NFL Injuries

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera told reporters on Monday that running back Brian Robinson has been cleared by doctors and will be activated off injured reserve on Wednesday.

Robinson, who was shot twice during a robbery attempt in August, will have three weeks to either be elevated to the active roster or kept on the non-football injury list for the remainder of the 2022 season.

Robinson appeared poised to win the starting running back job over Antonio Gibson this summer before he was shot twice in his right leg.

"We know he's got a bright future, and the future doesn't have to be immediately now," Rivera told reporters on Aug. 31. "Until he's ready to roll, we have no intention of putting him out there."

The 23-year-old was Washington's third-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, impressing with his physical and aggressive running style.

He missed the first four games of the season with his gunshot wounds, but his recovery has appeared to go very smoothly:

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr., who was shot twice during an armed robbery attempt less than a month ago, is out here running routes. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/7wOHWeDaY3

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 25, 2022

in his stead, Gibson has rushed for 173 yards and two scores to go on 3.3 yards per carry along with 13 catches for 101 yards. Scatback J.D. McKissic has 65 yards on the ground and 19 catches for 122 yards.

It's likely that all three will see playing time once Robinson is deemed ready for game action.

"When we get Robinson back, there are some things that we can do that we want to feature his skill set and the skill set that not just he has, but [Gibson] and [McKissic have]," Rivera told reporters. "I mean, those three guys are all quality backs, and they all have their special abilities. Once you have the full complement now, you can just grow it even more."

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with an ankle injury.

Brian Hoyer will serve as the starting quarterback in Jones' absence. He took all the first-team reps at practice Wednesday and Thursday.

Jones didn't appear to do much at the media availability portion of Friday's practice, according to NFL Network's Mike Giardi and ESPN's Mike Reiss:

Mac never got out from behind the QB netting and barely moved at all when he was back there. Both ankles heavily taped. Viewing portion of practice now over. #Patriots

— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) September 30, 2022

From the limited window in which reporters were present, Mac Jones didn’t move around on his injured left ankle. He essentially stood in one spot and tossed the ball lightly with fellow QBs Brian Hoyer and Bailey Zappe. https://t.co/RrUUlCmHGw

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 30, 2022

Jones suffered the injury at the end of his team's 37-26 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Nick O'Malley of Masslive.com described the scene.

"Jones appeared to be in pain as he was helped off the field bypassing the blue medical tent and heading straight to the team’s locker room," O'Malley wrote. "Jones did not appear to put any weight on the leg as he came off the field."

X-rays following the game were negative, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The 24-year-old Jones, who is in his second NFL season, has completed 64-of-97 passes for 786 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions through three games.

Heading into Green Bay for a matchup with reigning back-to-back NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and the 2-1 Packers would have been a tough task even with Jones, but escaping with a victory is even more arduous without him.

The Pats have struggled on both sides of the ball to start the year, with the offense notably sitting No. 25 in points per game. They are 1-2 after a 17-14 win over the 1-2 Pittsburgh Steelers, a 20-7 loss to the 3-1 Miami Dolphins and the aforementioned defeat to the 2-1 Ravens.

The 36-year-old Hoyer has been a Patriots backup for seven seasons over three different stints. The 13-year NFL veteran has played in 75 games (39 starts) and completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 53 touchdowns (35 interceptions) and 7.0 yards per attempt.

Rookie Bailey Zappe will be the team's backup behind Hoyer with Jones sidelined.

NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills said on the NFL Network Friday that Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was checked for concussion symptoms every day this week.

Speaking with @judybattista on @nflnetwork, NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills says Tua Tagovailoa was checked for concussion symptoms every day since Sunday. Points out independent neuro expert had to clear him. Once review is done, full results will be released publicly.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 30, 2022

Our interview with NFL CMO Dr. Allen Sills on why Tua Tagovailoa was allowed to fly home, what happened last Sunday and on the subsequent concussion checks during the week, and on whether the concussion protocol could be changed as a result. pic.twitter.com/Q5N9TLBYgt

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) September 30, 2022

Tagovailoa, 24, left Thursday night's 27-15 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second quarter after appearing to be knocked unconscious following a sack. He was taken off the field on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital with head and neck injuries, though he was released from the hospital and flew back with the team to South Florida.

Tagovailoa was being monitored ahead of Thursday's game after suffering an injury last weekend and returning to the game. Following a hit in a win over the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa stumbled after he got back to his feet and he was listed as questionable to return to that game with a head injury.

However, after undergoing tests, the team determined a back injury, not a head injury, had caused the stumble, and he was permitted to return to the game.

The NFLPA promptly opened an investigation into the Dolphins' handling of that injury. And after Tagovailoa's injury on Thursday night, the NFLPA released the following statement:

Player health and safety is at the core of the union's mission. Our concern tonight is for Tua and we hope for a full and speedy recovery. Our investigation into the potential protocol violation is ongoing.

— NFLPA (@NFLPA) September 30, 2022

NFLPA president JC Tretter followed up with a statement of his own:

pic.twitter.com/fMf8qLOJWA

— JC Tretter (@JCTretter) September 30, 2022

Sills, meanwhile, also made an appearance on CNN and offered more information on the situation and the NFL's concussion protocols:

(Sills cont.) "... And your immediate thought goes to that patient, to their family, to everyone involved, and to making in the moment we do everything we can to provide the most expert and timely care."

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 30, 2022

NFL CMO Allen Sills tells @drsanjaygupta the league will be critical of its own protocols, and transparent on its findings. "I am our harshest critic. I look at all of our data, all of our outcomes through the most critical lens to try and see how we can improve."

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 30, 2022

It remains unclear when, or if, Tagovailoa will play again this season.

"I'm not even thinking about timetables as a player," head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters when asked if the Dolphins were considering an IR stint for Tagovailoa. "It's about Tua as a person. We're just worried about him getting healthy and getting all of the testing done. We'll cross the bridge on timetables."

"You wanna win the game but obviously you wanna make sure that your brother is all right," wide receiver Tyreek Hill added on Thursday night, saying players had been asking for updates on Tagovailoa's during the second half. "Football is just our part-time job, but that brotherhood is something that'll last forever."

Mac Jones' teammates seemingly don't want the New England Patriots quarterback to rush himself back from his ankle injury.

"Love Mac [Jones]. Tough, tough, tough guy. But he's hurting pretty good," an unnamed Patriots player told Mike Giardi of NFL Network. "Hope everyone's smart about this. It's a long season."

Giardi reported Jones is still "operating as if he has a chance" to play in Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers and told teammates "to not count him out."

This comes despite suffering what doctors diagnosed as a severe high-ankle sprain in the Week 3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Jones was in obvious pain as he limped off the field in Sunday's game:

Mac Jones limped off the field late in the 4th quarter.

(via @NFLonFOX)pic.twitter.com/NqPaGFrdyN

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 25, 2022

Jones has struggled during his second NFL season, totaling just two passing touchdowns and five interceptions in three games. His 76.2 passer rating is significantly lower than his 92.5 mark from 2021 when he led the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a playoff appearance.

The No. 15 overall draft pick earned a Pro Bowl selection and finished second in voting for Offensive Rookie of the Year behind Ja'Marr Chase.

Things clearly haven't gone as smoothly in 2022, and the latest ankle injury could exacerbate his problems.

If Jones is unable to play, the Patriots will turn to veteran Brian Hoyer. The 14-year veteran has spent eight seasons in New England across three different stints, but has only made one start with the team.

The 36-year-old has 39 career starts in the NFL, but just two since 2018.

Los Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Joey Bosa will go on injured reserve and will have surgery to repair his groin injury, head coach Brandon Staley told reporters Wednesday.

The 27-year-old is still expected to return this season.

Bosa suffered the injury in his team's Week 3 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and was quickly ruled out. Staley later called it a "significant" injury that left him week-to-week.

Through three games in 2022, Bosa has seven tackles and 1.5 sacks.

The Chargers still have Khalil Mack leading the pass rush, but the defense will suffer without Bosa on the field. It will put pressure on Kyle Van Noy and Chris Rumph II to step up at outside linebacker.

Bosa has already established himself as one of the league's best defensive players. The 2016 No. 3 overall pick earned the Defensive Rookie of the Year award before getting a Pro Bowl selection in four of the next five years.

The Ohio State product reached double-digit sacks in four of his first six seasons, with injuries slowing him down in the other two years. A foot problem notably limited him to just seven games in 2018.

Bosa and the Chargers will hope to avoid a long-term issue after he signed a five-year, $135 million contract with the team that runs through 2025.

Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift is unlikely to play in the team's Week 4 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks because of a shoulder injury.

Lions coach Dan Campbell said Swift would have to improve "significantly" over the next three days to suit up.

"We knew it would be this hard to get through a full season with him healthy," Campbell told reporters Wednesday. "That's the nature of the position."

Swift was injured in Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He was limited to just seven carries for 31 yards while adding three receptions for 15 yards.

Jamaal Williams took over the bulk of the work, rushing for 87 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries and adding 20 more yards on two receptions. Williams will get the majority of the snap total in Week 4 if Swift can't go and is a must-start in nearly every fantasy format against a shaky Seattle front seven.

Craig Reynolds will likely slide into the backup role after receiving six carries in spell of Williams last week. Justin Jackson is the Lions' fourth running back but has not gotten a touch this season.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett suffered a shoulder sprain, biceps strain and lacerations in his single-car crash on Monday.

It remains unknown whether he can play in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.

an update on Myles pic.twitter.com/c2cXe1odzw

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 27, 2022

Garrett was driving with a female passenger, and Camryn Justice of WEWS Cleveland reported "the car went off the right side of the road and the vehicle flipped several times before coming to a rest."

His agent, Nicole Lynn, released a statement Monday saying he was "alert and responsive."

Statement regarding Myles Garrett: pic.twitter.com/XzkZW9f86s

— Nicole Lynn (@AgentNicoleLynn) September 27, 2022

Garrett has been one of the most explosive and productive pass-rushers in the NFL since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2017. This season, he has registered seven tackles and three sacks through three games.

The 26-year-old star is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro who arguably enjoyed the best season of his career in 2021.

After posting a then-career-high 13.5 sacks in 2018 followed by 10 sacks in 10 games the following season, and 12 sacks in 2020, Garrett set a new career high in 2021 with 16 sacks.

With Garrett playing at an elite level, the Browns went 11-5 in 2020 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2002, but they dropped off significantly last season through no fault of his.

The Cleveland defense, while talented at every level, takes a significant hit whenever Garrett misses time because opposing offenses would usually have to account and game-plan for him.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa says he plans to play in Thursday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals despite a back injury.

"Doing everything I can to get out there and play," Tagovailoa told reporters Tuesday.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa would be listed as questionable if this were a normal week ahead of a game. The Dolphins are running a limited practice schedule, largely comprised of walkthroughs, before traveling to Cincinnati.

“If he doesn’t play, it was not possible… We are fortunate to have Teddy Bridgewater," McDaniel said.

Tagovailoa went down with a back injury late in the first half of Sunday's win over the Buffalo Bills. Many feared a concussion when Tagovailoa's head violently smacked off the turf and he collapsed to the ground as he moved toward the huddle, but the Dolphins said he passed concussion testing and returned to the game.

The NFLPA called on a review of the process that led Tagovailoa to return. McDaniel said Tagovailoa is not in concussion protocol, so Dolphins doctors not only cleared him Sunday but have remained convinced he did not suffer a head injury.

While it's apparent the team is going to exercise every option to keep the Alabama product in the lineup, it's far from a sure thing he suits up. Tagovailoa acknowledged the back injury impacts every part of his game and said it was "very difficult" for him to put his full force into throws. For a player that already has questions about his arm strength, it's fair to wonder if Tagovailoa will be extremely limited if he is in the lineup.

Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa appears to be in danger of missing time this season.

Chargers head coach Brandon Staley told reporters on Monday that Bosa is dealing with a "significant" groin injury and he is considered week-to-week.

Bosa suffered the injury in the first quarter of Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and didn't return to the game. In his absence, veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy and second-year pro Chris Rumph II rotated opposite star edge-rusher Khalil Mack.

Losing Bosa for any amount of time would be a major setback to the Chargers defense. The 27-year-old racked up 58 sacks in his first six seasons since being drafted No. 3 overall in 2016. In three games this year, he has seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

The Chargers are already reeling from multiple significant injuries through the first three weeks of the 2022 season. Pro Bowl offensive tackle Rashawn Slater is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn left biceps tendon. Star quarterback Justin Herbert played the full game on Sunday despite dealing with fractured rib cartilage.

Los Angeles wide receiver Keenan Allen missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Cornerback J.C. Jackson (ankle) and center Corey Linsey (knee) were also ruled out against Jacksonville.

Many had expected the Chargers to take a significant step forward this season and compete for a division title in the AFC West. These injuries put a big dent in the team's aspirations for this year.

Los Angeles (1-2) will look to bounce back from two consecutive losses when it takes on the Houston Texans (0-2-1) on Sunday.

Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Dak Prescott is not ruling out making his return from a thumb injury in Week 4, when his team takes on the Washington Commanders.

Prescott told ESPN's Lisa Salters he could return in a "couple of weeks—and I'm counting this as one of them," adding that Week 4 is a possibility:

Dak Prescott told @saltersl he is not ruling out a return next week 👀 pic.twitter.com/466Rz4kYkP

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 27, 2022

ESPN's Todd Archer previously reported Prescott was scheduled to have his stitches removed from his surgically repaired thumb before Monday night's matchup at the New York Giants.

Per that report, "his return to action is predicated on his grip strength, but he is continuing to make progress."

Cooper Rush filled in for Prescott last week, throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown in a 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

That prompted team owner and general manager Jerry Jones to tell reporters he would love to see the backup play so well in Prescott's absence that he created a quarterback controversy once the incumbent was healthy again.

"Of course I would. Of course. That means we'd have won," Jones said. "If he comes in there and plays as well as Prescott played...Rush? Played that well over these next games ahead? I'd walk to New York to get that."

He continued:

Well, of course we want Dak to be here next week. That's the thing. You do. But Dak and I want Rush to lead the team to a victory here and get another win and get another win. That's the only way to look at it. Looking back when Dak was playing instead of Tony [Romo], it was game by game. It wasn't the long look we had after two months to look back. It was actually play by play, almost series by series. So do I think that it's possible for Rush to come in here and play at a level to win games the way Prescott did when he took over for Romo? Yes I do. Yes I do. I certainly think that's possible.

That, predictably, kicked up a firestorm of headlines and conversations. Of course, nobody believes that Rush would actually supplant the man in the second year of a four-year, $160 million contract. If anything, Rush's best outcome might be playing well enough to become a valuable trade chip for the Cowboys.

Head coach Mike McCarthy unsurprisingly confirmed that Prescott's job was never going to be in jeopardy.

"I'm just trying to say this with a straight face," he told reporters Friday. "Like anything, you look at the whole thing, it's about winning. That's all we really care about. There is no quarterback controversy. ... Dak is our starter."

"I think you need to be able to decipher between GM Jerry and owner Jerry," he added. "He can do that in like mid-sentence, too. I think you all need to do a better job of that. Get to work."

The question, of course, is when Prescott will actually return. On Sunday, the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Prescott's earliest possible return date would be Oct. 16:

From @NFLGameDay: Still, the earliest #Cowboys QB Dak Prescott will be out there is 4 weeks from surgery. That #Eagles game on Oct. 16 would be a solid spot. pic.twitter.com/BEl9HoTOHp

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 25, 2022

However, it appears Prescott could be able to get back on the field even sooner.