Sunday's NFL contests included a number of injuries to key players, perhaps none as potentially significant as the hip injury sustained by Titans' QB Jake Locker. Here's a rundown of yesterday's notable injuries, and their impact:
NFL Week 4 injury report: Jake Locker, Vince Wilfork & more from Sunday
Another week, another list of injured players to go through. Here’s the latest on Locker, Wilfork, Alfred Morris, Santonio Holmes and the rest from Sunday.
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Quarterbacks
Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (hip)
Locker suffered an injury to his right hip in the third quarter of Tennessee's 38-13 win over the New York Jets Sunday and was carted off the field and taken to a local hospital for further tests. The injury took place on a hit by Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson where Locker's right leg was driven into the turf, leaving the Tennessee QB on the ground for several minutes before being moved by the team's medical staff. There has been no status update as of yet from the Titans, but it is likely Locker has already or will have an MRI to assess the damage to the affected hip. If Locker, who has had a breakout season thus far, is unable to play next week when the Titans host the 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs, backup Ryan Fitzpatrick would get the starting nod.
Running Backs
Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders (hamstring)
McFadden has had trouble staying on the field over the course of his career. Sunday was no exception as the Oakland RB left with a hamstring strain after only 5 carries in his team's 24-14 loss to Washington. Raiders fans should keep an eye on McFadden's practice status in the coming days, but given the high likelihood of re-injury with hamstring strains -- especially if not completely healed -- it wouldn't be a surprise if backup Rashad Jennings sees significant playing time against San Diego in Week 5.
Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins (ribs)
Morris took a shot to the ribs on a third-quarter run inside the Oakland five-yard line Sunday, and he missed the rest of Washington's 24-14 win with a contusion. X-rays following the game were negative, revealing no fractures, and Morris's greatest worry in the coming days will be controlling the pain and discomfort associated with the injury. This is good news for Redskins fans, and the fact that the team has a bye upcoming means Morris is likely to be ready to play when the team next takes the field in Week 6 at Dallas. Backup Roy Helu played well in relief, including a 14-yard touchdown run that iced the game for Washington. Helu would stand to start against the Cowboys if Morris can't take the field.
Wide Receivers
Stephen Hill, New York Jets (head)
The Jets’ second-year receiver left in the first quarter of his team’s loss to the Titans yesterday after suffering a head injury on a hit by Tennessee’s Michael Griffin. While the team has not offered further details, if Hill sustained a concussion, he would need to pass neurological testing by the team’s medical staff in order to be cleared for practice and to play in next Monday night’s game at Atlanta.
Santonio Holmes, New York Jets (hamstring)
Holmes, who missed time earlier in the season while recovering from Lisfranc surgery, left in the fourth quarter of the Jets' 38-13 loss to Tennessee with a hamstring injury and did not return to action. Holmes will be reassessed early this week and his status is in question for next week's game against the Falcons.
Linebackers
Brian Cushing, Houston Texans (concussion)
Cushing left in the second half of the Texans’ crushing 23-20 overtime loss to Seattle with a concussion. Cushing’s loss was a huge blow to Houston as the team attempted to hold its lead late in the game. His status for the Texans’ Week 5 showdown at San Francisco will depend on concussion testing later this week.
Defensive Linemen
Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks (back)
Perhaps Sunday’s scariest injury took place in the Seattle-Houston contest, when the Seahawks’ DE had his head and back awkwardly bent backward when Texans’ QB Matt Schaub was pushed into him. Bennett initially lay motionless on the ground and was placed on a stretcher and sent by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation. Thankfully, Bennett had movement and sensation in his extremities prior to being placed on the stretcher. By all accounts, he is doing well and will make a full and speedy recovery.
Vince Wilfork, New England Patriots (lower leg)
The Patriots’ NT and anchor of the defense left in the first quarter of New England’s 30-23 win over Atlanta Sunday night with a lower leg injury sustained when he stepped on another player’s foot. Reports out of New England indicate that Wilfork may have sustained a ruptured Achilles’ tendon which almost certainly would end his season. Patriots fans are collectively holding their breath as they await confirmation, but if this is the case, it would be a huge blow to a defense that has been playing well through the first quarter of the season.
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