The injuries around the NFL have come early and often in Week 3 of the 2021 regular season. After Week 2’s plethora of injuries to quarterbacks during the 1 p.m. window, this week brought more injuries to some of the highest-profile players in the league.
Here are some of the injuries players have suffered so far.
Titans’ A.J. Brown, Colts’ Quenton Nelson leave game with injuries
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown left Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts in the first quarter after injuring his hamstring. Brown was later ruled out of the game before the start of the second half.
Brown came off the field after being targeted on the Titans’ first possession and was seen on the sideline without his helmet. Brown was targeted twice but didn’t catch a pass. He’s had an uncharacteristically slow start to the season so far, with only seven receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown in his first two games.
Brown wasn’t the only player in the game injured. The Colts ruled out rookie defensive end Kwity Paye with a hamstring injury and offensive guard Quenton Nelson was carted to the locker room with an ankle injury in the first half
James White ruled out of Pats-Saints with a hip injury
Many believed James White would be a key contributor in the New England Patriots’ Week 3 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. However, White’s day ended early after the Patriots running back was carted off in the second quarter of Sunday’s game with a hip injury.
White rushed for six yards to gain a first down on the Patriots’ 27-yard line before getting pushed out of bounds by Saints linebacker Demario Davis. White remained down, laying on his back. He was immediately ruled out by the team.
Khalil Mack questionable to return with a foot injury
The Chicago Bears appear to have suffered a huge blow on defense early in their game against the Cleveland Browns. Star defensive end Khalil Mack was forced to leave the field after suffering a left foot injury in the second quarter.
Mack spent a while in the medical tent before quickly heading to the locker room. The Bears deemed him questionable to return shortly after.
Mack had one sack on Browns’ QB Baker Mayfield before the injury.
San Francisco 49ers
Find the latest San Francisco 49ers news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
Giants lose three players to injuries vs. Falcons
The injury bug has apparently bit the New York Giants again in their Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Linebacker Blake Martinez suffered a non-contact knee injury and receivers Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard both suffered hamstring injuries in the first half. All three Giants starters were ruled out for the rest of the game.
Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster ruled out vs. Bengals with rib injury
JuJu Smith-Schuster exited the Pittsburgh Steelers' game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday after sustaining a rib injury.
Smith-Schuster caught three passes for 25 yards prior to leaving the game.