NFL Week 5 Injury Roundup

Monday brings an end to what has been a wild week in the NFL. The league was forced to postpone the scheduled game between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers because of an outbreak among the Titans, while Sunday’s Chiefs-Patriots game was pushed to Monday after New England’s Cam Newton tested positive.

We also have a few new injury situations to monitor on the heels of Sunday’s action. The Browns’ stirring win over the Dallas Cowboys came at a cost, while the Arizona Cardinals may be without their leading rusher next week. Let’s take a look at the injury situations a few teams are facing heading into Week 5.

Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns (Knee)

The Cleveland Browns ran for over 300 yards in their aforementioned win over the Cowboys, a feat that is all the more impressive when you see that they did most of that damage without their leading rusher. Nick Chubb, who ranked second in the league in rushing yards last season, left the game in the first quarter with an apparent knee injury. He did not return.

The Browns revealed on Monday that Chubb has an MCL injury in his right knee, which is expected to keep him sidelined for the next few weeks. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported shortly thereafter that the Browns expect Chubb to be out for the next six weeks.

Fortunately, Cleveland has arguably the best backup in the league in Kareem Hunt ready to shoulder a heavier load. Hunt contributed 71 rushing yards with a pair of touchdowns in the win over Dallas, while second-year back D’Ernest Johnson led the way with 95 yards of his own. Cleveland also got a 50-yard touchdown run late in the game from Odell Beckham Jr.

While the Browns are now 3-1 and riding a winning streak, oddsmakers remain reluctant to buy Cleveland’s hot start. The Browns still only have the third-best odds to win the AFC North (+550). Cleveland will be at home next week when the Indianapolis Colts come to town. Expect Hunt and Johnson to once again lead the Browns’ rushing attack.

With Chubb out, the Browns opened as 2.5-point home underdogs against Indy.

Kenyan Drake, RB, Arizona Cardinals (Chest)

Kenyan Drake left Sunday’s loss to the Panthers early with an apparent chest injury. Drake departed the game with less than four minutes left after taking a hit along the sidelines from a Carolina defender. Drake remained on the ground for several minutes before removing his helmet and being evaluated by trainers. He didn’t return to the game after leaving for the locker room.

Cardinals’ RB Kenyan Drake, who left Sunday’s game with what was called a chest injury, just got wind knocked out of him., per source. Drake already was working out this morning with no issues.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 5, 2020

However, Schefter reported Monday that Drake simply had the wind knocked out of him as a result of the tackle. He was already back at the Arizona Cardinals‘ training facility and working out as of Monday morning.

Drake averaged better than five yards per carry after arriving in Arizona via trade from Miami last season, but so far this season he has averaged just under four yards per attempt. While his production has been lackluster, Drake should be back and good to go for Arizona’s next game against the New York Jets on the road.

OJ Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Achilles)

The Buccaneers improved to 3-1 following a come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, but Tom Brady lost a weapon along the way. Tight end OJ Howard suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the second half of the game, an injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the season.

Fortunately for Brady, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t lacking in tight end options. While Howard had caught three passes for 50 yards in the game at the time of his departure, Tampa Bay has readymade replacements in Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate already in the fold.

Howard is Tampa Bay’s first-stringer, while Gronkowski has been utilized primarily as a blocker in his first year with the Bucs. Brate scored a three-yard touchdown in the first quarter on what was his first catch of the season. While he hasn’t seen the field much with Howard and Gronk in the mix, the 29-year-old veteran does have 28 touchdowns to his name in seven NFL seasons.

Tampa Bay is now a -105 favorite to win the NFC South, while the New Orleans Saints have slid to +105. The Bucs will play their first game of the season without Howard this Thursday night in Chicago. Tampa has opened as a 5.5-point favorite.

Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (Hamstring)

The Los Angeles Chargers gave the Bucs a run for their money on Sunday after losing leading rusher Austin Ekeler in the first quarter. Ekeler had to be helped off the field after injuring his hamstring, and he did not return to the game. The Chargers later said that Ekeler also suffered a hyperextended knee on the play. He left the stadium on crutches.

Schefter reported Monday that Ekeler is expected to miss several weeks, though an MRI will determine the severity of the injury. The Chargers’ running game was almost non-existent on Sunday, as the team finished with just 46 yards on 23 attempts against Tampa Bay’s stout front-seven. Justin Herbert led the way with 14 yards on five attempts.

Joshua Kelley (9) and Justin Jackson (6) essentially split the carries after Ekeler left the game. The two backs also combined for five catches as the Chargers did most of their damage through the air.

The 1-3 Chargers will likely be without Ekeler in a tough matchup on the road against another NFC South foe in New Orleans next Monday night. The Chargers, who will have Herbert under center again, are eight-point underdogs as of this writing.