Week 2 is upon us, and after a wild, high-scoring Week 1, the NFL is already dealing with some brutal injury blows. Down in Atlanta, the Falcons are facing a quarterback nightmare, with Michael Penix Jr. ruled out due to a knee injury, still recovering from last season’s ACL surgery, and Tua Tagovailoa doubtful with an oblique injury he picked up before last week’s game. This means Cooper Rush is set to start, and for a team trying to bounce back, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Quarterback Chaos Across the League
It’s not just Atlanta feeling the QB pain, though they might have it worst. Over in Cincinnati, Bengals fans were holding their breath for Joe Burrow, who’s been battling a back issue. But Coach Zac Taylor gave us some good news Friday, indicating his franchise QB should be good to go. Burrow even called the idea of him missing the Texans game “ridiculous” earlier in the week. Still, he’s officially questionable against a tough Houston defense, so you know everyone will be watching that one closely. The Texans, meanwhile, are going to be without their top target, Nico Collins, who’s got hamstring issues again after hurting it in practice. Remember Jayden Higgins? He’s out for the year with an ACL tear, so Houston’s pass-catching corps is seriously hurting, plus they’re down starting offensive lineman Ed Ingram.
Big Names on the Sidelines
Across the league, more teams are getting hit hard. The Panthers are without defensive tackle Bobby Brown III, leaving them thin on the interior. Good thing rookie Lee Hunter looked sharp in Week 1, he’s gonna get more snaps. And hey, some good news for Carolina: wide receiver Jalen Coker practiced fully and is clear to play. For the Falcons, beyond the QB woes, they’re also missing cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. with an Achilles injury. Chris Lindstrom and A.J. Terrell both practiced fully on Friday though, so that’s a positive for their availability, which is huge for that defense. Out in Cleveland, the Browns are down guard Teven Jenkins for the second week straight. And over in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers have a few questionable guys, including safety Miles Killebrew and wide receiver Jalen McMIllan.
This early in the season, these injuries are already shaping Week 2. Every team wants to hit its stride, but with key players like Collins, Penix Jr., and Tagovailoa sidelined or doubtful, some squads are going to be fighting an uphill battle right from kickoff. It’s a brutal reminder that the league takes no breaks, literally.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply