NFL preseason Week 3: Notable players sidelined with injuries

With the NFL season about to start, avid fantasy players are starting to lock in, scouring training camp videos, press releases, and injury reports in order to get an edge on their league mates before their draft. Injuries are obviously the biggest concern. Nothing ruins a fantasy season quite like drafting four players who won't play until Week 8.

Even if you're not into fantasy, keeping track of injury reports can help you recognize what to expect from your favorite team when the season starts.

The best way to keep track of injuries is through the preseason. While star players may be sitting out in order to rest up for the regular season, their teams still have to note their injuries on their weekly reports throughout the week. Furthermore, with the season just over two weeks away, players who might have been injured previously may need to get some work in against live competition to get back into the swing of things before the games actually start mattering.

Here are some of the more notable player injuries ahead of the final week of the NFL preseason.

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Notable NFL preseason Week 3 injuries

Buffalo Bills:

• LB Matt Milano: After breaking his leg in Week 5 a season ago, Milano has been hit with the injury bug again. This time, a torn bicep will keep him sidelined for most, if not all, of the 2024-25 season. Bills' head coach Sean McDermott told reporters that it was still too early to tell when Milano could return. He did not rule out the possibility of Milano missing the entirety of the season.

Carolina Panthers:

• RB Jonathon Brooks: Regarded as one of the best rookie running backs in this year's class, fans will have to wait a few weeks before the star halfback takes the field in an NFL game. Brook's ACL injury was well-known when the Panthers traded up to acquire him, which means the team must really like what Brooks brings to the table. As it stands currently, Brooks is expected back around Week 4.

Cincinnati Bengals:

• OT Amarius Mims: The Cincinnati Bengals used a first-round pick on Georgia tackle Amarius Mims to protect quarterback Joe Burrow. Unfortunately, Mims suffered a strained pectoral muscle during the preseason and is expected to miss a few weeks. Reports indicate that Mims could be back as early as Week 2, but the severity of Mims' injury has been talked up and it would not be shocking to see Mims miss more time.
• RB Chris Evans: With the departure of Joe Mixon this offseason, the door was open for Evans to carve out a role in Cincinnati's backfield. Unfortunately, Evans will be out for the entirety of the 2024-25 season with a torn patellar tendon. This likely carves out a massive role for Chase Brown in Cincinnati.

Cleveland Browns:

• RB Nick Chubb: After suffering a terrifying injury in 2023, Chubb has made an outstanding recovery. For a while, he was expected not to be available until next year. However, now reports are saying that he could return at some point in 2024.

Detroit Lions:

• RB Jahmyr Gibbs: Gibbs broke out in the second half of last season and is in line for an even larger workload in his sophomore season. While Gibbs' hamstring injury may appear serious, reports indicate that Gibbs should be available for the start of the NFL season.

Indianapolis Colts:

• WR Josh Downs: High ankle sprains are one of the toughest injuries to measure. That said, the Colts are breathing a huge sigh of relief after it was originally thought Downs had suffered a much worse injury. He is expected back in Week 2.

Kansas City Chiefs:

• WR Marquise Brown: Arguably Kansas City's biggest offseason acquisition, Hollywood Brown suffered a sternoclavicular injury during the preseason and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, returning around Week 2 of the regular season. In Brown's stead, first-round rookie Xavier Worthy has shined in the preseason.

Los Angeles Chargers:

• QB Justin Herbert: Listed with a right foot injury, the Chargers' quarterback is not expected to miss much time. He was never going to play much in the preseason as is, and the rest seems to be doing Herbert some good, as he is expected to be the team's Week 1 starter.

Los Angeles Rams:

• WR Puka Nacua: Reports from camp hint that the Rams' offense will flow through Cooper Kupp in 2024, just as it did in 2021. That doesn't mean Nacua's injury is not concerning. Luckily for Rams' fans, the star wideout's injury is not considered serious and Nacua is expected to be ready for Week 1.
• TE Tyler Higbee: Higbee suffered a torn ACL and MCL during last year's playoff loss to the Lions. He will not be back for quite some time, with some timetables anticipating a return between Weeks 14-16. Colby Parkinson will take the Rams' starting tight end job until Higbee returns.

Miami Dolphins:

• LB Jaelan Phillips: Phillips was activated off PUP on August 12. That said, it would be a stretch to assume that he will be ready to play by Week 1. A Week 2 or 3 return is much more likely, but anything can happen if Phillips does not face any setbacks.
• LB Bradley Chubb: After an incredible first season for Chubb in Miami, he suffered an unfortunate ACL tear in Week 17 last season and is still on PUP. Chubb will play in 2024, but it won't happen until around the midway point of the season.

Minnesota Vikings:

• TE T.J. Hockenson: The Vikings' No. 2 option in the passing attack, Hockenson is sidelined with a torn ACL and MCL. That would normally keep players out for most of the following season, but Hockenson is expected back around midseason with a timeline for a Week 7-10 return currently in the cards.

Pittsburgh Steelers:

• RB Jaylen Warren: A breakout star a year ago, Warren's efficiency was a breath of fresh air for Steelers' fans who were forced to watch Najee Harris struggle inside the tackles. Warren is dealing with a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for multiple weeks. His Week 1 status is currently in question, and reports have not expressed much optimism that he will be 100% by the start of the season. A Week 2 return seems more likely.

San Francisco 49ers:

• RB Christian McCaffrey: The 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year suffered a calf injury in early August, but this is considered a non-serious injury. It is almost certain that McCaffrey will not miss any time in the regular season.

Tennessee Titans:

• WR DeAndre Hopkins: Hopkins suffered a knee injury early in the preseason, which was expected to sideline him for 4-6 weeks. His Week 1 status is up in the air currently but reports have noted that team DC Brian Callahan expects Hopkins to be available for the team's Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

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