JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Steelers
Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is expected to be placed on season-ending injury reserve. The fifth-year player sustained a shoulder injury in Sunday’s win against the Broncos. Smith-Schuster exited the game and was helped off the field after a run going towards the left side of the field. Juju was slow to get up grimacing in pain. Sadly he was ruled out soon after and will now be placed on the season-ending injury reserve.
He has not been able to return to the dominance of his 2018 campaign when he played alongside Antonio Brown. Still, he’s a part of one of the better-receiving trios in the league, along with Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. But his status as a WR1 receiver is under threat as he goes to season-ending injury reserve. Smith-Schuster does most of his work near the line of scrimmage, which would funnel more targets to Harris, who we should see improve if Steelers should have any chance of winning their division.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs
Edwards-Helaire injured his left knee in Sunday night’s loss to the Bills. He left the game and was ruled out soon after. He sustained an MCL sprain and will miss some weeks. The second-year back was coming off back-to-back 100-yard rushing games but was off to a bad start against the Buffalo defense. The loss of Edwards-Helaire was the cherry on top of a terrible game against a strong Bills team.
When he exited, Darrel Williams handled the bulk of the work for Kansas City. The Chiefs run their offense through the pass and Patrick Mahomes.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants
Barkley injured his ankle after a play was blown dead against the Cowboys. He stepped on a defender’s foot and rolled his ankle. A brutal injury for one of the best running backs in the league. They showed his ankle on broadcast, and it was severely swollen. It is believed that Barkley has suffered a low-ankle sprain. This will keep him out for at least a week but likely 3-4 weeks.
Since returning from his torn ACL that happened a season ago, Barkley has yet to return to his former dominance, but he was coming off of his best game of the season against the Saints. Now, he’s in for additional recovery time with Daniel Jones as well.
Daniel Jones, QB, Giants
Jones was carted off the field in a loss to the Cowboys after sustaining a dangerous helmet-to-helmet tackle close to the goal line. He was seen stumbling afterward, in what were some very unpleasant images. Thankfully the Cowboys player noticed and stabilized his balance.
It will be a massive blow to New York’s offense if the third-year signal-caller misses time. Jones is off to the best start of his career, quarterbacking a top-10 passing offense and limiting the turnovers that have plagued him. His potential absence would hurt receivers Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney, who broke out on Sunday. Jones is the newest addition to a long list of injured Giants, including star running back Saquon Barkley, who you just read is out for weeks.
Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
Burrow was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated for a throat contusion following Cincinnati’s overtime loss to the Packers, Bengals announced Sunday afternoon after the game. Burrow took a hit from two players and almost somersaulted and hit the turf hard with his helmet during the game. Burrow was released from the hospital later on Sunday and should be able to play next week. Chase, who currently has a five-week streak of over 50 receiving yards, should see great joy having his LSU QB back vs. the Detroit Lions. Expect Chase to have 50+ yards once again and have some big plays against a bad defensive unit.