Six weeks of games have now been completed, which means the injuries are starting to pile up across the league. A couple big name defensive players could miss their Week 7 games, while there’s a slim chance a certain star wide receiver returns to the field earlier than expected.
Dez Bryant, Tyrod Taylor and the most consequential NFL injuries for Week 7
A look at the injuries that could tilt this weekend’s matchup.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
And then there are the quarterbacks. This year has been an ugly one for signal callers across the league, but it could get even worse this week with three teams possibly being forced to plunge down their respective depth charts. Those of us who enjoy watching good football hope that’s not the case.
Below are the most consequential injuries to keep an eye on as Week 7 approaches. Here’s hoping all those listed as questionable make it onto the field.
1. Tyrod Taylor, QB, Bills (Out)
Head coach Rex Ryan informed the media on Thursday that Taylor won't be under center for the Bills' Sunday game in London, meaning EJ Manuel will, for the second straight week, get the start. This is bad news for a 3-3 Buffalo team still competing for a playoff spot. Taylor is completing 70 percent of his passes this season and has thrown nine touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. He's also run the ball into the end zone a couple of times and his QBR of 62.6 is 10th-best in the NFL.
Manuel, meanwhile, is coming off a season in which he lost the starting gig to the now-retired Kyle Orton. The former first-round pick has completed just 59 percent of the passes he's thrown in his career, and his career-high single-season QBR entering the year was 42.6. He had a solid performance last week (28-of-42, 263 yards 1 TD, 1 INT) in the Bills' 34-21 loss to the Bengals. But Buffalo can't expect to win many games with him taking the snaps. That Sammy Watkins, Karlos Williams and Percy Harvin will all miss Sunday's game only makes the injury to Taylor even more consequential.
2. Mike Vick, Ben Roethlisberger, QBs, Steelers (Doubtful)
Roethlisberger, who is still recovering from an MCL sprain, returned to the practice field this week but is not expected to be ready for Pittsburgh's Week 7 matchup in Kansas City. Vick, the Steelers' No. 2 quarterback, is still recovering from a hamstring strain he suffered last Sunday. That leaves the team in the shaky hands of former Oklahoma star Landry Jones.
Jones looked great on Sunday, his first-ever NFL action. He completed 8 of his 12 passes for two touchdowns and led the Steelers to a 25-13 win. But there's a reason Jones was taken in the fourth round in 2013, and there's a reason the Steelers signed Vick to be their backup in the offseason. Pittsburgh is no doubt ecstatic about its 2-1 record without Roethlisberger on the field. But every game matters for the 4-2 Steelers. They can't feel very comfortable with having the 26-year-old Jones starting a game in the raucous Arrowhead Stadium against the ferocious Chiefs pass rush.
3. Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans (Questionable)
Sticking with quarterbacks here. The Titans rookie sprained his left MCL on a late and low hit from Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon last Sunday. He looked shaky the rest of the game and missed practice on Wednesday. He informed the media afterward that he is "hoping to play" Sunday against the 5-1 Falcons, who the Titans welcome to Tennessee. But it appears that decision is going to be made later in the week.
If Mariota is forced to miss Sunday's game, the Titans will turn to selfie-king/J.J. Watt antagonist Zach Mettenberger, the second-year former LSU Tiger drafted by Tennessee in the sixth round last season. Mettenberger has appeared in nine games in his career. He's completed 60 percent of his passes and thrown nearly as many interceptions (7) as touchdowns (8). He's also 0-6 as a starter. That doesn't bode well for a 1-4 Titans team trying to hang around in the weak AFC South.
4. Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys (Doubtful)
On Tuesday Jerry Jones told a local radio station that Bryant, who's been out since Week 1 due to a fractured bone in his right foot, might return to the field for the Cowboys' Sunday game against the Giants. Bryant missed practice on Wednesday, so it appears that his return is still at least one week away. But Bryant has beaten injury timetables before, and he did do some rehab work and running on Thursday. Also, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett elected not to close the door on Bryant returning this week. It's unlikely that he does so in this case, but it's not off the table either. With Matt Cassel getting the start Dallas could certainly use all the help it could get.
5. Chris Long, DE, Rams (Doubtful)
The Rams' star D-lineman is doubtful for St. Louis' Sunday game against Cleveland due to a right knee injury he suffered in Week 5. That's bad news for a Rams team relying on its defense to help them catch the Cardinals and stay ahead of the flailing Seahawks in the tough NFC West.
The 30-year-old Long has just two sacks this season. But he plays an integral role for a front-seven that has the Rams third in the league in sacks and seventh in defensive efficiency, according to Football Outsiders. William Hayes will likely get the start instead of Long. His 24 sacks in 99 career games is not a bad number, but it's also not one that's going to scare Browns quarterback Josh McCown.
6. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Chiefs (Questionable)
Maclin's not necessarily better than the players listed below him here. But if the concussion he suffered last week and which kept him out of practice on Wednesday prevents him from playing this Sunday things could get ugly in Kansas City against Pittsburgh. The Chiefs are already missing Jamaal Charles, and Andy Reid's crew is coming off a 16-10 loss to the Vikings. Without their leading receiver -- Maclin has 39 catches for 531 yards this season -- KC will be lucky to match that total on Sunday.
7. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers (Probable)
Allen injured his hip flexor Sunday against the Packers and missed most of the fourth quarter. He was unable to practice on Wednesday, though it's been reported that he's expected to play Sunday against the Raiders. The 2-4 Chargers can't afford many more losses and having to move on with their best receiver hobbled is only going to make life more difficult for them. That being said, Philip Rivers did throw for 503 yards in Week 6, so clearly he's capable of moving the ball even without Allen on the field.
8. Joe Haden, CB, Browns (Doubtful)
Haden suffered a concussion in Week 5, sat out the Browns' Week 6 game overtime loss to the Broncos and is still in the league's concussion protocol. Right now he's questionable for Cleveland's game Sunday in St. Louis. The injury, however, is not as devastating at it seems. For one, Haden has struggled thus far this season -- Pro Football Focus has him as the eighth-worst ranked cornerback in the NFL. Also, the Browns are taking on a Rams team that doesn't do much damage through the air. This injury, obviously, doesn't help the Browns. But it shouldn't cause much damage either.
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