Week 5 in the AFC East kicks off with the New York Jets playing the Minnesota Vikings over in London, the New England Patriots hosting the Miami Dolphins, and the Buffalo Bills heading south to face the Houston Texans.
Due to the number of injuries on this week’s report, notable injuries with information and updates will be the primary focus. Below are the injury reports for each team.
Miami Dolphins | New England Patriots | New York Jets | Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
OUT
LB Jaelan Phillips (Right ACL)
Phillips suffered a partial ACL tear in his right knee in the second quarter when teammate Jordan Poyer ran into his knee, causing the classic valgus mechanism that causes ACL tears. Even though it was a partial tear, Phillips still wore a hinged brace and continued to try to play through the injury. He lasted until the third quarter when he tried to push off the knee and couldn’t as the knee gave out and locked on him.
He will undergo a full reconstruction to ensure proper healing in the area. Many Dolphins fans recall when Ryan Tannehill attempted to play through a partial ACL tear that eventually required surgery, second time would not be any better, especially at the defensive position.
It’s worth highlighting that the previous Achilles injury had no impact on his risk to tear his knee. There is a weird correlation with Achilles and ACL tears, but this was a direct contact injury which happens in roughly 30 percent of ACL tears. Phillips should be ready for training camp next year given when he suffered the injury. However, if there is a lot of associated damage or he is struggling mentally to get back like other players have, this could delay his return. He’s had numerous injuries before, hopefully he can battle through this one.
S Jordan Poyer (Left Shin)
Poyer suffered a shin injury on the same play where he collided with Phillips as noted in his segment. It appears Titans TE Nick Vannett inadvertently kicked him and nearly tripped over him.
Considering the shin doesn’t have a lot of soft tissue, any blow to the area may have caused enough swelling in the lower leg to prevent him from effectively running. He may have also hit on the outside portion of the leg injuring the muscles in that area leading to pain and inability to cut.
QUESTIONABLE
QB Skylar Thompson (Ribs)
Thompson is still working through a rib injury suffered two weeks ago and reports he is still having pain with “violent” or aggressive throws. I don’t anticipate that he will suit up if he can’t make every throw he needs to or if he runs the risk of injuring himself further.
ACTIVE
RB Jeff Wilson (Knee)
Wilson suffered a knee injury during pre-game warmups that prevented him from playing the entire first quarter. He was able to return with 13:02 in the second quarter but appeared in only three snaps. He practiced in full on Thursday and Friday, indicating he’s improving.
WR Braxton Berrios (Ankle)
LB Duke Riley (Hamstring)
WR Malik Washington (Quadriceps)
LB David Long (Hamstring)
OT Terron Armstead (Concussion)
CB Kendall Fuller (Concussion)
Fuller, Armstead, and Long all missed last week with their respective injuries and have no designation this week.
CB Jalen Ramsey (Knee)/LB Tyus Bowser (Knee)
Both appeared Friday on the injury report with their respective injuries but have no designations for Sunday.
PUP/IR
WR Odell Beckham (Knee)/CB Cam Smith (Hamstring)
Beckham’s absence has finally been revealed as he had a knee cleanup in the offseason and realized that he had it too late which put him behind in getting ready for the season. He signed with the team back in early May after the draft which means he likely had the surgery sometime in April.
Given that he was out for at least five months, this may have been more than a clean-up. He wasn’t on the injury report last year for any knee related issues, but plenty of players play through injuries that aren’t known. However, he will need to be activated on the roster to play Sunday.
Smith is in his 21-day practice window for the hamstring strain he suffered in the preseason. He will need to be activated to play.
Update: Beckham will be activated, Smith won’t.
New England Patriots
DOUBTFUL
LB Sione Takitaki (Knee)
Takitaki had a knee scope right before camp which had him start on the PUP list. Frankly, I’m unsure why it is taking him two months to get fully ready unless he is starting from scratch conditioning. He was able to practice all week as limited but is officially doubtful.
QUESTIONABLE
S Kyle Dugger (Ankle)
Dugger was injured on play above as he tried to break through the line to block the extra point. Based on how he fell, it looks like he either stepped on someone’s foot and rolled his right ankle or somehow twisting it taking a bad step, likely spraining his ankle. Based on the fact he did not practice this week, it’s highly unlikely he will play.
OT Caden Wallace (Left Ankle)
Wallace suffered a left ankle sprain so severe that he required a walking boot and crutches following Sunday’s game. Later in the week, he was seen on a knee scooter as he was placed on injured reserve for at least four games for what sounds like a significant high-ankle sprain. The video shows his left ankle getting rolled up on early in the first quarter.
C David Andrews (Shoulder)
Andrews suffered a shoulder injury sometime in the first quarter and was forced to leave the game. Reports came out shortly after indicating that he may require season-ending shoulder surgery. Looking at the game film didn’t reveal much with his last play being a no play penalty. However, in the clip below, he does dive into the pile late leading with his left arm possibly if he thought he needed to retrieve a fumble. The rest of the series until he left, he appeared to be blocking primarily with his right arm.
Given the possible timeline and mechanism of injury falling on an outstretched arm, this sounds like it was a significant rotator cuff tear that could take 9-12 months to recover from. The concern is if he did not get surgery now, this would cut into the 2025 season especially if there are complications or setbacks.
WR KJ Osborn (Shoulder)
S Jabrill Peppers (Shoulder)
TE Jaheim Bell (Neck)
G Michael Jordan (Ankle)
C Nick Leverett (Ankle)
G Layden Robinson (Ankle/Wrist)
CB Marcus Jones (Groin)
No significant information is available on many of these injuries. Peppers was on the injury report for a shoulder ahead of Week 3 but played. Jordan was on the injury report last week for the ankle. Osborn was unable to practice all week and is unlikely to play.
LB Anfernee Jennings (Shoulder)/CB Jonathan Jones (Shoulder)
Jennings missed last week while Jones only appeared in 38 percent of defensive snaps, roughly half of his normal workload.
PUP/IR
WR Kendrick Bourne (ACL)/S Marte Mapu (Calf)
All three opened their practice windows following their four-game stay on PUP/IR. Bourne taking longer to return suggests either unknown additional damage or a setback at some point. As for Mapu, he has been dealing with a calf injury dating back to late July. Both may play if the Patriots activate them to the roster.
New York Jets
OUT
OL Morgan Moses (Left Knee MCL Sprain)
Moses returned to practice after suffering a left knee MCL sprain in Week 3 but was not expected to play over the next few weeks, potentially in Week 6.
DOUBTFUL
LB CJ Mosley (Toe)
Mosley has missed the last two games after kicking a Titans player in Week 2, leading to his early exit. It’s not clear the exact injury unless he has a small crack in the bone that requires time to heal. I do not expect him to play.
ACTIVE
QB Aaron Rodgers (Left Knee)
Rodgers took plenty of hard hits in the loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday and appears on the injury report with a knee this week. He practiced in full on Thursday and Friday and had no designation.
OL Alijah Vera-Tucker (Ankle)
AVT was added to the injury report Thursday with an ankle injury and was limited, suggesting he injured it during practice.
INJURED RESERVE
DL Leki Fotu (Hamstring)
Fotu opened his 21-day practice window following his four-game injured reserve stint from a hamstring strain suffered in the preseason.
Buffalo Bills
For the full Buffalo Bills vs Houston Texans Injury Report, click below.
Top Photo Credit: Phinsider.com
