SPORTS

NFL injury updates Week 2 - News on Anthony Barr, Ronnie Stanley and more

ByNFL Nation ESPN logo

Saturday, September 18, 2021

Week 1 of the NFL season gave fans and experts a lot to talk about. There were fantastic finishes, questionable calls (or no-calls), and even mixed reality made an appearance during opening week! However, injuries are a part of the game, and teams will have to figure out which players can and can't play entering Week 2.

Some teams have already received unfortunate diagnoses for important players on their rosters. The Washington Football Team will be without quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick for at least eight weeks because of a hip subluxation injury he suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Dallas Cowboys learned that defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will miss six to eight weeks because of a broken foot. The Baltimore Ravens injury woes continue, as they found out cornerback Chris Westry will be out for at least a month with a torn lateral meniscus.That is only the beginning of the injuries heading into this weekend.

Teams are finalizing their Friday injury reports, and our NFL reporters have you covered with some big-name players with injuries that could impact their availability in Week 2 -- and potentially beyond.

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Ronnie Stanley, OT, Baltimore Ravens

Injury:Ankle

It would be a surprise if Stanley played Sunday night because he didn't practice all week. If Stanley is out, a struggling Alejandro Villanueva would move to left tackle to protect Lamar Jackson's blindside. Stanley would represent the eighth significant offensive player sidelined this season for Baltimore. Asked about Stanley's availability after Friday's practice, coach John Harbaugh said, "My thoughts are I'm not going to make any comments on injuries for the rest of the season. So, you can keep asking, but that's my thoughts on it." -- Jamison Hensley

Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Cleveland Browns

Injury: Ankle

Wills, quarterbackBaker Mayfield's blindside protector, injured an ankle in last weekend's opener and hasn't been able to practice all week. His replacement, Chris Hubbard, is dealing with his own injury (triceps), meaning rookie James Hudson III could get the start at left tackle Sunday if Wills, who is questionable, can't go. -- Jake Trotter

Damontae Kazee, S, Dallas Cowboys

Injury: Quad

Kazee collided with an offensive player in Wednesday's practice and was limited Thursday and did not practice Friday. There is hope he can play, but the bigger issue is the safety spot in general.

Donovan Wilson did not practice this week because of a groin strain. If the Cowboys are without both safeties, that is not good against a pass offense that likes to take shots down the field. Malik Hooker, who was inactive in Week 1, will be active and could move into a starting role. -- Todd Archer

Bradley Chubb, LB, Denver Broncos

Injury: Ankle

Chubb missed the season opener last week with an ankle injury and was limited in practice both Wednesday and Thursday. But he worked roughly 12 plays with the defense in Wednesday's practice and was on schedule for more in Thursday's workout. If he has no additional issues after his work Thursday, he would be on track to play Sunday against the Jaguars in Jacksonville. In Chubb's absence in the opener,Von Miller had two sacks and three tackles for loss. -- Jeff Legwold

Za'Darius Smith, OLB, Green Bay Packers

Injury: Back

The two-time Pro Bowler tried to play through the injury in the opener and managed 18 snaps, but it didn't do his ailing back any favors. Coaches weighed keeping him on the active roster and using him in a similar role but instead decided to put him on injured reserve. It means he'll be out for at least three games. "Why not try to get him as healthy as possible so we can have him more readily available, hopefully?" Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. For now, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary will take the majority of the snaps on the edge with help from Jonathan Garvin and Chauncey Rivers. -- Rob Demovsky

Frank Clark, DE, Kansas City Chiefs

Injury: Hamstring

Clark missed last week's game against the Browns but is good to go Sunday night against the Ravens. How effective he will be and how much he will play after missing part of training camp and all of the preseason is another matter. The Chiefs, who other than Chris Jones struggled to rush the passer last week, could use Clark's help Sunday night. -- Adam Teicher

Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Injury: Toe, ankle

With Jacobs out -- he missed practice all week because of toe and ankle injuries -- the Raiders' rushing load should fall to recent signee Peyton Barber, who joined Las Vegas on Sept. 4, with Kenyan Drake staying in his role of pass-catching back. Raiders coach Jon Gruden said it would be an "opportunity" for Barber against the Steelers. "We really like Barber -- we think he's a heck of a back," Gruden said. "I like the way he runs and catches and picks up blitzes. ... We're excited about this opportunity to see what we have." -- Paul Gutierrez

Anthony Barr, LB, Minnesota Vikings

Injury: Knee

The Vikings will be without Anthony Barr (knee) for a second straight week.-- Courtney Cronin

Eric Kendricks, LB

Injury: Quad

Minnesota will already be without Barr and and isn't certain that Kendricks, who is dealing with a quad injury, will be available for Sunday's game at Arizona. Kendricks popped up on the injury report on Thursday for the first time and is questionable for the Cardinals game. If Minnesota is down its top two linebackers, Nick Vigil, Blake Lynch and Troy Dye are next in line. -- Courtney Cronin

Everson Griffen, DE

Injury: Concussion

The Vikings will also be without pass-rusher Griffen, who was involved in a car accident and is in the concussion protocol. -- Courtney Cronin

Trent Brown, OT, New England Patriots

Injury: Calf

The Patriots have downgraded starting right tackle Trent Brown (right calf strain) to out for Sunday's road game against the Jets. Brown, who sustained the injury on the first drive of the season opener when he was knocked out of the game, was listed as questionable on the injury report. He had not practiced Wednesday and Thursday, before returning Friday on a limited basis.Yasir Durant, a second-year player from the University of Missouri, is a top candidate to fill the void. -- Mike Reiss

Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints

Injury: Thumb

Lattimore has a surprisingly good chance of playing Sunday, despite having thumb surgery earlier this week. Lattimore returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday and Friday, and coach Sean Payton said he will probably be a "game-time decision." Obviously Lattimore is crucial -- especially against Carolina's dynamic duo of DJ Moore and Robby Anderson. But the Saints do have decent depth with veteran Bradley Roby set to make his Saints debut following a trade last week and rookie Paulson Adebo proving capable as a starter last week. -- Mike Triplett

Marcus Davenport, DE

Injury: Shoulder

Davenport was placed on injured reserve Friday, meaning he'll miss at least three games. That's a big loss for New Orleans, considering Davenport looked poised to have a breakout year and the Saints were counting on him after they let Trey Hendrickson go in free agency. It doesn't help that veteran backup Tanoh Kpassagnon is also questionable for Sunday's game at Carolina. But the Saints still have decent depth at the position with perennial Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan, backup Carl Granderson and rookie first-round pick Payton Turner. -- Mike Triplett

Kwon Alexander, LB

Injury: Elbow

Alexander was placed on injured reserve Friday, meaning he'll miss at least three games. That's a shame considering Alexander looked so good this summer and in Week 1, just nine months after he tore his Achilles. The Saints still have a solid starting trio of All-Pro Demario Davis and up-and-coming young players Zack Baun and Kaden Elliss. But they're facing one of the NFL's toughest matchups in Carolina's Christian McCaffrey, and their depth will be an issue with backups Pete Werner and Chase Hansen also ruled out. -- Mike Triplett

Erik McCoy, C

Injury: Calf

McCoy will be missed since he has emerged as one of the NFL's best young centers. But the Saints' line remained surprisingly dominant without him last week against Green Bay. The Saints have a good alternative in Cesar Ruiz, their 2020 first-round pick who played center at Michigan before moving to guard in the NFL. But that means they'll have to replace Ruiz with a backup at right guard. -- Mike Triplett

Devin Bush, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Injury:Groin

Bush was one of three players added to the Steelers' injury report Friday who were limited in the final practice of the week. Both Bush and Joe Haden have groin injuries, while tight end Zach Gentry has an ankle injury. Bush's status is the most concerning because he'll be part of the effort to slow Raiders tight end Darren Waller.-- Brooke Pryor

Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Injury: Calf

The Seahawks list No. 2 running back Penny as doubtful because of the calf injury he suffered in their opener. That could mean an opportunity for Alex Collins to see the field behind starter Chris Carson. Collins was inactive in the opener, but if Penny is out, he'd be better suited than DeeJay Dallas or Travis Homer to spell Carson on early downs. -- Brady Henderson

Javon Kinlaw, DT, San Francisco 49ers

Injury: Knee

Kinlaw's absence last week was felt early as the Lions repeatedly gashed the Niners for big runs up the middle and finished the day averaging 4.8 yards per carry. But Kinlaw returned to practice Thursday and Friday on a limited basis and is listed as questionable for Sunday against the Eagles. Given that Philadelphia rushed for 173 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per attempt last week, Kinlaw's return would be a welcomed development for the Niners. -- Nick Wagoner

Jordan Whitehead, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers