Week 1 of the NFL season always brings surprises and shocks to each fan base every year. Teams that have no business losing get blown out and teams expected to tank start off on the right foot. While the AFC East is expected to be one of the best divisions in football this year, they are not without surprises from time to time.
Last week saw the New England Patriots lose a close game to the defending NFC Champions from last season. The New York Jets stole a win from the Buffalo Bills behind a strong defense despite losing Aaron Rodgers for the season. Finally, the Miami Dolphins offense matched step for step with the Los Angeles Chargers before pulling out the win at the end.
Each team around the division continues to work through injuries that will continue to affect the depth and outcomes of each game moving forward. Read below for the full injury details for each team heading into Week 2.
Reporting note: Due to the high volume of injuries for each AFC East team each week along with many players showing up weekly, there will be changes in the reporting and analysis.
New injuries will be broken down with available information every week. If there is not any additional details or insight into an injury other than designation, it will not be addressed. If a player is on the injury report for consecutive weeks, he will not be addressed unless there is a notable change in status.
As always, you can always check past injury reports or for further questions, you can contact me at @BangedUpBills on X, Instagram, or Reddit.
Miami Dolphins | New England Patriots | New York Jets | Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
OUT
CB Kelvin Joseph (Personal)
QUESTIONABLE
OT Terron Armstead (Back/ankle/right knee)
Armstead missed last week after appearing on the injury report with back and ankle issues along with the right knee issue that kept him out since mid-August. It appeared the back and ankle were the more pressing issues but he is on the mend, able to practice all this week, possibly playing.
DB Elijah Campbell (Knee)
Campbell was limited all week as he continues to work back from his preseason knee injury against Jacksonville. He missed last week and while his injury wasn’t significant enough for IR, it may be best to give him one more week off before returning to play.
TE Julian Hill (Ankle)
Hill was unable to play last week despite being limited and this was the case again this week, it’s still unclear the specific injury he is working through with his ankle.
LB Jaelan Phillips (Back)
Phillips was limited by a back injury sustained in practice Friday. The hope for this injury is that he tweaked something such as a minor muscle strain that caused him to miss a few reps. Pre-game warmups will provide more insight as to whether he suits up on Sunday.
ACTIVE
RB Raheem Mostert (Knee)
Mostert was a DNP on Wednesday, requiring a rest day but able to return to practice on Thursday in a limited role. He did have a significant knee injury that cost him the majority of the 2021 season due to cartilage damage and some knee issues last year as well. Monitoring his workload knowing this history is likely why he can continue to play instead of getting beaten into the ground.
CB Xavien Howard (Thumb)
Howard, a frequent participant on the injury report is working through a thumb injury this time, practicing in full during the week.
RB De’Von Achane (Left shoulder)
Achane was a healthy scratch last week despite working through a left shoulder injury sustained in the preseason. This at least gave his shoulder an extra week to rehab but he should not be limited due to injury.
WR Jaylen Waddle (Oblique)
S Brandon Jones (Knee)
OL Connor Williams (Knee)
New England Patriots
QUESTIONABLE
OT Trent Brown (Concussion)
OL Sidy Sow (Concussion)
Both Brown and Sow are working through concussion sustained sometime during the game on Sunday. It’s not known when they suffered their respective concussions, even Sow appeared normal talking to the media after the game as seen below.
Despite not practicing all week and getting cleared in time for Week 2 per the injury report, they’re still somehow questionable. It would be a miracle for them to be cleared which means they very likely won’t play.
They will still need more time before they can return, potentially in Week 3. Their absence significantly hurts the depth on the offensive line.
CB Jonathan Jones (Ankle)
Jones is back on the injury report Thursday with an ankle designation after spending most of training camp with an undisclosed injury. It’s not clear if this is related to the previous injury and was not on the report Wednesday. He was unable to practice Thursday and Friday which isn’t looking good to play for Sunday.
OL Mike Onwenu (Ankle)
WR DeVante Parker (Knee)
G Cole Strange (Knee)
All three missed last week as they worked through their various injuries with Strange and Onwenu returning to practice around cut down day, but needing more time to ramp up. Parker has been working through a knee injury the last two weeks originally suffered in practice. Considering the offensive line depth, I would expect Onwenu or Strange to play, potentially both.
As for Parker, there is not additional information as to his availability for Sunday.
ACTIVE
C David Andrews (Left Hamstring)
Andrews suffered a left hamstring strain during Sunday’s game against the Eagles, not missing a snap. While he was limited Wednesday and Thursday, I did expect him to make an attempt to play. Andrews simply does not miss games unless he has to and with the upheaval on the offensive line, his absence would stunt the offensive performance.
WR Kayshon Boutte (Hamstring)
Boutte played in 69 percent of the snaps in Week 1, getting four targets but zero receptions for the game. What is interesting is that he was limited Wednesday and Thursday but did not have a designation heading into the game, a rarity for a Patriots player on the injury report.
New York Jets
QUESTIONABLE
K Greg Zuerlein (Right groin)
Zuerlein was a late addition to the injury report with a right groin injury on Friday. This is significant as the right side is his kicking leg. While he is questionable, it is not looking as though he will play as the Jets tried out four different kickers to take his place while he recovers.
Update: Zuerlein has been ruled out.
OT Duane Brown (Left shoulder)
RB Breece Hall (Left knee)
OT Mekhi Becton (Right knee)
All three players were on the injury report last week as they continue to monitor their workloads returning from their respective surgeries. All played in the Monday night game without limitations. I do expect Brown, Hall, and Becton to play.
INJURED RESERVE
QB Aaron Rodgers (Left Achilles)
As everyone knows by now, Aaron Rodgers tore his left Achilles just four plays into Monday nights game. He had surgery later this week but when he returns and how he performs is not as clear. Click here for a detailed account and expected performance upon return.
Buffalo Bills
C Mitch Morse (Left finger)
Morse suffered a left index or middle finger injury late in the third quarter as seen below. It’s possible that he suffered some type of hyperextension or jammed finger on the block, but it’s not seen as his back is to the camera.
Considering this is his non-snapping hand, this injury is of little consequence. While he did say he injured it prior, it’s unknown when that occurred. He was able to practice in full every day this week and has no gameday designation heading into the game.
Top Photo Credit: Phinsider.com
