Week 1 is over, but the injury updates are only starting to roll in as several teams spent Monday dealing with the aftermath of their openers.
The Philadelphia Eagles will be without starting left guard Landon Dickerson for at least four games after placing him on injured reserve for a knee issue. Dickerson admitted he had been playing hurt in Sunday’s win over Washington and said the injury — which he described as a bone bruise after imaging — affected his play. He called his performance “terrible” and acknowledged he probably returned too soon following last August’s meniscus surgery. With Dickerson sidelined, second-year lineman Drew Kendall is the frontrunner to start at left guard, though rookie Willie Lampkin could get looks too.
In Minnesota, Kyler Murray left the Vikings’ opener versus the Packers after a violent head hit while sliding and has entered concussion protocol, putting his availability for Week 2 in doubt. Coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday that Murray remains in protocol and the team will monitor him through the week; there was no update on his status for the game against the Bears. Murray struggled early in his first start for Minnesota, throwing an interception on his opening drive before exiting with the concussion. If he can’t clear protocol, Carson Wentz would likely start with J.J. McCarthy as the backup — Wentz threw three touchdowns after replacing Murray in the opener.
The Patriots may get a boost on offense: running back TreVeyon Henderson is expected to return to practice this week after not practicing since Aug. 24 in training camp, coach Mike Vrabel said Monday. With A.J. Brown on injured reserve and New England held to just 10 points in Week 1, Henderson’s return would be important; if he isn’t cleared, Rhamondre Stevenson is likely to carry a heavy load again.
The Los Angeles Chargers got relatively good news on rookie receiver Ladd McConkey, who left their game with a chest issue after a big hit. Coach Jim Harbaugh described it as a rib injury and labeled McConkey day-to-day. He appears to have avoided injured reserve after catching five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown before exiting. If McConkey misses time, Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris and rookie Brenen Thompson are expected to see expanded roles.
Fan Take: These early injuries underline how quickly a team’s plans can change and why roster depth matters — especially along the offensive line and at skill positions. The concussion and knee concerns also highlight ongoing player-safety and recovery issues that can alter playoff outlooks, fantasy values and week-to-week storylines across the league.
Source: www.foxsports.com
