NFL Week 3 Injuries 2026: Achane, Brian Burns Out for Season
Updated: Oct 4
October 4 archive correction: Joey Porter Jr. traded to Dallas
This Week 3 tracker is preserved as dated injury history. A later transaction superseded the September 24 Porter checkpoint: Pittsburgh officially traded cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to Dallas for a 2027 sixth round pick and a 2028 second round pick. Porter did not appear in Pittsburgh's first three games. The Steelers' official transaction announcement is the controlling source.
Football consequence: Pittsburgh's old return timeline is closed, while Dallas acquired a starting caliber corner for a secondary dealing with injuries. Fantasy consequence: this is matchup context for opposing passing games, not a direct offensive lineup move. Checked October 4, 2026 at 10:18 p.m. Central. The next factual checkpoint is Porter's Dallas availability and role; no debut date is assumed here.
[Sept. 28 evening update] Chicago's final inactive list confirms Caleb Williams is inactive and Tyson Bagent is active; NFL Network reports Case Keenum will start. Philadelphia confirms Jonathan Greenard and Zach Ertz are active, while Hollywood Brown, Dallas Goedert and Fred Johnson are inactive. Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed Josh Oliver tore his biceps and will require surgery; the Vikings have not announced a roster move or return date. Carolina coach Dave Canales called Jaycee Horn's quad injury significant and said the Pro Bowl cornerback is seeking second opinions, with no specific timetable. Sources checked September 28, 2026: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-network-case-keenum-expected-to-start-for-bears-vs-eagles ; https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-at-bears-inactives-week-3-2026-nfl-regular-season-monday-night-football-caleb-williams ; https://www.panthers.com/news/dave-canales-jaycee-horn-suffers-significant-quad-injury
September 28 late-afternoon update: Burns ACL tear confirmed; Jefferson avoids long-term injury
Giants coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Brian Burns tore his ACL in Sunday's win over Tennessee. The injury ends the three-time Pro Bowler's 2026 season and removes New York's most accomplished edge defender just one week after quarterback Jaxson Dart underwent season-ending knee surgery.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter and the rest of the Giants' front must absorb Burns' snaps and pressure responsibility. For fantasy purposes, the loss lowers the defense's weekly ceiling and improves the matchup outlook for opposing quarterbacks until New York shows it can replace his disruption.
Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell said Justin Jefferson avoided a long-term injury after spraining his ankle and has a chance to play in Week 4 against Miami. Jefferson remains a must-hold and a start if active, but practice participation and the final designation are the next lineup checkpoints.
September 28 mid-afternoon update: Hall week to week; Oliver and Chenal need surgery
The Jets now consider Breece Hall week to week with the quadriceps injury that ended his Week 3 game. New York has not announced an injured-reserve move. Fantasy managers should hold Hall and watch the first Week 4 practice report rather than treating an uncertain absence as a season-ending one.
Minnesota tight end Josh Oliver tore his biceps and will undergo surgery. The Vikings regard a regular-season return as a long shot, making the next roster move and recovery timetable the relevant checkpoints.
New Orleans coach Kellen Moore said Travis Etienne will miss time with a hamstring injury, but the Saints are still evaluating whether injured reserve is necessary. His fantasy status stays in hold-or-IR territory until the club defines the absence.
Washington coach Dan Quinn said Jayden Daniels will practice this week and travel with the Commanders to London. That is progress, not official clearance to start. Linebacker Leo Chenal underwent neck surgery Monday; the team has not supplied a return timetable.
September 28 afternoon update: Mayfield out at least three weeks; Horn headed to IR
Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said Baker Mayfield will miss at least three weeks after dislocating his right thumb. NFL Network reported that the MRI showed no fracture or ligament damage. The new timetable moves Mayfield from monitor status to a confirmed multi-week absence, but it is a minimum—not a guaranteed return date.
Carolina safety Jaycee Horn is out indefinitely with a quadriceps injury, will seek a second opinion and is headed to injured reserve, according to NFL Network. The two-time Pro Bowler could miss the season, but that outcome is not yet confirmed. The second opinion and Carolina’s formal injured-reserve transaction are the next factual checkpoints.
Fantasy impact: Mayfield belongs in an injured-reserve slot where available, while fantasy managers should wait for Tampa Bay’s next quarterback update before assigning value to his replacement. Horn’s absence materially weakens Carolina’s secondary and improves the matchup outlook for upcoming opposing passing games, though the Panthers have not yet defined his replacement duties.
Breaking Monday update: Achane tears ACL, out for 2026
De’Von Achane tore the ACL in his knee during Miami’s Week 3 loss to Kansas City and will miss the rest of the 2026 season, NFL Network and ESPN reported Monday after imaging. The NFL’s official report supersedes Sunday’s in-game knee designation and the Dolphins’ initial postgame uncertainty.
What changes: Achane is no longer a Week 4 wait-and-see decision. He can be moved to an injured-reserve slot where fantasy league rules allow. Ollie Gordon handled 17 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown after Achane left, making Gordon Miami’s priority waiver target. His exact workload is not guaranteed; the Dolphins can still alter the rotation or add a back.
The next checkpoints are Miami’s formal roster designation, any announcement about surgery, and the club’s Week 4 backfield plan. No responsible 2027 return date can be set before those medical and rehabilitation details are available. Update checked Sept. 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Central.
Monday update: Keenum expected to start; Burns ACL tear confirmed
NFL Network reported Monday morning that Chicago is expected to start Case Keenum against Philadelphia. Tyson Bagent cleared concussion protocol Sunday but participated in only one practice after missing the game-plan install; Chicago's final inactive list confirms Williams is inactive and Bagent is active; NFL Network still identifies Keenum as the starter.
Brian Burns returned from his earlier ankle issue, then tore his ACL in Sunday's win over Tennessee. Giants coach John Harbaugh confirmed the diagnosis Monday. Burns will miss the remainder of the 2026 season; New York's corresponding roster move is the next administrative checkpoint.
Sources checked September 28, 2026: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-network-case-keenum-expected-to-start-for-bears-vs-eagles and https://www.nfl.com/news/giants-brian-burns-torn-acl-win-titans
[Sept. 28 final Monday-night update] Chicago’s official inactive list confirms Caleb Williams is inactive and Tyson Bagent is active after clearing concussion protocol. NFL Network reports Case Keenum will start, with Bagent available as the backup. Philadelphia confirms Jonathan Greenard is active for his Eagles debut; Marquise Brown, Dallas Goedert and Fred Johnson are inactive.
Sunday night update: Mayfield thumb, Bech forearm, Evans ribs
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to Minnesota, coach Todd Bowles said. Mayfield is scheduled for an MRI on Monday. The injury is confirmed; the severity, treatment plan and Week 4 availability are not. Source: NFL.com’s official Week 3 injury roundup.
San Francisco wide receiver Mike Evans left the 49ers’ win over Arizona with a rib strain and was ruled out after halftime. NFL Network reported that Evans will receive a full evaluation Monday. His pregame active status is now superseded by the in-game injury; no return timetable has been announced.
Las Vegas rookie receiver Jack Bech suffered a broken forearm in the Raiders’ win over New Orleans, coach Klint Kubiak said. NFL Network reported that Bech will be placed on injured reserve. That move had not yet been completed when this update was checked, so the confirmed diagnosis and reported IR plan should be separated from the formal transaction.
Rams cornerback Jaylen Watson was ruled out shortly after halftime against Denver with a shoulder injury. Los Angeles had not announced a diagnosis or recovery timeline. The next factual checkpoints are the Rams’ postgame update and their first Week 4 practice report.
Fantasy impact: Mayfield should be treated as uncertain for Week 4 until Monday imaging is complete. Evans moves to a hold-and-monitor status rather than an automatic start. Bech is not a redraft add, while his absence can preserve secondary-route opportunities for Las Vegas’s healthy receivers. Do not infer a multiweek absence for Watson without team testing results. Update checked Sept. 27, 2026, at 10:30 p.m. Central.
Sunday midday update: Williams has reported Grade 2 strain
League sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that Caleb Williams has a Grade 2 right hamstring strain that doctors consider a three-to-four-week injury. NBC Sports’ report documents the diagnosis. Chicago still calls Williams week-to-week, has ruled him out Monday against Philadelphia and has not announced an injured-reserve move or fixed return date.
Monday update (Sept. 28, 11:00 a.m. CT): Jalen Coker’s quadriceps injury is considered a minor strain, according to the NFL’s league news roundup citing NFL Network. He is questionable for Week 4. Keep him rostered where bench space allows, but do not place him in an active lineup until Carolina’s practice participation and final designation are known. Source: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-news-roundup-latest-league-updates-from-monday-sept-28NFL.com’s Week 3 recap.
Sunday afternoon update: Achane exits; Bosa and Stanley inactive
Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane was ruled out of Sunday’s Week 3 game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a knee injury, according to the NFL’s official Week 3 injury roundup. That in-game designation initially confirmed only that Achane could not return. Monday imaging later confirmed a torn ACL, and NFL Network and ESPN reported he will miss the rest of the 2026 season.
Fantasy impact: Achane is out for the remainder of 2026 and can be moved to an injured-reserve slot where league rules allow. Ollie Gordon replaced him against Kansas City and immediately becomes Miami’s most important waiver priority, though the Dolphins’ first Week 4 practice report and any roster addition will clarify the backfield split.
Two major late-window absences also became official: San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa is inactive against Arizona, and Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley is inactive against Dallas. Those losses materially affect the 49ers’ pass rush and the Ravens’ protection plan, but the inactive list does not establish a new recovery timetable for either player.
Washington Commanders linebacker Leo Chenal was ruled out with a neck injury after leaving the Seattle game on a stretcher. The Commanders later confirmed that he underwent neck surgery Monday; no return timetable has been announced.
Update checked Sept. 27, 2026, at 2:40 p.m. CT. Official late-window status source: NFL Week 3 inactive list.
Monday update: Achane and Burns ACL tears confirmed; Hall week to week
Miami coach Jeff Hafley’s pessimistic postgame assessment was followed by Monday imaging that confirmed De’Von Achane tore his ACL. NFL Network and ESPN reported that Achane will miss the rest of the 2026 season. Miami’s formal roster move, surgery information and rehabilitation plan are the next factual checkpoints; no 2027 return date has been reported.
Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed Justin Jefferson avoided a long-term injury after spraining his ankle and has a chance to play in Week 4. Giants coach John Harbaugh confirmed Brian Burns tore his ACL, ending the edge rusher's 2026 season. Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan was ruled out against Minnesota with a knee injury.
Fantasy action: move Achane to an injured-reserve slot where eligible and prioritize Ollie Gordon on waivers, while monitoring whether Miami adds another back. Keep Justin Jefferson in lineups if Minnesota clears him for Week 4, but monitor his practice participation; Hall is considered week to week with a quadriceps injury. Do not infer a recovery date for Achane beyond the confirmed 2026 absence.
Updated Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 4:12 p.m. CT.
Fantasy consequence: keep Williams out of Week 3 lineups and plan for a multiweek absence. Do not assume he will return exactly three or four weeks from the injury; practice participation and Chicago’s roster decision are the next reliable checkpoints.
Sunday early-window inactives — September 27
The first official Sunday inactive lists have resolved several of the most important noon Central decisions. Buffalo wide receivers DJ Moore and Keon Coleman are active against the Chargers, Carolina wide receiver Jalen Coker was active at Cleveland but later exited with a quadriceps injury, and Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette is inactive. Tennessee running back Tyjae Spears is active against the Giants, while New York edge rusher Brian Burns is active.
Pittsburgh running back Jaylen Warren and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. are active against Cincinnati. Rico Dowdle is inactive with a toe injury, so Warren moves into the lead-back role with Travis Homer and Lew Nichols providing depth. The practical fantasy call: Moore, Coleman, Spears, Warren and Pittman can be used according to normal roster tiers; Legette must come out of lineups, while Coker moves to injury-watch status for Week 4.
Official sources checked at 10:35 a.m. Central: Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Giants–Titans official game feed. Late-window inactive lists remain the next checkpoint.
NFL Network reported Monday morning that Chicago is expected to start Case Keenum against Philadelphia. Tyson Bagent cleared concussion protocol Sunday but participated in only one practice after missing the game-plan install; Chicago's final inactive list confirms Williams is inactive and Bagent is active; NFL Network still identifies Keenum as the starter.
The NFL’s official Week 3 injury report listed Eagles wide receiver Marquise Brown, tight end Dallas Goedert and tackle Fred Johnson out before the final game-night list. The official inactives now confirm all three are out and Jonathan Greenard is active for his Eagles debut. Barkley, Bigsby, Shipley and Smith are active.
Chicago’s final list confirms Caleb Williams, Shemar Turner and Noah Sewell are inactive. Tyson Bagent is active after clearing concussion protocol, and NFL Network reports Case Keenum will start. Football Nation’s verdict: remove Williams, Goedert and Brown from Week 3 lineups, keep Barkley and Smith at normal levels, and treat Keenum as a desperation-only superflex option.
September 25 update: Darnold cleared to start for Seattle
The NFL’s Friday confirmation says Sam Darnold has no injury designation and will start Sunday against Washington. He moved from limited Wednesday to full Thursday after missing Week 2 with a glute injury. Drew Lock returns to backup duty. For fantasy, Darnold is back in QB2 and superflex consideration, and Seattle’s pass catchers regain their normal quarterback projection.
Sunday late-window status: Bowers and Flowers active; Evans exits with rib injury
The NFL’s official late-window inactive lists confirmed Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers and 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans were active. During San Francisco’s win over Arizona, Evans suffered a rib strain and was ruled out after halftime. His full evaluation is scheduled for Monday; active status before kickoff does not establish his Week 4 availability.
Fantasy consequence: Bowers and Flowers cleared the availability gate for Week 3. Evans now belongs on hold-and-monitor lists pending Monday’s evaluation. Ronnie Stanley’s absence affected Baltimore’s protection plan, and Nick Bosa’s absence lowered San Francisco’s defensive ceiling, but neither inactive designation created a new recovery timetable.
Fantasy consequence: Bowers, Flowers and Evans can stay in lineups, with Bowers carrying the widest workload range after knee surgery. Ronnie Stanley’s absence matters to Baltimore’s pass protection, and Bosa’s absence lowers San Francisco’s defensive ceiling. The Rams-Broncos inactive list is final: Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell and Marvin Mims are out.
Controlling source: official NFL Week 3 injury report. The official early-window lists are final for the noon Central games; late-window and Monday inactive lists remain the controlling checkpoints elsewhere.
Sunday night update: Nacua, Atwell and Mims inactive
Puka Nacua is inactive for Sunday night against Denver after missing every practice this week with a hip/groin injury. Tutu Atwell is also inactive, leaving Davante Adams as the clear lead receiver while Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith and the Rams’ tight ends absorb the secondary work. The inactive designation confirms Nacua will miss a second consecutive game. Los Angeles has not announced a Week 4 return.
The largest direct fantasy change is Nacua: move him out of Week 3 lineups, keep Davante Adams locked in and treat the Rams' depth receivers and tight ends as role-dependent alternatives. At quarterback, Jameis Winston remains the Giants' starter, while the Jets must replace Taylor's snaps at tight end. The defensive absences matter more as matchup context. Sunday inactive lists remain the controlling evidence for every player who is not already out or doubtful.
The Puka Nacua designation is documented in NFL.com's Friday Nacua report; the remaining verified Friday updates are collected in NFL.com’s Saturday roundup.
Full canonical reports: Jaxson Dart surgery, Nick Bosa’s calf injury and Jonathon Brooks’ injured-reserve outlook.
Nick Bosa expected to miss multiple weeks
September 25 update: NFL.com reports that 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is expected to miss multiple weeks with a calf injury sustained during practice this week. He is out for Sunday against Arizona, and San Francisco has not decided whether to place him on injured reserve. The team has not announced a return date or a strain grade. Downgrade the 49ers defense from the premium tier, give Jacoby Brissett a modest floor boost and wait for the final Friday report plus any IR transaction before assigning a precise timetable. NFL.com report · NBC Sports Bay Area background
Chargers place David Njoku on injured reserve
The Los Angeles Chargers placed tight end David Njoku on injured reserve with a knee injury on September 23, requiring him to miss at least four games. The Chargers’ transaction log confirms the move. The Associated Press reported that Njoku was hurt early in the second quarter of Los Angeles’ 26–14 Week 2 loss to Las Vegas. Charlie Kolar is not going on injured reserve as initially expected after forearm surgery, though coach Jim Harbaugh said he likely will not play Sunday at Buffalo. Los Angeles signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the active roster. For fantasy managers, Njoku belongs in an IR slot rather than an active lineup; the remaining Chargers tight ends gain opportunity, but none becomes an automatic start. The next checkpoint is Njoku’s rehab progress and the earliest game for which he becomes eligible to return. Review Football Nation’s Week 3 fantasy and injury contingencies and the latest matchup availability analysis before lineup lock.
Official NFL injured-reserve update supporting the Alec Pierce section below.
September 27 report: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Daniels should be back within three weeks, possibly sooner. Washington previously said surgery is not on the table and has not discussed injured reserve. Marcus Mariota remains the Week 3 starter. This is a reported expectation, not a team-announced return date. Keep Daniels rostered and use practice participation as the next checkpoint. NFL.com report · Rapoport report
September 25 final update: Seattle removed Sam Darnold from the injury report and confirmed he will start Sunday at Washington after progressing from limited participation Wednesday to a full practice Thursday. Drew Lock returns to backup duty. Dallas has ruled out DeMarvion Overshown, Cobie Durant, Malik Hooker and P.J. Locke for the Brazil game against Baltimore; none will travel. Football Nation’s verdict: Darnold returns to QB2 and superflex consideration, while Seattle’s primary pass catchers regain their normal quarterback ceiling.
September 26 late update: Denver placed Jonah Coleman on injured reserve with a reported high-ankle sprain. NFL.com relayed ESPN’s report that Coleman is expected to return in Week 7 against Arizona. J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey practiced fully and have no game designation. Minnesota upgraded Aaron Jones to a full practice and gave him no game designation. Buffalo listed Keon Coleman and DJ Moore questionable after both were limited Friday, and both remain game-time decisions. NFL.com’s Saturday roundup and the official Broncos, Vikings and Bills injury reports are controlling. Football Nation’s verdict: move Jonah Coleman to an IR slot where eligible and plan without him until at least Week 7, restore Jones to a volume-flex tier, and keep both Buffalo receivers conditional until Sunday’s inactive list.
September 24 and 25 update: Darnold cleared; Dart undergoes surgery
Sam Darnold is off the final injury report and will start Sunday at Washington. He progressed from limited participation Wednesday to a full practice Thursday and carries no game designation. Drew Lock returns to backup duty. John Harbaugh also confirmed Jaxson Dart underwent season-ending surgery after reported MCL, PCL and meniscus damage with an intact ACL. Jameis Winston remains the Week 3 starter and Jake Haener the expected backup. Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was limited Thursday after missing the first two games with a persistent back injury and conditioning concerns. Porter said he will play during the 2026 season but gave no firm return date.
The official Seahawks report, ESPN’s Thursday Darnold report, NFL.com’s Thursday roundup and NFL.com’s Dart report provide the earlier reporting context. Seattle’s Friday injury report is the controlling source for Darnold’s final Week 3 status.
September 24 update: Iosivas headed to IR; Arian Smith out for season
The NFL's September 23 roundup confirms that Bengals receiver Andrei Iosivas will be placed on injured reserve with a torn thumb ligament, while Jets receiver Arian Smith has a torn ACL, underwent surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season. Arizona placed starting cornerback Will Johnson on injured reserve with a neck injury. That earlier ankle update was superseded by Burns' separate knee injury against Tennessee. Harbaugh confirmed Monday that Burns tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of 2026. No firm return date was supplied for Johnson.
For fantasy managers, Iosivas' absence narrows Cincinnati's secondary receiver rotation behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but it does not automatically create a trustworthy weekly starter. Smith's absence is primarily a Jets depth and special-teams loss. Burns' season-ending loss and Johnson's IR move matter more as matchup context than as direct lineup moves. Use the Week 3 waiver wire and Week 3 stash report for roster replacements, and wait for Thursday participation reports before changing borderline start-sit decisions. For the linked quarterback and receiver decisions, see Football Nation's Jayden Daniels update, Jaxson Dart tracker, Caleb Williams report and Alec Pierce report.
September 24 morning update: Denver backfield squeezed; Nacua held out
Denver placed Jonah Coleman on injured reserve after a reported high-ankle sprain. NFL.com says the Broncos announced the move and relays ESPN’s expectation that Coleman can return in Week 7 against Arizona. J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey were full participants Thursday and Friday and carry no game designation, leaving Dobbins as the preferred Broncos start and Harvey as a speculative flex or bench stash. The Rams–Broncos prediction now reflects the settled Denver backfield. Coleman remains on injured reserve and cannot return before Week 7.
For Los Angeles, Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell are inactive after Nacua missed all three practices. Davante Adams is the clear lead receiver, with Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith and the Rams’ tight ends filling secondary roles. Denver receiver Marvin Mims is also inactive. Elsewhere, Nico Collins is out; Brock Bowers, Zay Flowers and Mike Evans are officially active; Ronnie Stanley and Nick Bosa are inactive. Monday’s Eagles-Bears list is the final Week 3 checkpoint.
September 23 evening update: Reed out; Tua available; Pierce on IR
Green Bay officially ruled Jayden Reed out for Thursday night against Atlanta with a neck injury. Atlanta listed Tua Tagovailoa without a game designation, making him available behind Michael Penix Jr. The Packers also ruled out Aaron Banks, Zach Bako-Bewele and Warren Brinson, while Anthony Campbell and Javon Hargrave are questionable. September 23 tracker update: The NFL announced that Colts receiver Alec Pierce was placed on injured reserve, guaranteeing at least four missed games. Indianapolis has not issued a return timetable. The earlier midseason target remains a reported hope. Football Nation’s dedicated Pierce article has the updated receiver and fantasy consequences. Official NFL Week 3 injury report.
The Week 3 injury board starts with three quarterbacks: Jayden Daniels will not start for Washington, Jaxson Dart underwent season-ending left-knee surgery Friday after being placed on injured reserve, and Caleb Williams is week-to-week with a right hamstring injury. Bagent no longer carries a game designation, but NFL Network reports Keenum is expected to start.
Important timing note: Most Sunday teams issued their opening Week 3 practice reports on Wednesday, September 23. Philadelphia and Chicago play Monday and begin their reporting cycle Thursday. “Questionable,” “doubtful” and “out” are official game-status terms only when a team publishes them; a limited or nonparticipation label alone is not a final game designation.
Week 3 NFL injury report: quick-reference table
Player | Team/position | Injury | Latest confirmed status | Likely replacement | Next factual checkpoint
Jayden Daniels | Washington QB | Dislocated left elbow | Mariota confirmed to start Week 3; specialists reviewing imaging | Marcus Mariota | Specialist guidance Tuesday/Wednesday
Jaxson Dart | Giants QB | MCL, PCL and meniscus damage reported; ACL intact | Underwent surgery September 25 after IR placement | Jameis Winston | Post-operative recovery guidance
Caleb Williams | Fantasy managers should wait for Chicago to name its starter before using Bagent.
Sam Darnold | Seahawks QB | Glute | Off final injury report and confirmed to start Week 3 | Drew Lock returns to backup duty | Sunday performance and postgame recovery response
Saquon Barkley | Eagles RB | Stinger/upper body | No final game designation after a full Friday practice | Tank Bigsby/Will Shipley | Monday inactive list
Puka Nacua | Rams WR | Hip/groin | Inactive; misses a second straight game | Davante Adams plus Rams depth receivers and tight ends | Week 4 practice participation
Malik Nabers | Giants WR | Right shoulder | Left briefly and returned Monday night | Darius Slayton/young WR depth if limited | Thursday and Friday practice participation plus final game status
Dallas Goedert | Eagles TE | Knee | Ruled out for Week 3 against Chicago | Zach Ertz if elevated/Eagles tight end depth | Week 4 practice report and rehab update
Alec Pierce | Colts WR | Left heel | Placed on injured reserve; must miss at least four games | Darius Slayton signed by Indianapolis | Rehab response and earliest eligible return
Kelvin Banks Jr. | Saints LT | High ankle injury | Placed on injured reserve; must miss at least four games | Asim Richards | Rehab progress and earliest eligible return
Sam Cosmi | Commanders G | Concussion | In protocol | Interior-line depth | Independent protocol progression
Derwin James | Chargers S | Fractured pinky | Plans to play in a cast, subject to clearance | Chargers safety depth | First practice report
Cobie Durant | Cowboys CB | Hamstring strain | Could miss multiple weeks; IR decision pending | Shavon Revel and Dallas depth corners | First practice report and roster decision
P.J. Locke | Cowboys S | Torn plantar fascia | Could miss multiple weeks; IR decision pending | Markquese Bell and Dallas safety depth | First practice report and roster decision
Quarterbacks: do not wait for Sunday on the biggest decisions
Jayden Daniels is the clearest early lineup decision. Washington coach Dan Quinn said Daniels had imaging and would see specialists over the next two days, while Marcus Mariota will start against Seattle. The team has not announced a return timeline or surgery decision. In fantasy leagues, Daniels belongs on the bench immediately. Mariota is a two-quarterback or superflex replacement, not an automatic one-quarterback start, because his rushing gives him a usable floor but the matchup and Washington’s offensive-line injuries add risk. Football Nation’s dedicated Daniels update has the injury sequence and confirmed Week 3 starter change.
Jaxson Dart’s outlook changed materially after further testing. NFL.com reported that Dart damaged his MCL, PCL and meniscus while his ACL remained intact, and he underwent season-ending surgery Friday, September 25. Winston is the clear superflex waiver priority, while Dart should be moved to injured reserve or held only in dynasty formats. Football Nation’s Dart injury tracker will carry the Giants’ post-operative recovery guidance when it is released.
Caleb Williams is officially out Monday with a right-hamstring injury. Bagent is available medically, but NFL Network reports Keenum is expected to start and Bagent is expected to serve as the backup. Williams is no longer a late-swap decision; remove him now. Bagent is a superflex-only contingency if he clears and starts.
Seattle’s Friday injury report removed Sam Darnold’s game designation, and Mike Macdonald confirmed he will start Sunday at Washington. Darnold practiced fully Thursday and Friday; Drew Lock returns to backup duty. ESPN reported Thursday that Macdonald expected a Friday decision. Seattle’s final report resolved that uncertainty.
Running backs: Barkley returns to the Week 3 starting plan
Saquon Barkley left Sunday’s game with a stinger, advanced to a full Friday practice and carries no final game designation. Barkley remains a normal fantasy start. Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley also have no final designation, but both remain contingency backs behind Barkley; The final inactive list confirmed Barkley, Bigsby, Shipley and Smith active.
The rest of the early Week 3 running-back board is unusually quiet. That is a reason to stay selective, not a reason to recycle older injuries. Football Nation’s Week 3 fantasy stashes report explains why contingent backs such as Bigsby can be more useful than low-ceiling replacements who are already locked into small roles.
Receivers and tight ends: Puka, Nabers and Goedert drive the target shifts
Puka Nacua is inactive for Sunday night against Denver after missing every practice this week with a hip/groin injury. Tutu Atwell is inactive as well. Remove both from Week 3 lineups. Davante Adams is the clearest volume winner, while Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith and the Rams’ tight ends divide the secondary work. Week 4 practice participation is the next useful checkpoint for Nacua.
Malik Nabers briefly left Monday night with a right-shoulder issue but returned in the second quarter. The in-game update documented his return, so it would be inaccurate to call him out or even questionable for Week 3 before the Giants publish a report. His fantasy outlook is also tied to Dart’s MRI. Winston would preserve aggressive downfield volume, but quarterback change increases volatility. The Giants–Rams recap supplies the game context.
Dallas Goedert’s sprained MCL changes Philadelphia’s tight-end room. NFL.com reported the Eagles’ practice-squad reunion with Zach Ertz, with a possible active-roster elevation for Week 3. Ertz is a speculative add in deeper leagues, not a locked starter until the Eagles elevate him and define his role. Goedert managers should prepare to stream. The target concentration could help DeVonta Smith and Philadelphia’s backs more than it helps any one backup tight end.
Alec Pierce is on injured reserve and must miss at least four games while rehabilitating his surgically repaired left heel. NFL.com reported the heel setback before Indianapolis placed Pierce on injured reserve. The Colts signed Darius Slayton on September 22; fantasy managers should now judge him by practice participation and role rather than transaction uncertainty. Football Nation's Pierce injury report tracks the imaging question and replacement hierarchy.
Image license and source: Wikimedia Commons file page · public-domain U.S. government licensing. The photograph is identified as the game venue, not the injury play. Related coverage: Jaxson Dart injury update · Rams-Giants recap.
Offensive line: Kelvin Banks and Washington’s interior matter beyond the box score
New Orleans placed left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. on injured reserve after reports that he underwent surgery for a high-ankle injury. Asim Richards is the expected replacement. Banks must miss at least four games; rehab progress and his earliest eligible return are now the checkpoints. The fantasy consequence is indirect but meaningful: tackle instability can lower the efficiency ceiling of the entire offense even when no skill player's role changes.
Washington guard Sam Cosmi is in concussion protocol, while Brandon Coleman is expected to practice through a finger injury and Javon Kinlaw is expected to be limited by a shoulder issue. Those updates came directly from the Commanders’ Monday briefing. Concussion protocol has no guaranteed calendar, so Cosmi’s practice progression matters more than an early projection. Mariota’s protection environment should be part of any streaming decision.
Defense: Dallas secondary joins Cross and James; Burns lost for season
Commanders safety Nick Cross stayed overnight at a Dallas hospital with an internal injury and was discharged Monday in good spirits. Washington has not provided a Week 3 availability update. The responsible fantasy and football conclusion is simple: wait for the team’s medical and practice reporting, and do not infer severity from the hospitalization alone.
Chargers safety Derwin James sustained a fractured pinky and plans to play with a cast. Intention is not clearance. IDP managers can keep James penciled in but need a backup through the first official report. Football Nation’s James injury update will carry any practice change.
Brian Burns returned from his earlier ankle issue, then tore his ACL in Sunday's win over Tennessee. Giants coach John Harbaugh confirmed the diagnosis Monday. Burns will miss the remainder of the 2026 season; New York's corresponding roster move is the next administrative checkpoint.
Dallas added two confirmed multiweek concerns before its Week 3 matchup with Baltimore. The Cowboys’ official update says cornerback Cobie Durant sustained a hamstring strain and safety P.J. Locke tore the plantar fascia in his foot. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said both could miss multiple weeks, while injured-reserve decisions remained unfinished. That language establishes an expected absence but not a precise return date.
The football consequence is immediate: Dallas may face Lamar Jackson and Baltimore without Durant, Locke, Malik Hooker and DeMarvion Overshown. Shavon Revel is the clearest cornerback replacement after taking over for Durant, while Markquese Bell and other depth defensive backs may absorb more safety work. The Cowboys–Commanders recap supplies the game context, but the first official practice report and any IR transactions are the next checkpoints. Fantasy managers should treat this as a matchup adjustment for Baltimore’s passing game, not a guarantee of a specific player outcome.
Actionable fantasy plan after Saturday’s final report
1. Bench Daniels and add Mariota in superflex formats. 2. Add Winston immediately in superflex leagues after Dart's surgery. 3. The next checkpoint is Chicago’s quarterback announcement, not another protocol test. 4. Keep Bigsby only as Barkley insurance; Barkley practiced in full Friday and plans to play. 5. Treat Ertz as a watch-list addition until Philadelphia confirms an elevation. 6. Move Nacua out of Week 3 lineups; Adams stays locked in, and Rams depth options remain matchup-dependent.
Platform check: ESPN Fantasy, Yahoo Fantasy and CBS Sports injury pages were reviewed at 5:20 a.m. Central on September 22, 2026. Their early availability labels were used only as cross-checks, not as official NFL designations. For broader context, Football Nation’s Week 3 fantasy fallout report, Week 2 injury report and Week 2 lineup lock show how the earlier designations resolved.
Expanded Week 3 injury decision guide
The injury board has moved beyond preliminary triage. Daniels is out of Washington’s starting role, Dart underwent season-ending surgery, Nacua is inactive, and Williams, Goedert and Marquise Brown are officially out. Bagent has completed the protocol, but NFL Network reports the Bears are expected to start Keenum. Darnold has been cleared and will start.
Football Nation uses three separate labels in this report. Confirmed means the team, league or player has stated the fact. Reported means a credible outlet has supplied information that the team has not formally announced. Projected means a fantasy platform or analyst is estimating availability. Those labels should never be blended. A reported multiweek concern can be useful for waiver planning without becoming an official timetable.
Kickoff window contingency map
For Monday night, Williams, Goedert and Marquise Brown are confirmed outs. Keenum is the reported starter, with Bagent expected to back him up, while Barkley and DeVonta Smith carry no game designation and can stay in normal lineup plans subject to Monday’s inactive list.
What each major injury changes
Washington’s change is already actionable. Mariota starts, Athan Kaliakmanis is the next quarterback on the current depth plan, and Daniels should leave fantasy lineups. The wider concern is not only quarterback. Cosmi’s concussion protocol and the other offensive line limitations affect protection, rushing efficiency and the reliability of every Washington pass catcher. Mariota’s rushing can protect his fantasy floor, but managers should not treat the offense as unchanged.
The Giants now have two linked questions. Dart’s surgery makes Winston the practical quarterback for the foreseeable future, while Nabers’ shoulder determines whether the replacement passer has his full first read available. Winston can support aggressive downfield volume, but the offense becomes more volatile. Nabers returned after the shoulder issue, which is encouraging, yet his Week 3 status must come from the final practice report. Burns later returned for Week 3, but the separate knee injury he sustained against Tennessee was confirmed as a torn ACL Monday.
Philadelphia’s Monday schedule is much clearer: Barkley and DeVonta Smith carry no game designation and remain normal starts. Bigsby is contingency insurance, while Goedert and Marquise Brown are ruled out. The confirmed absences concentrate targets but also reduce Philadelphia’s receiving depth.
The Rams no longer require a wait-and-see Week 3 call on Nacua: he and Tutu Atwell are inactive. Fantasy managers should bench both receivers. Davante Adams is the dependable Rams target, while the remaining Los Angeles pass catchers are role-dependent alternatives. Chicago is expected to start Keenum even though Bagent is cleared; the inactive list remains the final official checkpoint.
Video context from Monday night
Football Nation’s Monday night live coverage preserves the full Giants at Rams game context, including the early quarterback change and the way New York’s offense adjusted. Open the Football Nation stream.
This video clip shows the play after which Dart left the game. The clip documents the event, but it does not establish an injury grade. The Giants’ post-operative recovery guidance is now the medical checkpoint.
Source checkpoints: Washington’s no-surgery and no-IR update remains the official team position; NFL Network’s reported three-week window is the latest outside timetable. Daniels’ first practice participation is the next clearance signal. NFL.com’s September 25 surgery update on Dart remains controlling for the Giants quarterback.
What Football Nation will update next
The next meaningful revision should follow evidence, not a clock. Medical clearance no longer blocks Bagent; NFL Network reports Keenum is expected to start. Week 4 practice participation will become the next useful evidence for Williams, Goedert, Brown, Nacua, Daniels and the other confirmed absences.
Fantasy managers should act now where the replacement is confirmed or the waiver value could disappear. Add Mariota or Winston in superflex, keep Bigsby only as Barkley insurance and prepare a tight end alternative for Goedert. Keep Nabers rostered and provisionally slotted, but move Nacua out of Week 3 lineups and do not leave the roster without a legal late swap. The goal is not to predict every medical result. It is to keep every unresolved lineup decision reversible until the teams provide the evidence.
Football Nation conclusion
Sunday’s inactive lists have now confirmed DJ Moore, Keon Coleman, Jalen Coker, Tyjae Spears, Jaylen Warren, Michael Pittman Jr., Brian Burns, Brock Bowers, Zay Flowers and Mike Evans active. Xavier Legette, Ronnie Stanley, Nick Bosa, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell and Marvin Mims are inactive. Monday’s Eagles-Bears list remains the final Week 3 checkpoint.
Additional Football Nation context: the Cowboys–Commanders Week 2 recap documents the play and lineup fallout around Daniels, while the Week 1 injury report provides the prior-week baseline without repeating resolved injuries.
For the roster decisions created by these injuries, use Football Nation’s Week 3 waiver wire and Week 3 stash report; the Week 2 stock report adds the broader team-level trends behind those moves.
Monday night status update: Jalen Hurts returned
Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts left Monday night's game after a late hit from D'Marco Jackson and underwent a sideline concussion evaluation. He was cleared, returned before halftime and scored on a one-yard sneak on the final play of the second quarter. The development does not create a current absence projection; his postgame status is the next checkpoint.
For game and lineup context, read Football Nation's Eagles-Bears prediction and Caleb Williams injury update.
Sources and update schedule
Sources: official team injury reports, inactive lists and transaction updates, plus NFL.com’s consolidated Week 3 injury roundup. This article reflects official early- and late-window information checked September 27 at 4:49 p.m. Central. Rams-Broncos and Monday’s Eagles-Bears list remain the next checkpoints.
More Week 3 injury, fantasy and matchup coverage
Use Football Nation’s Brock Bowers fantasy plan, Nico Collins update, Chiefs–Dolphins preview, Chargers–Bills preview, Bengals–Steelers preview, D.J. Moore injury report, Joey Porter Jr. update, Andrei Iosivas injury report, Week 3 trade values, Week 3 market pulse and Brandin Cooks receiver-depth update for focused lineup and matchup consequences.
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