Week 3 in the AFC East kicks off with the Patriots vs the Jets on Thursday night followed by the Dolphins playing the Seahawks. The week finishes up with the Bills hosting the #Jaguars on MNF.
Injuries continue to take a toll with several season-ending injuries and extended stays on injured reserve.
Read below for a full injury report around the division.
Miami Dolphins | New York Jets | New England Patriots | Buffalo Bills
New York Jets
QUESTIONABLE
LB CJ Mosley (Toe)
Mosley injured his toe during the first series after hitting a Titans player and tried to play through the injury. He was forced to leave the game early after only appearing in 24 percent of the defensive snaps.
Considering he hit the toe versus suffering a turf toe injury, pain may be the primary limitation and ability to cut and explode off the affected foot. He is questionable and I do expect that he will make every effort to play but will ultimately be ruled out after not practicing all week.
ACTIVE
CB Michael Carter (Ankle)
Carter suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 that was an aggravation of the previous injury back in early August. He was able to play through the injury last week, seeing 45 percent of snaps. This will likely be an injury he manages for the next several weeks until he can get it healed up.
CB DJ Reed (Knee)
Reed missed last week with a knee issue sustained in Week 1. This was originally described as knee soreness and appearing to have a setback last Friday. He was able to practice in full and has no designation.
RB Breece Hall (Quad)
Hall appeared on the injury report this week with what appears to be a quadriceps contusion. He was able to get full practices in all week and has no designation.
INJURED RESERVE
DE Jermaine Johnson (Right Achilles)
Johnson tore his right Achilles in the x quarter when he was pushed backwards from a block. Attempting to get back into the play, Johnson accelerated forward before crumpling to the turf in pain. The sudden pushback followed by attempt to accelerate forward led to the sudden eccentric contraction and rupturing of the Achilles.
His season is done and he will undergo surgery to repair the tendon. Fortunately, this happened early enough in the season that he should be ready to go for training camp in 2025.
To read more about an Achilles tear, click the link below.
New England Patriots
OUT
OT Vederian Lowe (Knee)
Lowe had been working through an abdomen/oblique injury dating back to mid-August but appeared to have picked up a knee injury after Sunday’s loss.
Unfortunately, Lowe did not appear to be trending in the right direction on the short week and would be ruled out.
G Sidy Sow (Ankle)
Sow is set to miss his third consecutive game with an ankle injury originally sustained in the final preseason game. The timeline continues to suggest a high-ankle sprain with a hopeful return to practice next week.
QUESTIONABLE
DE Deatrich Wise (Shoulder)
Wise has been working through a shoulder injury that he looked to injure in Week 1. He appeared in 43 percent of defensive snaps last week, similar to Week 1. I do expect that he does play Thursday.
OL Mike Onwenu (Wrist)/C David Andrews (Hip)
Both appeared on the injury report this week with their respective injuries. Andrews appeared optimistic that he would play this week and I would expect he would as he’s played through plenty of injuries throughout his career. Onwenu was limited all week during the short week.
S Jabrill Peppers (Shoulder)
Peppers was on the injury report for the first two weeks of the season due to a hip injury sustained in practice but is now working through a shoulder injury suffered on Sunday.
ACTIVE
LB Anfernee Jennings (Knee)
Jennings was on the injury report last week with a knee and wrist injury but continues to deal with the knee injury he is managing.
CB Marcus Jones (Knee)
Jones was limited Monday and Tuesday before having no designation on Wednesday for the game on Thursday.
G Layden Robinson (Shoulder)
Robinson was questionable heading into Week 2 last week but played as he works through his shoulder injury.
INJURED RESERVE
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (Left Pectoral Tear)
Bentley suffered a left pectoral tear on the play below which will force him out of the majority of the season. Initial reports indicate that it is season-ending, but pectoral returns can have an NFL player return in as quickly as three months. He would be looking at a December return if the Patriots are still in playoff contention. He has not officially been placed on injured reserve but I would expect it happens shortly.
To read more about a pectoral tear and return, click here.
LB Oshane Ximines (Knee)
Ximines did have to leave the game Sunday but when and the exact injury isn’t known. However, the injury was severe enough that they placed him on injured reserve on Wednesday.
Miami Dolphins
OUT
WR Grant Dubose (Shoulder)
There isn’t much information about Dubose besides the injury that first appeared this week following the Bills game. He did not receive any in-game injury designations at the time and he only played in 34 percent of offensive snaps. He was limited Wednesday before downgrading to did not participate on Thursday and Friday, ruling him out for Week 3.
Update: Dubose has been placed on injured reserve.
DOUBTFUL
RB Raheem Mostert (Chest)
Mostert missed Week 2 with a chest injury after originally suffering the injury early in Week 1 and playing through the issue. It’s not clear the exact specifics of the injury, but he was limited all week which suggests he may have some type of rib or rib cartilage issue that requires rest and a limited workload to not aggravate the area.
The injury has been described as unusual and he has had some difficulty breathing which further confirms the rib or rib cartilage area. One other possibility is that this could be a chip fracture of the sternum which is an unusual injury in itself. This would be caused by blunt-force trauma to the chest where a tendon pulls a piece of the bone away. Former Buffalo Bills WR Jordan Matthews had this injury back in 2017 and took several weeks to recover.
WR Malik Washington (Quadriceps)
Washington continues to work back from his quadriceps injury suffered originally in the third preseason game. He appeared to be improving before suffering a possible setback before the Week 1 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was finally able to practice this week but while he is doubtful, those designations rarely play.
ACTIVE
OT Terron Armstead (Right Shoulder/Knee)
Armstead suffered a right shoulder injury sometime at the end of the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. He wasn’t designated with an injury until after halftime and he exited at least once, returning with a shoulder harness on the right side. The exact play wasn’t clear when he suffered the injury, but he stated on Thursday that he injured his rotator cuff.
He came out and stated that he would be fine to play Sunday, but this is yet another injury I expect Armstead to not only play through but also linger with most of the season. Fortunately, this is his right arm, which is inside when he is blocking on the perimeter. He must keep the defensive end outside of him and have quick feet but can still be relatively effective. His knee designation may be more of a chronic load management issue as he has been on the injury report often with knee issues, but given his level of talent, he will be able to hold up for now.
G Robert Jones (Left Shoulder)
Jones was initially questionable to return and eventually did after halftime with a left shoulder injury as noted with a shoulder brace on the area. He didn’t have any instances of the training staff tending to him on the field, which means he reported something to them during halftime, forcing Lester Cotton to start the second half. He could only play in 53 percent of snaps but practiced in full on Thursday and Friday.
RB Jeff Wilson (Oblique)
Wilson suffered an oblique injury in the second half of Week 2 and was ruled out shortly afterward. Fortunately, he did not suffer a significant strain and was able to practice in full on Thursday and Friday.
G Liam Eichenberg (Right Shoulder)
Eichenberg suffered a right shoulder injury in Week 1 as noted with the shoulder brace in Week 2 but played in 100 percent of snaps both weeks.
LB Jaelan Phillips (Achilles)
Phillips continues to manage his workload from his Achilles tear last year.
INJURED RESERVE
QB Tua Tagovailoa (Concussion)
Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve for at least the next four games which means he will be eligible to return in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals. This is Tua’s fourth or fifth documented concussion, depending if you consider the hit that they described as a back injury in 2022 as a concussion or not. He has had three documented concussions since then and he had one in college.
There are plenty of people who are telling him to retire and it isn’t worth it. While he would be the healthiest by not playing, this isn’t something that he can just easily walk away from either. He did sign a contract extension which I’m sure he feels an obligation to fulfill. He also has had several injuries throughout his career but his athletic abilities have provided him a way to take care of his family. Andrew Luck did make it look easy by walking away and fading away from the public spotlight, but he came to that decision by himself rather than let external pressure dictate his decisions.
Countless football players have had equal or more concussions than Tua has including Jacksonville Jaguars C Mitch Morse who has had six, Buffalo Bills CB Taron Johnson has had four, and former TE Jordan Reed had 10 concussions and is still playing or played well past five concussions. There is not a set number of concussions that a player can suffer before they need to retire, but the cumulative effects of the concussions can take their toll. Tua has the best medical advice available to him to help him make the decisions that he needs to make for his future. Maybe he plays out his contract and retires, maybe other external forces force him out of the game, or maybe he realizes that the head trauma is worsening.
He will make the best decision available to him with the facts presented to him. He isn’t going out there punch drunk and playing recklessly against doctor’s orders, he’s been given ample time to heal completely from each concussion which is the most important thing. I hope Tua makes the best decision for him and his family, but I anticipate that he will continue to play until certain facts or situations present themself that make him decide to retire.
Buffalo Bills
For a full analysis of Bills vs Jaguars, click below.
Top Photo Credit: Phinsider.com
