Several of the injuries left open on Monday afternoon now have answers. The Rams expect to put Puka Nacua on injured reserve, Arizona’s Gardner Minshew likely needs season-ending elbow surgery, and Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to miss a few weeks without surgery. Justin Herbert avoided a fracture. Monday night in Minneapolis added new names, with Buffalo cornerback Christian Benford hurting his wrist and Carson Wentz hurting his foot before he was replaced in the Bills’ 23-6 win.
- Puka Nacua (knee, toe): MCL and PCL sprains plus turf toe; likely headed to injured reserve, Sean McVay said
- Gardner Minshew (right elbow): seeking more opinions on a torn UCL that likely needs season-ending surgery; rookie Carson Beck in line to start
- Rhamondre Stevenson (knee): a plantaris tendon issue; expected to miss the next few weeks, no surgery
- Josh Jacobs (right ring finger): will have surgery; out indefinitely, with injured reserve possible
- Justin Herbert (left middle finger): X-rays negative, no fracture; “good to go,” Jim Harbaugh said
- Christian Benford (wrist) and Carson Wentz (foot): both hurt on Monday night
Rams: Nacua likely to injured reserve
Nacua’s MRI showed sprains of the MCL and PCL in his right knee, and he also has turf toe. McVay said the receiver is likely to go on injured reserve, which would keep him out for at least four games. Nacua was hurt on the Rams’ last offensive play of Sunday’s 20-13 win over Washington, when he was tackled after a 5-yard run on third-and-11.
McVay said he has questioned that call. “I’d be lying to you if I said I haven’t questioned the decision-making on that last play over and over in my head,” he said, adding that he feels “tremendous responsibility” for putting Nacua in a spot to take “a violent hit to his right knee.” McVay also said left guard Steve Avila will miss time after aggravating a hamstring injury, and cornerback Trent McDuffie is day-to-day with a back injury.
Cardinals: Minshew likely out for the season
Minshew is getting more medical opinions, but he likely needs season-ending surgery on a torn UCL in his throwing elbow. He was hurt on a strip-sack just before halftime of Sunday’s 17-3 loss to Seattle and played the whole second half with the injury, going 21 of 30 for 166 yards in the game.
If Minshew is out, third-round rookie Carson Beck is in line to make his first NFL start on Sunday against the Rams. Arizona signed 40-year-old Josh Johnson off Cincinnati’s practice squad to back him up; the Cardinals are Johnson’s 15th NFL team. Coach Mike LaFleur also announced that top receiver Michael Wilson is out for the season with a neck injury, and center Hjalte Froholdt is in the concussion protocol.
Patriots: Stevenson out a few weeks, no surgery
Stevenson’s MRI showed a plantaris tendon issue in the back of his knee. He is expected to miss the next few weeks and will rest and rehab instead of having surgery. He was hurt late in the third quarter of Sunday’s 45-27 loss to Green Bay. New England plays Detroit in Munich on Sunday, and offensive lineman Ben Brown will not make the trip.
Packers: Jacobs needs finger surgery
Matt LaFleur said Josh Jacobs will have surgery this week on the broken ring finger on his right hand. Green Bay had hoped he could play through it, but LaFleur said that was not an option. “He tried last night, he just had no grip strength,” LaFleur said. Jacobs is out indefinitely, and LaFleur did not rule out injured reserve.
Chargers: Herbert avoids a fracture
X-rays on the middle finger of Herbert’s left, non-throwing hand came back negative. Harbaugh said Herbert should be “good to go” from here. The Chargers play at Baltimore next Monday night.
Monday night: Benford and Wentz hurt in Minneapolis
Benford, who had been following Justin Jefferson, was carted to the locker room just before halftime, and the Bills listed him as questionable to return with a wrist injury. He started the third quarter with his wrist heavily taped, then went back to the sideline as Maxwell Hairston and Davison Igbinosun played cornerback. Safety Damar Hamlin missed the start of the second half while he got IV fluids for cramps, then returned.
For Minnesota, Wentz, starting for Kyler Murray (hamstring), had his foot stepped on late in the third quarter. He limped off and went into the medical tent, and Max Brosmer replaced him in the fourth quarter. Wentz finished 8 of 25 for 81 yards with two interceptions, and Brosmer went 6 of 7 for 58 yards. It was not clear after the game how much the foot played a part in the change. Defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins hurt his ankle in the third quarter, could not walk off on his own and did not return. Edge rusher Kyle Van Noy was listed as questionable to return in the first half with a calf injury.
Thursday night: Giants and Commanders injury reports
The Giants’ first report of the short week was an estimate, because they held only a walkthrough. J.J. McCarthy (hip), Cam Skattebo (hamstring), Abdul Carter (knee, back), Darnell Mooney (chest), Malik Harrison (groin) and Charlie Jones (thumb) were listed as limited. Malik Nabers (knee), Jermaine Eluemunor (calf), Andrew Thomas (groin) and Theo Johnson (neck) were listed as full.
Washington listed Jayden Daniels (left elbow) as a full participant. Receiver Treylon Burks (foot), tight end Colson Yankoff (knee) and center Lucas Patrick (concussion) were listed as not participating, while tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo (hip) and defensive tackle Shy Tuttle (shoulder) were limited.
Other updates
- Saints: Center Erik McCoy (biceps) will be out “for a little bit” but should return this season, Kellen Moore said
- 49ers: Mike Evans (ribs, Achilles) is not expected to practice this week, Kyle Shanahan said. Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and defensive tackle CJ West (knee, injured reserve) could return to practice Wednesday
- Browns: Deshaun Watson, who has cleared the concussion protocol, is expected to start Sunday against Houston
Key statuses at a glance
| Player | Team | Injury | Latest update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puka Nacua, WR | Rams | MCL and PCL sprains, turf toe | Likely to injured reserve |
| Steve Avila, G | Rams | Hamstring | Will miss time |
| Gardner Minshew, QB | Cardinals | Torn UCL, right elbow | Likely season-ending surgery; getting more opinions |
| Michael Wilson, WR | Cardinals | Neck | Out for the season |
| Rhamondre Stevenson, RB | Patriots | Knee (plantaris tendon) | Out a few weeks; no surgery |
| Josh Jacobs, RB | Packers | Fractured right ring finger | Surgery; out indefinitely |
| Justin Herbert, QB | Chargers | Left middle finger | No fracture; good to go |
| Christian Benford, CB | Bills | Wrist | Left Monday’s game twice |
| Carson Wentz, QB | Vikings | Foot | Hurt in third quarter; replaced in fourth |
| Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL | Vikings | Ankle | Did not return Monday |
| Kyle Van Noy, edge | Vikings | Calf | Questionable to return Monday |
| J.J. McCarthy, QB | Giants | Hip pointer | Limited (estimate); expected to play Thursday |
What comes next
The trade deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, which is 11 p.m. in Cairo, and the Rams and Vikings may look for help after these injuries. The Bills and Vikings will give their first updates on Benford, Wentz and Ingram-Dawkins later on Tuesday. The Giants and Commanders post one more report each before Thursday’s game, and most teams post their first Week 10 reports on Wednesday.
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