NFL Week 7 injuries – Jimmy Garoppolo, Justin Fields out; Deshaun Watson trending up،
Just one game into Week 7 of the NFL season, and already a key player who was a game decision due to injury delivered a clutch performance.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence battled back from a sprained left knee to make the 41st consecutive start of his NFL career, and he led the Jaguars to a 31-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Lawrence passed for 204 yards and a touchdown and, despite the knee, led the Jaguars in rushing with 59 yards on eight carries.
While the Jaguars haven’t had to turn to their backup quarterback, the Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears will. Jimmy Garoppolo (back) has been ruled out for Sunday, meaning a second missed game for him this season, and Justin Fields (thumb) will also sit.
The news was better for the Cleveland Browns, who are hoping starter Deshaun Watson (strained rotator cuff) returns to the lineup after missing the last two games. He successfully completed his first full training session since September 22 on Friday.
Here are more injury updates from our NFL Nation reporters as we head into Sunday’s games:
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Injury: Back
While Garoppolo is expected to miss his second game – he missed Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers with a concussion and left last week’s New England Patriots game at halftime in an ambulance to run scans on possible internal injury – who do the Raiders turn to rookie Aidan O’Connell or 15-year veteran Brian Hoyer? O’Connell started against the Chargers and threw for 238 yards while completing 24 of 39 passes with one interception while getting sacked seven times and losing two of three fumbles. Hoyer, meanwhile, has lost 12 straight starts but was effective against the Patriots, completing 6 of 10 for 102 yards, including a 48-yard pass to rookie Tre Tucker that was the Raiders’ longest play of the season .
–Paul Gutiérrez
Injury: Thumb
Fields was ruled out of the Las Vegas Raiders game after not practicing this week due to a dislocated right thumb. The Bears waited until the end of the week to designate the quarterback, and they are pleased with the progress he has made and do not plan to place him on injured reserve. Coach Matt Eberflus said things are moving in a direction where Fields won’t need surgery, but the team has yet to officially make that statement. Rookie Tyson Bagent will start in place of Fields.
-Courtney Cronin
Injury: Oblique; shoulder
McCaffrey is considered day one after injuring his oblique last week. He did not practice the first two days of the week, but it is hoped he will be available Monday against the Minnesota Vikings. Earlier this week, McCaffrey asked coach Kyle Shanahan to make sure he stays in the game plan, stating his intention to be ready to go. This doesn’t guarantee anything, but it is a sign of optimism on his part. If McCaffrey can’t go, expect Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell to be carried.
Like McCaffrey, Samuel is considered an everyday player and also did not participate in practice on Thursday or Friday. But the Niners hope Samuel can play, too, because the pain in his shoulder will have more time to subside since the game is Monday night. If Samuel is unavailable, the Niners will turn to Ray-Ray McCloud and Jauan Jennings to take the snaps, with rookie Ronnie Bell also an option.
-Nick Wagoner
Injury: Ribs
Montgomery missed a full week of practice and is out for the game against the Baltimore Ravens. He was injured last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Montgomery, the Lions’ best runner, is likely out “for a little while,” according to coach Dan Campbell. There is no timetable for Montgomery’s return, but the Lions will give rookie Jahmyr Gibbs a heavy workload in his absence. “At his position, it’s not an easy thing to deal with, so we’ll take it as it comes,” Campbell said.
— Eric Woodyard
Injury: Ankle
Coach Sean McVay said Williams will not play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Rams are still deciding whether to go on injured reserve. With injuries to Williams and running back Ronnie Rivers, the Rams added Darrell Henderson Jr. and Myles Gaskin. McVay said Henderson, who was drafted by the Rams but opted out last season, will be active against Pittsburgh. All four of the team’s available guards could be active.
-Sarah Barshop
Injury: hamstrings
Just when it appeared the Steelers were on track to have a roster of fully healthy offensive players following their leave, the tight end aggravated his hamstring injury during Thursday’s practice. He did not practice Friday and will not play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. That means another week of an expanded role for rookie tight end Darnell Washington, who has just one reception for 10 yards on three targets this season.
-Brooke Prior
Injury: Neck
He still hasn’t been cleared for contact, but he’s listed as a suspect against Washington’s commanders. Jones didn’t take any team reps this week, so it would be a surprise if he arrives in time. He at least has “a chance,” according to coach Brian Daboll. But is it worth it behind an offensive line without LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (shoulder) and OT Matt Peart (shoulder) and with RT Evan Neal (ankle) questionable?
–Jordan Raanan
Injury: Ankle
After being limited in Wednesday’s practice due to an ankle injury suffered in last week’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Stevenson was at full tilt during Thursday’s practice and announced that he would play on Sunday. “I would have to fall not to play,” he said. Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott, as a 1-2 combination, might represent the Patriots’ best chance to pull off an upset against the Buffalo Bills’ 31st D-point (allowing 5.4 yards per carry).
–Mike Reiss
Injury: hamstrings
Two weeks ago, it looked like Jones was on track to play through a hamstring injury, but a last-minute setback kept him out of the Week 5 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. the third full game he missed. this season. Even with a week off to rest, Jones is still unsure of himself. He was one of nine players listed as questionable Sunday for the Denver Broncos. “He looked pretty good,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Jones. “He was limited, so we’ll see how he feels.” In all, the Packers had 10 players according to Friday’s report.
–Rob Demovsky
Injury: Ankle
There were initially fears he would be sidelined for a while after leaving the New York Jets game last week, but Johnson practiced in full Friday and is on track to start against Miami. The Eagles should also get CB Darius Slay and DT Jalen Carter back. Meanwhile, their broken secondary will be down both S Reed Blankenship and CB Bradley Roby as it faces the best offense in the NFL.
-Tim McManus
Injury: Ribs, hip
The Seahawks list their leading receiver as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Metcalf has been dealing with a rib injury since Week 2, but coach Pete Carroll said a hip injury suffered last week against the Cincinnati Bengals was the biggest issue. “He’s still pretty sore,” Carroll said. “He’s still working on it. It’s going to last until game time.”
-Brady Henderson
