Nick Bosa, the 49ers’ pass rusher, is expected to miss a few weeks after pulling his calf during Thursday’s practice, a massive blow for their defense as Week 3 kicks off. That’s a gut punch for sure, and he’s not the only big name hitting the injury report this weekend.
Top Dog Downtime
It’s not just Bosa who’s got teams holding their breath. Rams wideout Puka Nacua is listed as doubtful for Sunday night’s showdown against the Broncos in Denver. That hip/groin combo is no joke, and you know Sean McVay’s gotta be sweating a little over his receiving corps. Then there’s the truly tough break for Jaxson Dart, who had season-ending knee surgery on Friday after getting hurt in Monday night’s loss to the Rams. His recovery timeline is looking like 4-6 months, which is just brutal.
AFC Battles and Missing Pieces
Over in the AFC, Sunday’s Chargers at Bills game is shaping up to be a MASH unit. The Chargers are without a ton of guys: G Kayode Awosika (fibula), TE Charlie Kolar (forearm), DB Elijah Molden (hamstring), G/T Trey Pipkins III, WR Brenen Thompson (quadricep), and DL Dalvin Tomlinson (hamstring) are all OUT. On top of that, QB Trey Lance (groin) and CB Rodney Shelley (hamstring) are questionable. Lance was a late addition, so the Chargers are even looking at bringing up DJ Uiagalelei from the practice squad. Coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Trevor Penning is stepping in at left guard for Awosika. The Bills aren’t totally clear either, with DB Jordan Hancock (hamstring) and DL T.J. Sanders (illness) out. Their receiving corps might be thin too, with WR Keon Coleman (ankle) and WR DJ Moore (shoulder) both questionable. Coach Joe Brady is taking it down to the wire, calling them game-time decisions after they were limited Friday. He’s giving them “all the way through till game time,” trusting they’ll be ready when they can go.
NFC Scraps and Key Absences
The Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns are also dealing with some real headaches ahead of their Sunday clash. The Panthers are hit hard, especially on defense, with LB Devin Lloyd (calf), LB Claudin Cherelus (shoulder), and S Nick Scott (rib) all sidelined. Lloyd’s absence is huge, considering he was NFC Defensive Player of the Week after pulling down nine tackles, a sack, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown!), and three pass breakups. The dude didn’t practice all week! On offense, WRs Jalen Coker (ankle) and Xavier Legette (knee) are questionable. Coach Dave Canales sounds like Coker’s good to go, but Legette is a game-time call. For the Browns, OL Teven Jenkins is out for his third straight week with a back injury. But Coach Todd Monken is hopeful CB Tyson Campbell (ankle, hip, knee) and S Grant Delpit (shoulder) can suit up after being limited all week. Campbell played last week despite an ankle issue, so maybe he’s got that fight in him again, even with a new hip injury added to the list.
So, with Week 3 kicking off this Sunday, every coach and fan is holding their breath. From potential season-enders to game-time decisions, these injuries are already shaping the early season. Grab your jersey, pour a cold one, and let’s see which teams can step up and fill these massive gaps when the action starts!
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.
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