Jefferson (ankle) could play in Week 4 vs. Fins

MIN

Wide Receiver

#18

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Justin Jefferson’s ankle injury is not “anything long-term” and that he could play in Week 4 against the Dolphins.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said after Sunday’s game that Jefferson was “close” to returning, so Monday’s report isn’t all too surprising. While Week 4’s game remains on the table for Jefferson, the Vikings could very well opt to sit him this week against a Dolphins offense that’s among the worst in the league and just lost its star player to a torn ACL. Jefferson’s status will be one to monitor throughout the week, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Vikings rested him for at least one week given the injury and the upcoming matchup.

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According to the Minnesota Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling, the Vikings will evaluate Jefferson’s injury further, “but it didn’t sound terribly serious initially.” It sounds like Jefferson could have a chance to play in Week 4 against the Dolphins’ fantasy-friendly pass defense, though nothing is certain at this time. Stay tuned.
Jefferson picked up the ankle injury in the second quarter. He limped to the locker room shortly before halftime and was officially ruled out midway through the third quarter. Hopefully for the Vikings it’s not a long-term issue for the centerpiece of their offense. Jordan Addison would be the de facto No. 1 wideout if Jefferson misses time with the ankle injury. He caught a long touchdown from Kyler Murray against Tampa shortly after Jefferson left the game.
Jefferson went down with the ankle injury at the start of the second quarter and was seen walking on the sideline a few minutes later. He then left for the locker room with seven minutes remaining in the first half. It’s unclear whether he’ll re-enter the game, leaving Kyler Murray without his top weapon. Jefferson had two catches for 32 yards before exiting.
Jefferson caught a 30-yard pass against tight coverage on just the second play of the game, but the proceedings then quickly became a contest of wills on a rainy September day in Chicago. Carson Wentz completed all of 11 passes, though Jefferson was his leading receiver, as well as most targeted. With Kyler Murray (concussion) expected to return for Week 3 against the Bucs’ shaky defense, we will hopefully get our first extended look at the Vikings’ “real” offense.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell ruled out veteran receiver Jauan Jennings, citing a death of a close family member. Jennings will step away from the team to mourn the passing, leaving Tai Felton as the player most likely to step into his vacated role when the Vikings take on the Bears. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison should take on all the volume they can handle with the team also without Jordan Mason. Jefferson is a locked-in WR1 while Addison offers an intriguing upside-WR2 profile after putting up a dud in Week 1.
Kyler Murray left in the first quarter with a head injury, but even Carson Wentz is good enough to keep the fantasy points flowing for Jefferson. Wentz found his star receiver on a deep end zone shot late in the second quarter and put the final nail in the coffin with a nine-yard strike to Jettas late in the fourth. Jefferson has now matched his 2025 touchdown total. Even with Wentz likely under center for Week 2, Jefferson will remain near the top of the WR1 conversation versus the Bears.
Jefferson told Seifert what many of us were concerned about this spring and summer — that having the Murray and QB J.J. McCarthy split first-team reps “was an added challenge.” At the Vikings’ joint practice against the Ravens on Wednesday, Jefferson beat a double team for a touchdown, “but had roughly a half dozen passes broken up as he tried to muscle for position.” Jefferson should still be treated as a WR1, but as he told Seifert, “work needs to be done.”
This comes from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. In hopes of getting under the cap before the start of the new league year, the Vikings will restructure the deals of both Jefferson and LT Christian Darrisaw, likely by converting portions of their base salaries into guaranteed money. The Vikings rank last in the league in available cap space, per OverTheCap.com, and will likely restructure a few more deals in the coming days to get to a point where they have money to spend in free agency.
Jefferson was 47 yard short of 1,000 receiving yards on the season and eclipsed that marker in the first half with a barrage of targets from J.J. McCarthy before McCarthy left the game with a right hand injury. Plagued by some of the worst quarterbacking in recent NFL memory, Jefferson managed just two touchdowns after ten touchdowns last season without an established starter under center for the Vikings. He had no chemistry whatsoever with McCarthy. Jefferson remains an elite wideout who dominates targets and air yards and will continue to do so in 2026. If he gets some decent quarterback play, Jefferson should bounce back nicely in Kevin O’Connell’s fantasy-friendly offensive scheme.
It could have been worse? Max Brosmer threw for all of 51 yards in a game that set offense back to before there even was a streaming service to watch a football game on, so getting even 30 yards becomes a little more impresssive. Imagine being issued caveats about a Justin Jefferson game coming into 2025. He’ll get one more chance to add to the disappointing numbers in Week 18 against the Packers.

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TB

Wide Receiver

#11

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Buccaneers placed WR Jalen McMillan (knee) on injured reserve.

Imaging Monday confirmed a PCL sprain for McMillan, who will now move to injured reserve with a 6-8 week recovery timeline. The Buccaneers are also dealing with an injury to quarterback Baker Mayfield’s thumb on his throwing hand, although initial testing was positive. Now sitting at 0-3 and in last place in the NFC South, they’ll likely look to youth to attempt to save their season. On that note, no team in the division currently holds a winning record through three weeks.
LAC

Quarterback

#10

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Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said Justin Herbert must “be better.”

It’s hard to write these quotes without sounding “clicky,” but Harbaugh was forthright at his Monday press conference when asked about Herbert’s decision-making. “Be better. Be better,” Harbaugh said before attempting to soften the blow. “And that drives Justin, that drives me, that drives his position coach, that drives (OC Mike [McDaniel). I mean, drives us all.” Harbaugh also said the team could look to simplify McDaniel’s complex scheme. “As far as the scheme going forward, all options are open,” Harbaugh claimed. When asked what that might entail, the coach responded “run, pass, up the middle, motion, no motion.” Alrighty then. It’s shocking to hear a coach talk this frankly — especially Harbaugh about Herbert — but the situation really is that dire in Los Angeles. Herbert is in the crossfire, but it could be McDaniel who is on something of a hot seat with his play-calling. Sitting at 0-3, the Chargers face the unwelcome prospect of a “must win” Week 4 contest against defending Super Bowl champion Seattle, itself coming off a rough loss. We will be benching Herbert in fantasy for that one.
CHI

Quarterback

#18

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Bears declared QB Caleb Williams, OT Ozzy Trapilo, OG Jordan McFadden, DE Jamree Kromah, and DT Jayden Loving inactive for Week 3 against the Eagles.

Veteran journeyman Case Keenum will start under center for the Bears while Tyson Bagent will serve as his backup after clearing concussion protocol Sunday. Expect a ground-heavy game plan from the Bears as they look to hand the Eagles their first loss of the 2026 season.
PHI

Tight End

#88

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Eagles declared TE Dallas Goedert, QB Tanner McKee, WR Hollywood Brown, QB Cole Payton, DL A.J. Epenesa, and T Fred Johnson inactive for Week 3 against the Bears.

No real surprises here after Goedert was ruled out earlier in the week. The team elevated veteran Zach Ertz to the active roster from the practice squad, although he remains unlikely to see a full workload after joining the team this week in the midst of recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2025. Tanner McKee will serve as the emergency quarterback. EDGE Jonathan Greenard will make his season debut after missing the team’s first two games.
LA

Tight End

#18

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Rams HC Sean McVay said TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle) will likely miss Week 4 against the Eagles.

Ferguson briefly departed after injuring his ankle in the team’s Sunday Night Football loss to the Broncos, returning for two snaps prior to departing again after his lone reception of the evening. The ankle injury now appears likely to cost the talented young tight end at least one game, with the potential for the absence to linger if the sprain is “more high than low.” McVay also relayed that fellow tight end Colby Parkinson suffered an AC sprain and is considered day-to-day. Veteran Tyler Higbee would be in line to operate as the primary receiving tight end after amassing 62 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions in Week 3, should both miss. Higbee should be added in all formats as a potential TE1 in the immediate future.
LA

Wide Receiver

#12

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Rams HC Sean McVay said he was “hopeful” WR Puka Nacua (groin) will be able to play in Week 4 against the Eagles.

We continue to get very little concrete news from McVay and the Rams regarding the injury, expected status, or recovery timeline for star wide receiver Puka Nacua. The most conclusive information given the previous two weeks is that the groin injury Nacua is dealing with is not related to the psoas injury he dealt with this offseason, although some have speculated that the verbiage used to describe the injury sounded like a sports hernia. Even that is pure speculation. Fantasy managers are left waiting in the holding pattern for more concrete news from their first-round fantasy selection. Davante Adams would clearly be in line to benefit from another absence after setting a career-high in receiving yards in consecutive games the previous two weeks.
CLE

Guard

#78

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Browns G Teven Jenkins (back) and C Elgton Jenkins (concussion) were listed as “DNP” on Monday’s estimated practice report.

The Browns have a quick turnaround as they prepare to face the Steelers on Thursday Night Football in Week 4, making it highly unlikely that Elgton Jenkins will be able to clear concussion protocol in time to suit up. That makes the practice status of Teven Jenkins of primary concern considering an absence would mean the Browns would be without two of their starting interior offensive linemen against one of the better pass rushes in the league.
PIT

Running Back

#13

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Steelers RB Rico Dowdle (toe) was listed as a “DNP” on Monday’s estimated practice report.

Dowdle was unable to play in the team’s Week 3 win over the Bengals with the same issue and will likely need to get back on the practice field to have a chance to suit up on Thursday Night Football against the Browns in Week 4. Expect Jaylen Warren to see another game of workhorse usage after a 90 percent snap rate on Sunday, should Dowdle be unable to go. Warren would be a volume-based RB1 in a middling matchup in Dowdle’s absence.
LAC

Offensive Coordinator

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Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said he doesn’t plan to intervene in the offense if it continues to struggle.

When asked if he had any plans of intervening, Harbaugh offered his endorsement of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, saying, “No. We trust Mike. We believe in Mike.” The 0-3 Chargers have struggled mightily out of the gate to start the season, failing to score more than 16 points in a game while also turning the ball over six times. Even in a game where the Chargers forced five turnovers off of Josh Allen and the Bills and registered four sacks, they were unable to capitalize on multiple opportunities to take the lead in the 24-16 defeat. We’ll see how long Harbaugh can go continuing to let McDaniel run the show, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the team decided to make a change if things continue in this direction.
TEN

Guard

#66

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NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports Titans OG Fernando Carmona “will miss a few weeks” after suffering a sprained ankle in Week 3’s loss to the Giants.

Carmona is a rookie fifth-rounder who has started all three games for the Titans this season. He was injured on the first offensive snap of Sunday’s loss to the Giants and did not return; OG Jackson Slater replaced him for the rest of the game, and played 59 snaps while allowing only one pressure, per PFF. Slater is the favorite to take over in Carmona’s absence and should start in Week 4 against the Ravens.

Jefferson (ankle) could play in Week 4 vs. Fins

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Buccaneers placed WR Jalen McMillan (knee) on injured reserve.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said Justin Herbert must “be better.”

Bears declared QB Caleb Williams, OT Ozzy Trapilo, OG Jordan McFadden, DE Jamree Kromah, and DT Jayden Loving inactive for Week 3 against the Eagles.

Eagles declared TE Dallas Goedert, QB Tanner McKee, WR Hollywood Brown, QB Cole Payton, DL A.J. Epenesa, and T Fred Johnson inactive for Week 3 against the Bears.

Rams HC Sean McVay said TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle) will likely miss Week 4 against the Eagles.

Rams HC Sean McVay said he was “hopeful” WR Puka Nacua (groin) will be able to play in Week 4 against the Eagles.

Browns G Teven Jenkins (back) and C Elgton Jenkins (concussion) were listed as “DNP” on Monday’s estimated practice report.

Steelers RB Rico Dowdle (toe) was listed as a “DNP” on Monday’s estimated practice report.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said he doesn’t plan to intervene in the offense if it continues to struggle.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports Titans OG Fernando Carmona “will miss a few weeks” after suffering a sprained ankle in Week 3’s loss to the Giants.

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