09/20/24 07:46:00
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09/20 05:00 CDT Analysis: Injuries already piling up, forcing teams to turn to
the next man up
Analysis: Injuries already piling up, forcing teams to turn to the next man up
By ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer
On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more
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The next man up sees plenty of action in the NFL.
Injuries already are accruing across the league, knocking out several star
players and forcing teams to turn to backups and reserves.
Everyone has to be ready because "one play away" is more reality than a cliche
in football. The best teams at the end of the season often are the ones who
have the depth to overcome injuries early on.
The inactives read like a Pro Bowl roster.
Russell Wilson hasn't made his debut for Pittsburgh because of a calf injury
sustained in the preseason. Jordan Love went down with a knee injury in Green
Bay's season opener. Miami lost Tua Tagovailoa for at least four games and
possibly longer after he suffered his fourth concussion in five years last week.
Those are just the starting quarterbacks on the sideline.
Reigning NFC champion San Francisco keeps losing playmakers. Already missing
running back Christian McCaffrey because of Achilles tendinitis, the 49ers
won't have wide receiver Deebo Samuel this weekend due to a calf injury.
All-Pro tight end George Kittle missed practice Thursday with a sore hamstring
and his status for Sunday is uncertain.
That may limit what coach Kyle Shanahan calls on offense.
"We still have the same amount of plays, just somewhat different styles of
plays, different people in different spots," he said. "You eliminate some
special things that you would only do for those guys, but the number doesn't
change. Just, there's things those guys do very well. Nothing other guys can't
do. But there's kind of different percentages on how much you call them and
things like that."
Brock Purdy still has Brandon Aiyuk as a go-to receiver and Jordan Mason has
247 yards rushing and two touchdowns filling in for McCaffrey.
"Obviously it sucks not having your guys like Deebo and Christian and stuff, so
it's like, all right, how can we figure out to get the ball to other guys,"
Purdy said. "But man, we've got playmakers. We've got a really good scheme,
great play caller and some great players that step up in the roles and do their
job really well. So for me, I still have to do my job, in terms of my reads and
my progressions, more so than I need to now change the way I think and make
sure I'm getting it to this guy or that guy because a couple guys are out. It's
not like that."
The 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams, a team that's also depleted. Wide receiver
Cooper Kupp has an ankle injury and Puka Nacua is on injured reserve with a
knee injury.
Matthew Stafford not only is missing his two top targets but he's playing
behind a banged up offensive line. Guard Steve Avila (knee) and tackle Joe
Noteboom (ankle) are on IR.
"There are a lot of different moving parts but our job is to be able to figure
it out all right, how do we move forward? How do we represent the things that
we want to represent?" Rams coach Sean McVay said. "I like the way the guys
have come in here with a good look in their eye and we have to have a great
week of preparation."
The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs lost running back Isiah
Pacheco indefinitely. Pacheco had surgery this week after breaking his fibula.
The Bengals were missing wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) the first two
games and he's questionable this week. Eagles wideout A.J. Brown (calf) is
doubtful this week after missing one game and Bears wideout Keenan Allen (heel)
is questionable. Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson (quadriceps) is also
battling an injury.
Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is questionable, though it seems he
escaped a more serious injury after what he thought was a hip-drop tackle that
wasn't called against the Bears.
There are plenty of talented defensive players out, too. Bills linebacker Matt
Milano, Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, Panthers defensive lineman
Derrick Brown and Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland are on injured reserve.
Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore is aiming to return this week after missing
one game.
The Buccaneers were missing defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and All-Pro safety
Antoine Winfield last week when nose tackle Vita Vea sustained a sprained knee
ligament in a win at Detroit.
"Everybody that made our roster was asked that, ?You have to be able to do your
job. When your number is called, be ready to go,'" Buccaneers defensive
assistant coach Kacy Rogers said. "And that's kind of worked out for us because
we've had a lot of guys step up when guys went down and we've had guys (go)
from one position to another position. It's just kind of worked out that guys
were ready when their numbers (were) called."
Players have to be prepared to go because the NFL is a collision sport,
starters are going to keep getting injured and teams will have to turn to
backups. -__
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