Week 2. He has entered the concussion protocol and is yet to practice this week. Knox is out for Week 3.

Moss popped up on the injury report Wednesday with a toe injury. He did not participate in practice throughout the week. Moss is out for Week 3.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Christian McCaffrey RB 76.6 N/A Ankle IR

Mario's take: McCaffrey sustained a high ankle sprain during a TD run in the fourth quarter of his Week 2 game against the Buccaneers. He was placed on IR Wednesday and will miss at least three weeks. McCaffrey's return-to-play timetable is around four to six weeks.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

N/A

CHICAGO BEARS

N/A

CLEVELAND BROWNS

N/A

DALLAS COWBOYS

N/A

DENVER BRONCOS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Courtland Sutton WR N/A N/A Knee Out
Drew Lock QB 42.7 N/A Shoulder Out
Phillip Lindsay RB 72.9 N/A Toe Doubtful
Jerry Jeudy WR 63.6 WR39 Rib Questionable

Mario's take: Sutton left the game in Week 2 due to a knee injury and cramping and was later diagnosed with an ACL tear. Sutton will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season.

Lock suffered a severe rotator cuff strain on a sack in the first quarter of Week 2. He will be re-evaluated after two weeks but will likely be out for three to five weeks.

Lindsay exited the second quarter in Week 1 due to a turf toe injury. He missed Week 2 and will miss the next one to three weeks. The Broncos running back did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday — his outlook for Week 3 is dim.

Jeudy was a limited participant in practice throughout the week. He is considered a game-time decision but I expect Jeudy to play in Week 3.

DETROIT LIONS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Kenny Golladay WR N/A N/A Hamstring Questionable

Mario's take: Golladay strained his hamstring in practice Week 1. He has missed the last two games but has been making progress. The Lions' No. 1 was a limited participant in practice throughout the week.  He is getting close to returning. I expect Golladay to have a good shot at playing in Week 3.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Davante Adams WR 80.4 WR3 Hamstring Questionable

Mario's take: Adams injured his hamstring in the third quarter of Week 2. The team announced Adam's injury is minor but he has not practiced all week. He is trending in the wrong direction.  I don't believe Adams plays in Week 3.

HOUSTON TEXANS

Player

Pos PFF grade Consensus Rank Injury Status
Duke Johnson Jr. RB N/A N/A Ankle

Questionable

Mario's take:  Johnson sprained his ankle in the third quarter in Week 1, though he practiced in a limited fashion last week. Johnson was trending in the right direction but was unable to play in Week 2. He returned to practice as a limited participant this week. I expect him to have a good shot at playing this week.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Jack Doyle TE 57.8 TE37 Ankle Questionable
Parris Campbell WR 72.8 N/A Knee Out

Mario's take: Doyle finished the game in Week 1 but suffered an ankle injury. He didn't practice last week and missed the game in Week 2. The Colts tight end did not practice Wednesday, was limited Thursday, and was a full participant Friday. He is trending in the right direction and I believe he plays in Week 3.

Campbell was carted off the field in the first quarter of Week 2 after spraining his MCL and PCL. Campbell's multi-ligament injury has ruled him out indefinitely. I expect him to be back in four to six weeks.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
D.J. Chark Jr. WR 73.4 WR25 Chest/Back Out

Mario's take: Chark was a limited participant at Tuesday's practice and a non-participant in Wednesday's practice with a chest/back injury. He has been declared OUT for TNF.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus Rank Injury Status
Sammy Watkins WR 70.2 WR68 Head Questionable

Mario's take: Watkins suffered a head injury in the fourth quarter of Week 2. He has been placed in concussion protocol. Watkins didn't practice Thursday, limited participant Friday, and practiced in full on Saturday.  He is trending in the right direction and he has an extra day due to MNF. I am optimistic Watkins can play.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Henry Ruggs III WR 57.2 WR53 Knee/hamstring Out
Darren Waller TE 82.5 TE3 Knee Questionable
Josh Jacobs RB 72.1 RB7 Hip Questionable

Mario's take:  Ruggs was a limited participant in practice on Thursday and did not participate on Friday. He is out for Week 3.

Waller was fantastic in the MNF game, but he is banged up. He popped up on the injury report with a knee issue. Waller did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but he returned to practice on Friday. I believe Waller will be good to go in Week 3.

Jacobs came out of the MNF game a little beat up. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but he returned to practice on Friday. I expect Jacobs to play Week 3.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus Rank Injury Status
Justin Jackson RB N/A N/A Ankle Doubtful
Tyrod Taylor QB 60.7  28 Rib/Chest Out

Mario's take: Jackson injured his quad during his Week 1 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. He did not practice all week and did not play in the game in Week 2. Jackson has not practiced all week and I don't expect him to play in Week 3.

Taylor was shockingly pulled right before kickoff in Week 2 due to complications from a rib injury. He was given an intercostal nerve block by the team doctor pregame to help relieve pain, and the injection reportedly caused a complication known as pneumothorax — an air leak between the lung and chest wall. Essentially, a small hole can form if the needle goes too deep, thus causing an air leak. Pain is the most determining factor as to when the player can return to play. The general timeline for a small pneumothorax is a minimum of two weeks. Taylor will not play in Week 3.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Cam Akers RB N/A RB62 Rib Out

Mario's take: Akers separated some rib cartilage in the first quarter in Week 2. He did not practice all week and  will miss Week 3.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

N/A

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

N/A

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
N'Keal Harry WR 64.8 WR48 Ankle Questionable
Julian Edelman WR 83.2 WR14 Knee Questionable

Mario's take: Harry and Edelman were limited at practice all week, but both should be ready to play in Week 3.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Michael Thomas WR 57.4 N/A Ankle Out

Mario's take: Thomas suffered a high ankle sprain in the game in Week 1. He surprised the Saint's staff with how well he progressed throughout the week but did not play in Week 2. He was a non-participant at practice all week. Thomas will not play in Week 3.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus Rank Injury Status
Saquon Barkley RB 60.2 N/A Knee Out

Mario's take: Barkley sprained his MCL, tore his ACL and meniscus in the second quarter of Week 2. He will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season.

Shepard has been put on IR for a toe injury. He will miss at least the next three games.

NEW YORK JETS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus Rank Injury Status
Breshad Perriman WR 56.3 WR59 Ankle Out
Jamison Crowder WR 69.8 N/A Hamstring Out

Mario's take: Perriman injured his ankle in the second quarter of Week 2. He didn't practice all week and is considered week-to-week. Perriman will not play in Week 3.

Crowder injured his hamstring during a TD in Week 1 and missed the game in Week 2. He did not practice throughout the week. Crowder will not play in Week 3.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Alshon Jeffery WR N/A N/A Foot Out
Jalen Reagor WR 54.4 WR62 Finger Out

Mario's take: Jeffery is recovering from a Lisfranc injury and returned to practice for the first time since his injury. I believe they are easing him back and he will be out Week 3.

Reagor tore the UCL in his thumb during the game in Week 2.  This is the same injury that caused Drew Brees to miss five games last year. Reagor has been put on IR and will miss at least three weeks. I would expect Reagor to miss three to five weeks in total.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus Rank Injury Status
JuJu Smith-Schuster WR 74.8 WR13 Knee Questionable

Mario's take: Smith-Schuster did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but returned to practice on Friday. His injury is considered minor — he should be ready to go for Week 3.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
George Kittle TE 66.1 TE11 Knee Out
Jimmy Garoppolo QB 69.0 QB27 Ankle Out
Raheem Mostert RB 78.4 N/A Knee Out
Tevin Coleman RB 65.8 N/A Knee Out

Mario's take: Kittle suffered a bone bruise in Week 1. He did not practice all week or play in the game in Week 2. He was a limited participant in practice throughout the week but was ultimately ruled out for Week 3. The typical return-to-play timeline is a couple of days to multiple weeks. I believe he will return to action in Week 4.

Garoppolo suffered a high ankle sprain in the first quarter of Week 2. The return-to-play timeline is typically three days to three-plus weeks. The 49ers signal-caller did not practice all week. He is out for Week 3.

Mostert suffered a mild MCL sprain in Week 2. He did not practice all week, and I believe he will be out for two to three weeks with a Grade 1 MCL sprain. He is out for Week 3.

Coleman suffered a knee sprain in Week 2. He did not practice this week and is out for Week 3. I expect Coleman to miss multiple weeks.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

 

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus Rank Injury Status
Phillip Dorsett II WR N/A N/A Foot IR

Mario's take: Dorsett was put on IR on Monday and will miss at least the next three weeks with a foot injury.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Justin Watson WR 59.6 WR111 Hand/Wrist Out

Mario's take: Watson sustained a hand/wrist injury in Week 2 and did not practice all week. Watson's injury is considered day-to-day, but he will not play in Week 3.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
A.J. Brown WR 63.2 N/A Knee Out

Mario's take: Brown suffered a bone bruise in Week 1. He did not play in the Week 2 game and was ruled out for Week 3. The typical return-to-play timeline is a couple of days to multiple weeks.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

Player Pos PFF grade Consensus rank Injury Status
Steven Sims Jr. WR 66.0 WR66 Toe Questionable

Mario's take: Sims did not practice on Wednesday, was limited at Thursday's practice, and was a full participant Friday. The team believes the injury to be minor and I expect him to play in Week 3.

Mario Pilato has a master's degree in Kinesiology and a bachelor's degree in exercise sports science, along with eight years of experience in the strength and conditioning industry, including at the collegiate and NFL level. His injury analysis articles will appear weekly.

Subscriptions

Unlock the 2023 Fantasy Draft Kit, with League Sync, Live Draft Assistant, PFF Grades & Data Platform that powers all 32 Pro Teams

$31 Draft Kit Fee + $8.99/mo
OR
$89.88/yr + FREE Draft Kit