Week 3 was a wacky week with upsets, blocked field goals and injuries dominating the headlines. As a result, the Week 4 NFL Injury Report is crowded with several big names lost for the season.
The Arizona running back will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a devastating foot injury against the 49ers. The injury forced Conner to be carted off the field and was initially described as an ankle injury. The clarification doesn't change the outcome, as surgery will be needed, ending his year. Trey Benson will take over as the starting running back for the Cardinals with Emari Demercado sliding into a backup role. Benson becomes a top waiver wire target if still available.
CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys Offensive Line
The Cowboys lost their top wide receiver just minutes into Sunday's loss to the Bears. Lamb was given the ball in a designed run and become tangled with a defender, pinning his ankle between the opponent and the ground. Lamb attempted to return to the game after a quick evaluation but was clearly hampered by the injury, leading to an early exit.
Further tests on the ankle revealed Lamb suffered a high ankle sprain, an injury discussed last week with Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. As I stated then, high ankle sprains are different than the more common lateral ankle sprain.
The ankle complex is made up of multiple joints. A lateral ankle sprain involves the talocrural joint, formed by the
Week 3 was a wacky week with upsets, blocked field goals and injuries dominating the headlines. As a result, the Week 4 NFL Injury Report is crowded with several big names lost for the season.
The Arizona running back will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a devastating foot injury against the 49ers. The injury forced Conner to be carted off the field and was initially described as an ankle injury. The clarification doesn't change the outcome, as surgery will be needed, ending his year. Trey Benson will take over as the starting running back for the Cardinals with Emari Demercado sliding into a backup role. Benson becomes a top waiver wire target if still available.
CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys Offensive Line
The Cowboys lost their top wide receiver just minutes into Sunday's loss to the Bears. Lamb was given the ball in a designed run and become tangled with a defender, pinning his ankle between the opponent and the ground. Lamb attempted to return to the game after a quick evaluation but was clearly hampered by the injury, leading to an early exit.
Further tests on the ankle revealed Lamb suffered a high ankle sprain, an injury discussed last week with Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. As I stated then, high ankle sprains are different than the more common lateral ankle sprain.
The ankle complex is made up of multiple joints. A lateral ankle sprain involves the talocrural joint, formed by the two lower leg bones and the talus of the foot. Both sides of the joint are stabilized by multiple ligaments with the ligaments on the outside of the foot more vulnerable to injury. Above the talocrural joint sits the distal tibiofibular (tibfib) joint where the two lower leg bones create a roof over the talus. If the structures that stabilize this joint are sprained, the injury is considered a high ankle or syndesmotic sprain. High ankle sprains can lead to separation of the two lower leg bones and can require surgery to stabilize. Because the integrity of the entire ankle complex can be compromised following a high ankle sprain, these injuries often require substantially more time to adequately heal.
Lamb is expected to miss at least one week with the injury, and owner Jerry Jones admitted the injured reserve remains a possibility. Those invested in Lamb should anticipate him sitting multiple weeks. A 2024 study examining high ankle sprains determined the average time lost for this type of sprain is approximately 27 days. Furthermore, a dip in productivity should also be anticipated when he does eventually return.
Lamb will be joined on the sidelines by teammates Cooper Beebe and Tyler Booker. Both starting lineman suffered high ankle sprains of their own and are likely to miss extended time. Beebe, the team's starting center, has already been placed on the IR and Booker, the starting right guard, could join him there as well.
The aftermath of the Week 3 loss leaves the Dallas offense without two starters along the line and down their top wide out just as Green Bay and former Cowboy Micah Parsons roll into town. These absences easily could have a negative impact on players like Dak Prescott and Javonte Williams, which will likely hurt their fantasy productivity. George Pickens and Jake Ferguson will likely see an increase in targets with Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin moving up the depth chart.
Turf Burns
Nick Bosa: The NFL injuries continue with the 49ers losing their top defensive end in the win over Arizona as Bosa suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The injury was isolated to the ACL but will require season-ending surgery. The timing of the injury should allow him to be ready for the 2026 season. Bosa is familiar with the process, having previously torn the same ACL while in high school and the opposite ACL in 2020.
Najee Harris: The Chargers running back suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the remainder of the year. Harris will undergo surgery to address the issue and attempt to be ready for 2026. Rookie Omarion Hampton excelled following Harris' departure, totaling 129 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.
J.J. McCarthy: The Vikings quarterback will not play in Week 4 as he nurses his high ankle sprain. He will travel with the team to Europe where they will play in Dublin and London. However, coach Kevin O'Connell wouldn't confirm McCarthy will have the starting job waiting for him when he does get healthy. The team could opt to stick with veteran Carson Wentz, who finished Sunday's blowout win with 173 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Tampa Bay wide receivers
The Buccaneers wide receiving corps is struggling to stay healthy. Chris Godwin has yet to play this season after undergoing multiple surgeries to address last year's ankle dislocation. While it appears Godwin has a chance to return in Week 4, Mike Evans could replace him in street clothes after the veteran suffered a hamstring strain in Week 3. He is slated to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the strain, though the team is optimistic it is a mild injury. However, Evans has a lengthy history of hamstring injuries that have forced him to miss time in four different seasons of his professional career, including three games last year. Rookie Emeka Egbuka could see an increase in targets though, he too is banged up. Egbuka played in Week 3 despite not practicing Wednesday or Thursday due to hip and groin strains.
Justin Fields: Fields will continue to work his way through the league's mandated concussion protocol in hopes of receiving clearance to return for Week 4. The five-step process gradually ups the concussed individual's workload and participation level if they continue to stay symptom-free. Fields will gain an extra day of recovery with the Jets taking on the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. Tyrod Taylor will get his second straight start if Fields remains out.
Xavier Worthy: The Chiefs wide receiver has been a limited participant in practice after suffering a dislocated shoulder in Week 1. The dislocation resulted in a torn labrum, but Worthy has opted to avoid surgery in an attempt to return. While he continues to trend in a positive direction, the Kansas City medical team elected to hold Worthy for an additional week. Look for him to up his level of participation in the week ahead with an eye on a Week 4 return against the Ravens.
Tyrone Tracy: Tracy suffered a dislocated shoulder against the Chiefs and is expected to miss two to four weeks. Like Worthy, the time lost for a dislocated shoulder is usually linked to the amount of damage the forced dislocation caused. Structures like ligaments, muscles and the cartilage-based labrum are all vulnerable to damage when a dislocation occurs. Immediate surgery may be necessary if the injury is extensive, and the stability of the shoulder is dramatically compromised. If the accrued damage is minimal, surgery can be postponed, and an athlete can play with a torn labrum. But, like we have seen with Worthy, even those types of ailments require time to heal. Tracy's extended absence elevates Cam Skattebo to the starting running back spot.
