NFL Injuries

Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa will undergo testing to determine the severity of a groin injury that ruled him out for the remainder of Sunday's loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the news. Later, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that left tackle Rashawn Slater ruptured his biceps tendon and is expected to miss the rest of the season, making Sunday a costly day for Los Angeles.

Bosa is having a solid 2022 campaign, recording 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, six tackles, two tackles for a loss and four quarterback hits through his first two games.

The 27-year-old has appeared in 16 games in just three of his first six seasons, appearing in 12 games or fewer in the other three campaigns.

The Ohio State product missed two games in 2020 because of a concussion and was also placed in concussion protocol for a second time last season, which resulted in him missing two more games.

Bosa enjoyed a successful season in 2021, recording 10.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, 51 tackles, five tackles for a loss and 20 quarterback hits. It was his second consecutive year with at least 7.5 sacks.

When Bosa is sidelined, players such as Chris Rumph II and Kyle Van Noy are expected to step up.

The Chargers are 1-2 on the season. If L.A. wants to make the playoffs, and perhaps make a run at the Super Bowl, it will need Bosa healthy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady's finger injury doesn't seem like it's going to be an issue going into Week 3.

Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Brady had no problem with his finger during Friday's practice and he's "ready to go" after taking every rep.

ESPN's Jenna Laine confirmed Brady will play Sunday despite being added to the team's injury report Friday.

It's unclear exactly what happened to Brady's finger. He was seen shaking his throwing hand at times after suffering an apparent injury vs. the New Orleans Saints.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week about the issue, Brady said he feels "great." The Bucs haven't listed their star quarterback on the injury report.

Brady and the Bucs offense are off to a slow start through two games this season. He is completing 59.0 percent of his attempts with 402 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Injuries have been a big problem for Tampa's offense early in the year. Chris Godwin and Julio Jones missed the Week 2 win over the Saints. Both players missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

The 45-year-old quarterback has been pretty durable throughout his 23-year career, appearing in at least 15 games in all but three seasons. He only missed significant time because of injury during the 2008 campaign.

Brady appeared in just one game during the 2000 season as a backup to Drew Bledsoe. In 2008, he appeared in just one game before suffering a torn ACL and missing the remainder of the season.

The three-time MVP then missed four games in 2016 following a suspension for the Deflategate scandal.

Brady is aiming to win his eighth Super Bowl this year and his second with the Buccaneers. If he's sidelined for long, that dream may not become a reality.

Despite their struggles on the offensive end, the Bucs are off to a 2-0 start heading into Sunday's marquee matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott resumed practice for the first time since undergoing thumb surgery.

The two-time Pro Bowler remains limited for now as he works his way back to 100 percent.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday he thought Week 4 or 5 was the earliest Prescott is expected to get back on the field for game action.

That's better than the initial timeline.

ESPN's Todd Archer reported on Sept. 12 the veteran signal-caller was potentially out for six-to-eight weeks after surgery and was "likely" headed for injured reserve. One day later, however, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said an IR designation wasn't on the table.

Head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Monday that Prescott would have the stitches from his surgical procedure removed at some point this week, which represented a small step in his recovery. Still, McCarthy couldn't provide any more insight as to when his starting QB might be good to go.

Cooper Rush ran the offense in Week 2 and helped Dallas earn a 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished 19-of-31 for 235 yards and one touchdown.

Maybe the Cowboys can tread water long enough until they have Prescott back, but the NFC East is shaping up to be more difficult than it has been in recent seasons. The New York Giants look like a different team under first-year head coach Brian Daboll, while Jalen Hurts might be making the leap for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The longer Dallas is without Prescott, the more his absence could put a serious dent in the franchise's playoff ambitions. Luckily for McCarthy, it looks as though Prescott's recovery is on track.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's status for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars seems to be up in the air after he suffered a fracture to his rib cartilage during a Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and head coach Brandon Staley confirmed the team is taking a day-to-day approach.

"He's gotten a lot of rest since the last game," Staley told reporters Wednesday. "He's feeling more comfortable. I know that he was able to do some light throwing yesterday, some rotational work, but we're just going to take it day by day and see where his comfort level is."

Staley also said the decision on whether to play Herbert against Jacksonville "will start with him and then obviously him feeling good about what the medical team feels like is best, him weighing the options and then us making a good decision."

It's worth noting that the medical team is under some scrutiny.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter reported former Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who now plays for the New York Giants, is suing team doctor David S. Gazzaniga for medical malpractice. Taylor is seeking at least $5 million in damages for the incident that left him with a punctured lung while he was being treated for a rib injury in 2020.

This is the same doctor charged with caring for Herbert's latest injury.

From a football perspective, Herbert's availability could be the difference between a win and a loss on Sunday. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and has completed 72.0 percent of his passes for 613 yards, six touchdowns and one interception through two games this season.

He isn't the only injury concern for Los Angeles, as wide receiver Keenan Allen missed the game against the Chiefs with a hamstring injury.

The Chargers announced Allen, like Hebert, was limited in Wednesday's practice.

That is plenty of offensive firepower hanging in the balance for the Chargers, and they may need it against a Jaguars defense that shut out the Indianapolis Colts during a 24-0 victory in Week 2.

To hear Dallas Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones tell it, quarterback Dak Prescott may be back from his broken thumb as soon as a Week 4 game against the Washington Commanders.

Jones addressed the quarterback's status during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan:

"I don't know that anybody knows [when he'll be back]. But when he [gets enough strength in his hand], then you'll probably see some real advancement in his timeline. I don't know when that is but I do know that with a good airing out last week, everybody recognizes that he'll be back sooner than later as far as the timeline. It really could be a minimum of two weeks up here in my mind [Washington in Week 4]. Now, that's very optimistic. But he's got the kind of repair there that will allow him to not have a lot of fear of re-injuring it. It's just a question of the grip."

There has been no shortage of optimism from Jones when it comes to Prescott's status, but he isn't the only one who suggested the Washington game as a potential return date.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that the Mississippi State product could come back by Week 4 at "the very best" even while pointing out there is still some uncertainty following the surgery he underwent for the injury he suffered during a Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dallas decided not to put Prescott on injured reserve even though ESPN's Todd Archer reported the initial timeline was expected to be six to eight weeks.

While Prescott is a two-time Pro Bowler who threw for 4,449 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year, the Cowboys at least have a solid insurance policy in Cooper Rush. Rush won his only start last season against the Minnesota Vikings and led the team to a 20-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

He went 19-of-31 passing for 235 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions, directing touchdown drives on each of the team's first two possessions and moving them into field-goal range in crunch time after Cincinnati came back to tie it.

Brett Maher made the 50-yard field goal as time expired, putting the Cowboys into the win column for the first time this season.

Dallas will ask Rush to do the same at least one more time during a Week 3 game against the New York Giants before Prescott may be ready to return.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup is "trending toward" making his 2022 NFL season debut in Week 3 against the New York Giants, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.

Head coach Mike McCarthy discussed Gallup's continued recovery from a torn ACL Monday.

"We’re going to try to give him a full slate this week," he told reporters.

Gallup was hurt in Dallas' penultimate game of the 2021 regular season. The timing and severity of his injury left him in a race against the clock to be ready for Week 1.

In March, executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged the 26-year-old would likely be out for the first two or three games. By July, Gallup said it was "not a reasonable possibility" to expect him to be on the field for the opener.

The Cowboys sorely need the 26-year-old, whenever he's finally given the green light.

Dallas did little to replace Amari Cooper, which has left a clear void in the passing game. And after two weeks, its starting quarterback and starting tight end have already suffered injuries.

Dak Prescott is recuperating from thumb surgery, which has a four-to-six-week recovery timeline. According to ESPN's Todd Archer, Dalton Schultz is also battling a "PCL issue" in his right knee.

Gallup will have to be eased back into the offense a bit, but any help he can provide will benefit the passing attack.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz reportedly avoided a worst-case scenario regarding the knee injury he sustained on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he's not out of the woods yet.

According to ESPN's Todd Archer, Schultz is dealing with an injury to his PCL and it's "unclear" at this point if it will cause him to miss time.

Archer pointed out that Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was bothered by a PCL issue last season, though he still managed to play in all 17 games and rush for 1,002 yards with 10 touchdowns.

Schultz recorded two receptions for 18 yards before suffering the injury late in the fourth quarter. He was unable to take the field for Dallas' final offensive drive that set up a game-winning 50-yard field goal by Brett Maher that gave the team a 20-17 victory.

Schultz, who now has seven catches for 62 yards with no touchdowns through the first two games of the year, established himself as a reliable option in the Cowboys passing attack last season when he posted career highs of 78 catches, 808 yards and eight touchdowns. However, the 26-year-old was unable to reach an agreement on a long-term deal during the offseason and is playing the 2022 season on a one-year franchise tag, which is worth $10.9 million.

The Cowboys are already dealing with injuries to multiple key players in the early part of the season. Quarterback Dak Prescott is out after undergoing thumb surgery. Receivers James Washington (foot) and Michael Gallup (knee) have yet to take the field this year. Left tackle Tyron Smith is expected to miss months due to a hamstring injury.

Dallas will hope to bring the momentum of Sunday's win into next week's game against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and cornerback Patrick Surtain II are day-to-day after getting injured in Sunday's 16-9 win over the Houston Texans, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Head coach Nathaniel Hackett confirmed Jeudy injured his ribs, while Surtain had a shoulder issue. 9News' Mike Klis reported preliminary X-rays for Jeudy were negative, but the 2020 first-round pick was scheduled to have more testing.

Jeudy hasn't wasted time in building his on-field connection with Russell Wilson. The two combined for a 67-yard touchdown pass in a Week 1 17-16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

He was forced to exit Sunday after only logging 10 plays, though. He caught one pass for 11 yards on three targets.

Surtain's usage was likewise limited as he had two tackles in his 25 defensive snaps against Houston. The defense still made life difficult for Davis Mills, who finished 19-of-38 for 177 yards and was sacked three times.

The Broncos are back in action in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers. Since they're only day-to-day, both Jeudy and Surtain could presumably be healthy in time to suit up.

Only two games into his tenure, head coach Nathaniel Hackett is already facing significant scrutiny. He'll obviously want to have his squad at full strength as Denver looks to improve to 2-1.

The Dallas Cowboys remain optimistic Dak Prescott can return by Week 4 or 5.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday on 105.3 The Fan's The K&C Masterpiece that Prescott is "absolutely out" for Dallas' upcoming clash with the New York Giants after having undergone thumb surgery.

However, his return could come the following week.

"I think the very best it would be would be Washington or the Rams," Jones said.

"We just won't know until we get closer to really give an educated guess. Right now, I will say this, so far everything has gone his way. From the surgery to the swelling after the surgery [that] was very minimal compared to what it can be. We're just optimistic about it."

ESPN's Todd Archer initially reported Prescott was expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. However, team owner Jerry Jones said the team wasn't placing the two-time Pro Bowler on injured reserve, pointing toward a potentially earlier return date.

The Cowboys saw what life is like without Prescott for an extended stretch when they finished 6-10 in 2020. He suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the fifth game of the season, forcing Dallas to lean on Andy Dalton as the primary replacement and the pair of Ben DiNucci and Garrett Gilbert as spot starters.

So far, the sky isn't falling in North Texas. Cooper Rush went 19-of-31 for 235 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Still, the 28-year-old doesn't inspire a ton of confidence, nor does the Cowboys' performance through two weeks dispel the concerns that were raised following an uneventful offseason. Dallas lost a few key players, most notably Amari Cooper and Randy Gregory, and did little to address those losses.

If Prescott does wind up getting back in time to play the Washington Commanders on Oct. 2 or the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 9, then the team might be able to tread water long enough. Should his recovery extend into late October or early November, his absence could derail what was already a tricky road back to the playoffs.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been diagnosed with a fracture to his rib cartilage.

Head coach Brandon Staley announced the injury on Friday, adding Herbert will be listed as day to day.

Herbert was sacked twice and hit eight other times during a Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. While he played the entire game, he looked in distress during the game's late stages and the team announced afterwards he was dealing with a rib injury.

"You're not going to see a quarterback at any level of football play tougher and do more for their team and will their team to give them a chance more than him," Staley told reporters after the 27-24 defeat.

The 2020 first-round pick played 32 of a possible 33 games over his first two seasons with the Chargers, missing no contests because of injury. He didn't start Week 1 of his rookie campaign before taking over the following week and he never looked back.

He's completed 72 percent of his throws for 613 yards with six touchdowns and one interception across two games so far in 2022.

Chase Daniel, who's made just five starts across 13 NFL seasons, is next on the Bolts' QB depth chart if Herbert is limited or has to miss time. Easton Stick is the team's other reserve option.

Herbert was a preseason MVP candidate after an impressive progression over his first two years.

The Chargers do have a few extra days to rest and regroup thanks to playing on Thursday in Week 2. Their next game is at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 25.