Taking a look at the biggest injuries from around the NFL and their impact on Week 3 and beyond.
Jimmy Garoppolo, New England Patriots (shoulder injury, day-to-day)
Jimmy Garoppolo is likely out for Thursday Night Football against the Houston Texans, but the Patriots still have hopes that their backup and current Tom Brady replacement can play hurt with a shoulder injury. A shoulder injury suffered in the second quarter of the Patriots win over the Miami Dolphins that could keep Garoppolo out for at least one of the final two games of Brady’s Deflategate suspension.
Garoppolo was limited in practice on Tuesday, but with a sprained throwing shoulder it should be expected that he remains out even with the Patriots refusal to rule him as officially out for Thursday.
Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Garoppolo limited in practice; Jacoby Brissett prepping for Texans https://t.co/wTsCENWDka pic.twitter.com/UdasgNU1U4
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 21, 2016
Luckily for the Patriots, the long week after Thursday’s game against the Texans could be just enough of a window to have Garoppolo return to the fold for Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills. For now, the Patriots are currently not ruling out Garoppolo against the Texans as there is still a chance the quarterback plays hurt. If that happens, the Patriots will have a far better chance of a third straight win without Brady as if Garoppolo is out the pressure will be on third round rookie Jacoby Brissett to deliver a win against the Texans defense.
Danny Woodhead, San Diego Chargers (ACL, out for the season)
Danny Woodhead’s season came to an end on Sunday in the San Diego Chargers win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The veteran running back suffered an ACL tear in the game, an injury that placed him immediately on the injured reserve as Woodhead’s future is now in doubt.
At 31, it will be a long road back from a torn ACL for Woodhead once he undergoes surgery on his knee. Especially once you consider how Woodhead’s calling card has been his speed out of the backfield, there could be troubles down the road for one of the best third down backs of this era.
Woodhead’s injury now makes things even more difficult for the Chargers offense that already lost Keenan Allen for the season. Philip Rivers and running back Melvin Gordon will have to carry this team to success on offense going forward as the Chargers attack is now without two of their top targets for the final 14 games of the season after Woodhead’s injury on Sunday.
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (meniscus tear, out several months)
The biggest injury of Week 2 was the meniscus tear suffered by Adrian Peterson, a second injury blow to a star player for the Minnesota Vikings on offense in the span of the last two months. This latest injury to the workhorse of their offense the likely death blow to the Vikings hopes of contending for a Super Bowl this season.
Peterson suffered the meniscus tear late in the third quarter in the Vikings over the Packers on Sunday Night Football. An injury that will force Peterson out for several months after undergoing surgery on Wednesday according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
UPDATE: @Vikings announce Adrian Peterson is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow. Could be several months before his return. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/AuFCQVyT60
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 21, 2016
Already without Bridgewater, it is hard to look at the Vikings as contenders as Peterson was the main factor in Minnesota when it came to their chances of potential success. Left with Sam Bradford and a cast of role players, it will be hard for the Vikings to not turn their hopes to 2017 when Bridgewater and Peterson make their returns from injury as things are now grim in Minnesota. Peterson could return late in the season with a quick recovery, but the Vikings will be significantly weakened even if their running back might potentially be back in time for January if they make the playoffs.
DeMarcus Ware, Denver Broncos (broken forearm, several weeks)
The Denver Broncos will be without one of their top pass rushers for the next several weeks as DeMarcus Ware broke his forearm in the team’s win over the Indianapolis Colts. An injury that will put the pressure on Von Miller and the rest of the Broncos defensive front to pick up the production with Ware out of the picture for awhile.
Ware broke his forearm during a missed sack attempt going after Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, but will be back for the Broncos stretch run as they look to defend their Super Bowl crown. For the next few weeks it will be interesting to see if the Broncos pass rush tapers off as after Malik Jackson left the team in the offseason, the absence of Ware could magnify the drop-off from last season’s team.
Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (hamstring tear, three weeks)
Doug Martin was the third high-profile running back to suffer an injury on Sunday, but luckily for the Bucs it was a short term injury as Martin will be out for the next three weeks. A hamstring tear the cause of the absence as Tampa Bay will be without Martin’s services after the running back tore his right hamstring in the first half in their loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Doug Martin being sidelined for three games, as @RapSheet reports, would take him to Bucs' bye week, giving him five-week recovery window.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 21, 2016
The Bucs have Charles Sims to fill in for Martin as the feature back, but with games against top defenses in the Rams, Broncos, and Panthers before the bye week it will be difficult for the ground game to get going without one of their bigger weapons. Martin should come back after the bye week and have a productive second half of the season, but the three-week absence of Martin will be a huge loss during the toughest period of the Bucs season.
