NFL Week 3 M*A*S*H Report: List of Important Injuries Grows Longer
The Colts-Eagles and Panthers-Bengals match-ups are among those critically influenced by injuries. Find out which other injuries should inform your betting decisions.
Colts-Eagles:
Quarterback Carson Wentz will play for the first time since December 10. He’s healthy, but time will tell if he’s also rusty. The Eagles will be in big trouble if he’s rusty because they won’t be able to rely on the run game with Darren Sproles and Jay Ajayi injured. However, the Colts are also dealing with numerous injuries—to starters at running back, tight end, left tackle, two at defensive tackle, and safety.
Panthers-Bengals:
The Bengals have problems in protection with the center out. Running back Joe Mixon is also injured. But their problems pale in comparison to Carolina’s, which will have to start backups at both tackles and guard and at tight end. Carolina’s offense may struggle against a Bengals defensive line that ranks second in opposing yards per carry. Carolina’s defense also has issues. A starting safety had to go on IR and a starting cornerback is listed as ‚questionable.‘ Perhaps, given these injuries, Cincinnati will lean on its pass attack.
Titans-Jaguars:
The quarterback situation is again up in the air for Tennessee. If Blaine Gabbert starts again, he’ll look to repeat the performance which he enjoyed against his former team last year, leading Arizona to victory with 241 pass yards and two touchdowns. Gabbert/Mariota may be helped by the absence of Jacksonville’s star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The Jaguars may be helped by running back Leonard Fournette being absent again. Statistically speaking, the Jags average a significantly higher number of points and yards when Fournette is absent. Quarterback Blake Bortles and his playmakers around him step up when they don’t have to lean on the grinding workhorse Fournette as the centerpiece of the offense. While one can doubt the harmfulness of Fournette’s injury to the Jags’ offense, there’s no doubt that losing left tackle Cam Robinson to IR hurts. Tennessee’s pass rusher Brian Orakpo had two sacks in two games against the Jags last season and seven sacks overall. Jacksonville will need to figure out how to stop him.
Saints-Falcons:
The prolific duo of quarterback Drew Brees and receiver Michael Thomas is licking its chops against an Atlanta defense whose pass rush is weakened with two defensive ends injured and who looks vulnerable in the middle of the field with starters at linebacker and safety injured. Brees has accrued strong numbers on passes thrown to the middle of the field, so he will be able to exploit Atlanta’s weakness.
Patriots-Lions:
The Patriots will likely miss strong safety Patrick Chung and defensive end Trey Flowers. That will make it tougher for a defense to improve that surrendered 31 points to Jacksonville.
Packers-Redskins:
Green Bay will have to figure out how to defend the pass without cornerback Kevin King. Two rookie corners will have to assume added responsibility in his absence. But, Green Bay’s secondary will be helped by Washington’s issues in protection. Washington's offensive line is shifting and replacing due to injury and lack of depth in the interior.
Broncos-Ravens:
The Broncos could be without cornerback Adam Jones, but Denver’s problems pale in comparison to those of Baltimore. Linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive lineman Michael Pierce are game-time decisions. Baltimore had been able to lean on its rush defense while its secondary remained depleted with the ongoing absence of top cornerback Jimmy Smith and now an additional reserve corner.
Continuities:
Nothing has changed with Aaron Rodgers and Le’Veon Bell. Rodgers won’t practice before Saturday and the veteran superstar doesn’t need to. He’ll keep playing despite his knee problems. He has a 73 percent completion percentage and four touchdowns to zero interceptions while inside the pocket. Meanwhile, Bell is still a source of drama and distraction for his teammates in Pittsburgh. He is still holding out over a contract dispute. However, Pittsburgh’s Monday Night opponent, Tampa Bay, is still dealing with two injuries threatening the interior defensive line and a key injury in the secondary. The Chiefs’ pass defense, which surrendered 452 yards through the air last week against the Steelers, will continue to miss safety Eric Berry.
The Colts-Eagles and Panthers-Bengals match-ups are among those critically influenced by injuries. Find out which other injuries should inform your betting decisions.
Colts-Eagles:
Quarterback Carson Wentz will play for the first time since December 10. He’s healthy, but time will tell if he’s also rusty. The Eagles will be in big trouble if he’s rusty because they won’t be able to rely on the run game with Darren Sproles and Jay Ajayi injured. However, the Colts are also dealing with numerous injuries—to starters at running back, tight end, left tackle, two at defensive tackle, and safety.
Panthers-Bengals:
The Bengals have problems in protection with the center out. Running back Joe Mixon is also injured. But their problems pale in comparison to Carolina’s, which will have to start backups at both tackles and guard and at tight end. Carolina’s offense may struggle against a Bengals defensive line that ranks second in opposing yards per carry. Carolina’s defense also has issues. A starting safety had to go on IR and a starting cornerback is listed as ‚questionable.‘ Perhaps, given these injuries, Cincinnati will lean on its pass attack.
Titans-Jaguars:
The quarterback situation is again up in the air for Tennessee. If Blaine Gabbert starts again, he’ll look to repeat the performance which he enjoyed against his former team last year, leading Arizona to victory with 241 pass yards and two touchdowns. Gabbert/Mariota may be helped by the absence of Jacksonville’s star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The Jaguars may be helped by running back Leonard Fournette being absent again. Statistically speaking, the Jags average a significantly higher number of points and yards when Fournette is absent. Quarterback Blake Bortles and his playmakers around him step up when they don’t have to lean on the grinding workhorse Fournette as the centerpiece of the offense. While one can doubt the harmfulness of Fournette’s injury to the Jags’ offense, there’s no doubt that losing left tackle Cam Robinson to IR hurts. Tennessee’s pass rusher Brian Orakpo had two sacks in two games against the Jags last season and seven sacks overall. Jacksonville will need to figure out how to stop him.
Saints-Falcons:
The prolific duo of quarterback Drew Brees and receiver Michael Thomas is licking its chops against an Atlanta defense whose pass rush is weakened with two defensive ends injured and who looks vulnerable in the middle of the field with starters at linebacker and safety injured. Brees has accrued strong numbers on passes thrown to the middle of the field, so he will be able to exploit Atlanta’s weakness.
Patriots-Lions:
The Patriots will likely miss strong safety Patrick Chung and defensive end Trey Flowers. That will make it tougher for a defense to improve that surrendered 31 points to Jacksonville.
Packers-Redskins:
Green Bay will have to figure out how to defend the pass without cornerback Kevin King. Two rookie corners will have to assume added responsibility in his absence. But, Green Bay’s secondary will be helped by Washington’s issues in protection. Washington's offensive line is shifting and replacing due to injury and lack of depth in the interior.
Broncos-Ravens:
The Broncos could be without cornerback Adam Jones, but Denver’s problems pale in comparison to those of Baltimore. Linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive lineman Michael Pierce are game-time decisions. Baltimore had been able to lean on its rush defense while its secondary remained depleted with the ongoing absence of top cornerback Jimmy Smith and now an additional reserve corner.
Continuities:
Nothing has changed with Aaron Rodgers and Le’Veon Bell. Rodgers won’t practice before Saturday and the veteran superstar doesn’t need to. He’ll keep playing despite his knee problems. He has a 73 percent completion percentage and four touchdowns to zero interceptions while inside the pocket. Meanwhile, Bell is still a source of drama and distraction for his teammates in Pittsburgh. He is still holding out over a contract dispute. However, Pittsburgh’s Monday Night opponent, Tampa Bay, is still dealing with two injuries threatening the interior defensive line and a key injury in the secondary. The Chiefs’ pass defense, which surrendered 452 yards through the air last week against the Steelers, will continue to miss safety Eric Berry.
