Week 9 Sunday left several of the league’s biggest names waiting on Monday tests. Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua hurt his knee on the final offensive snap of a 20-13 win in Washington and has an MRI on Monday, though the team does not believe he tore his ACL. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes hurt his right elbow against the Jets, came back, and a postgame MRI showed no major injury. Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs fractured a finger, and Seattle’s Drew Lock, already filling in for Sam Darnold, hurt his oblique.
- Nacua (knee): MRI Monday; the Rams do not believe it is a torn ACL
- Mahomes (right elbow): returned to the game; postgame MRI showed no major injury, and he will be monitored for pain and swelling
- Jacobs (finger): fractured, Matt LaFleur said; he had a hard time gripping the ball
- Lock (oblique): Mike Macdonald called his status for this week up in the air
- Also hurt: Xavier Worthy (hamstring), Jaylen Waddle and Riley Moss (concussions), Antoine Winfield Jr. (ankle), Rhamondre Stevenson and Will Campbell (knees), J.J. McCarthy (hip)
Puka Nacua has a knee MRI on Monday
Nacua was hurt on the Rams’ final offensive play, a jet sweep, and took a hit from Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves on the play. The Rams do not believe he suffered a torn ACL, but Monday’s imaging will show the extent of the injury.
Patrick Mahomes: MRI shows no major elbow injury
Mahomes took a heavy hit from Jets rookie pass rusher David Bailey in the second quarter of Kansas City’s 35-12 win, fumbled on the play and was in obvious pain in his right elbow. He went back in before halftime and played until Justin Fields took the final series. After the game, an MRI did not reveal a major injury. The elbow strain or sprain will be monitored over the next few days for pain and swelling.
“Once I throw the football, I knew hopefully it wasn’t ligament type stuff. It was more muscle type stuff,” Mahomes said. “That will be important this week is kind of getting the swelling and the fluid out of it so I can be ready to go from the first snap next week.” He added: “If I’m able to play, I’m going to play.”
Andy Reid had two more injuries to report. “Xavier tweaked his hamstring. I don’t know exactly how bad that is right now,” Reid said of Worthy, who was ruled out in the fourth quarter. “Then, Jaylon Moore hurt his ankle. We’ll see how he works out here in the next day or so.” Moore, a tackle, was listed as doubtful to return.
Josh Jacobs fractures a finger
Jacobs was listed as questionable to return with a hand injury during Green Bay’s 45-27 win at New England. “He fractured a finger,” LaFleur said. “Hopefully, we can do something to allow him to go out there. But he was having a hard time gripping the ball.” Receiver Bo Melton was also evaluated for a concussion during the game.
Seattle’s quarterback room takes another hit
Lock went 19 of 28 for 175 yards and a touchdown as Seattle beat Arizona, and he is now 3-0 with no turnovers filling in for Darnold this season. He was already playing through a right elbow injury and went into the medical tent after a third-quarter drive with what turned out to be an oblique injury. Macdonald said Lock’s status for this week is up in the air and that he did not have a great feel for whether Darnold (quad, rib) can return. Lock said he is confident he can play if needed.
Patriots lose five players to injuries
New England’s loss to Green Bay came with a long injury list. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson (knee) was ruled out during the game, and left tackle Will Campbell (knee), cornerback Carlton Davis III (knee), lineman Ben Brown (knee) and safety Brenden Schooler (hamstring) were all announced as questionable to return. Brown was later downgraded to out. Asked about Stevenson, Mike Vrabel said: “He wasn’t able to return, so I’m not sure the extent of what it is.” Campbell said after the game that he feels good physically. The Patriots face Detroit in Munich next.
Broncos: Waddle and Moss concussions before the bye
Denver ruled out receiver Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Riley Moss with concussions in its 26-21 win at Carolina. Sean Payton said he does not think either injury is serious and that the Broncos otherwise came out healthy as they head into their bye week.
Giants: J.J. McCarthy says he is fine
McCarthy hurt his hip in the third quarter and was listed as questionable to return. He missed most of the quarter and limped through the fourth, but he came back to finish the Giants’ 19-11 win in Philadelphia and said afterward that he felt “good.” New York plays Washington on Thursday night.
Sunday night: Winfield leaves with an ankle injury
Tampa Bay safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was listed as questionable to return with an ankle injury and was later ruled out for the rest of the game, with Ifeatu Melifonwu replacing him. Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby was also out with an injury, so Anthony Nelson started. Chicago won 27-24 on Cairo Santos’ 38-yard field goal as time expired, despite four Caleb Williams interceptions.
Other in-game injuries
- Rams: Guard Steve Avila (hamstring) was downgraded to out
- Chargers: Receiver Ladd McConkey (back) was listed as questionable, and safety Isas Waxter (ankle) was downgraded to out. Cornerback Cam Hart (ankle) and defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe (ankle) were questionable to return
- Colts: Linebacker Jaylon Carlies (neck) and right tackle Jalen Travis (knee) were questionable to return
- Eagles: Linebacker Zack Baun (back) was questionable to return
- 49ers: Cornerback Renardo Green (back) was questionable to return
- Packers: Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper (chest) was ruled out
- Dolphins: Will Kacmarek (quad) was questionable to return
- Cardinals: Defensive lineman Roy Lopez (toe) was downgraded to out
Key statuses at a glance
| Player | Team | Injury | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puka Nacua, WR | Rams | Knee | MRI Monday; torn ACL not believed |
| Patrick Mahomes, QB | Chiefs | Right elbow | Returned; MRI showed no major injury |
| Xavier Worthy, WR | Chiefs | Hamstring | Ruled out in 4th quarter |
| Jaylon Moore, T | Chiefs | Ankle | Day-to-day, Reid said |
| Josh Jacobs, RB | Packers | Fractured finger | Hopes to play through it, LaFleur said |
| Drew Lock, QB | Seahawks | Oblique | Status for this week up in the air |
| Rhamondre Stevenson, RB | Patriots | Knee | Ruled out; extent unknown |
| Will Campbell, T | Patriots | Knee | Did not finish; says he feels good |
| Jaylen Waddle, WR | Broncos | Concussion | Ruled out; bye week next |
| Riley Moss, CB | Broncos | Concussion | Ruled out; bye week next |
| J.J. McCarthy, QB | Giants | Hip | Returned; says he feels good |
| Antoine Winfield Jr., S | Buccaneers | Ankle | Ruled out Sunday night |
What comes next
Nacua’s MRI and Reid’s Monday update on Mahomes, Worthy and Moore are the first answers to watch. The Giants’ short week means a first injury report on Tuesday for Thursday’s game against Washington. Buffalo at Minnesota closes Week 9 on Monday night, which is 3:15 a.m. Tuesday in Cairo.
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