Week 3 may not have dealt the carnage that its predecessor did, but there are a lot of teams reeling even though we aren't even a month into the season.
Quarterbacks are hurt, All-Pros are on the IR, but more importantly, there are some young guys stepping up and filling bigger roles. Here's a quick look at the biggest issues facing every team as we head into Week 4:
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals were already missing Kelvin Beachum on Sunday, but a pair of back injuries to Justin Pugh and Justin Murray left Arizona really thin up front in the second half of their win against the Jaguars. However, fill-ins Max Garcia and Sean Harlow were the Cardinals' highest-graded pass blockers on Pro Football Focus.
Despite Pugh and Murray being considered “day-to-day,” Kliff Kingsbury wouldn't commit to their availability next week.
Atlanta Falcons
A.J. Terrell is still in concussion protocol after missing Week 3. The Falcons picked up their first win of the season with T.J. Green starting opposite Fabian Moreau, but the Giants certainly took advantage of Terrell's absence, targeting Green eight times, completing six passes for 89 yards.
Arthur Smith told reporters that Terrell is still progressing through protocol, so we won't know about his availability until later in the week. The Falcons host Washington in Week 4.
Baltimore Ravens
The reinforcements are on their way for the Ravens' passing offense. Both Rashod Bateman and Miles Boykin are expected to practice this week after starting the season on the IR. While both Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins rank in the top-30 of receivers in yards per route run, Baltimore has just one other wideout with multiple catches through three games.
Defensively, the news isn't as great as the Ravens had to play the Lions without the services of seven different starters, including four guys who are currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Only Jaylen Ferguson is known to have tested positive, so the rest of the group could be back in Week 4 if they remain asymptomatic and test negative.
Buffalo Bills
Jordan Poyer grabbed an interception on Sunday, but left the game early after suffering an ankle injury. He is considered “day-to-day” according to Sean McDermott. Jaquan Johnson filled in for Poyer on the final four snaps of the game.
Poyer has been among the best safeties in football since arriving in Buffalo, racking up 14 interceptions since 2017. If Johnson has to start for Poyer on Sunday, it will be his first extended look on defense since joining the Bills as a rookie in 2019.
Carolina Panthers
There is some good news in Carolina as Matt Rhule told reporters that Christian McCaffrey is not going on the IR. Hopefully that means he is expected to only miss a game or two with his hamstring injury. Chuba Hubbard will start for the Panthers after rushing for 46 yards on his final six carries against Houston. The rookie struggled to find his footing before that, rushing for 16 yards on his first 13 NFL carries.
Defensively, the Panthers will place rookie Jaycee Horn on the IR after he broke his foot on Thursday night. Carolina made a move on Monday, acquiring C.J. Henderson in a trade with the Jaguars. Henderson struggled as a rookie and was inactive last week due to a groin injury.
The Panthers' defense will face their toughest test of the season next week when they play the Dallas Cowboys.
Chicago Bears
The biggest news in Chicago revolves around the quarterback position as Andy Dalton is still considered “week-to-week” with his knee injury and Justin Fields is dealing with a hand injury after his abysmal start against Cleveland.
Things only got murkier on Monday when Matt Nagy announced a three-way competition for the starting quarterback job for next week. With Nick Foles and Fields being the only two guys who will actually practice this week, it seems like Fields will at least get one more shot in Week 4, provided his hand is feeling alright.
Cincinnati Bengals
Jackson Carman will stay at right guard, according to Zac Taylor. The rookie from Clemson impressed the coaching staff enough to be named the starter despite Xavier Su'a-Filo being listed as “day-to-day,”
Elsewhere on offense, Tee Higgins will be evaluated on Tuesday after being inactive on Sunday with a shoulder injury. Higgins was considered a non-participant on the Bengals Monday injury report and his status for Thursday night is firmly questionable.
In his absence, Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd each caught four passes and combined for three touchdowns.
Cleveland Browns
Rookie cornerback Greg Newsome injured his calf on Sunday and will undergo testing to evaluate the severity. Newsome's injury could open the door for Greedy Williams, who has played just 16 defensive snaps this season.
It's been a steep fall from grace for Williams, who started 12 games as a rookie in 2019 after being drafted in the second round. A nagging injury kept him out of the entire 2020 season and when he finally returned in 2021, Newsome was occupying his spot.
Despite his limited playing time, Williams has already been targeted four times in 2021, allowing one catch for 19 yards.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys didn't suffer any new injuries on Monday Night Football.
Denver Broncos
Slot receiver K.J. Hamler was lost for the year on Sunday to a torn ACL. It's a tough break for the Broncos, who also have Jerry Jeudy stashed on the IR with a high-ankle sprain.
Diontae Spencer is expected to be the new slot receiver, flanked by Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick on the outside. Most of Spencer's NFL experience has come on special teams, he has just 10 career catches for 54 yards in three seasons.
Detroit Lions
The Lions didn't suffer any new injuries in their heart-breaking loss to the Ravens.
Green Bay Packers
Marquez Valdes-Scantling suffered a hamstring injury late on Sunday night, but we won't know more until he gets tested later this week.
The Packers were down to their third-string option at left tackle on Sunday night and Yosh Nijman delivered, not allowing a pressure on 38 pass-blocking snaps.
Houston Texans
Safety Justin Reid was inactive during the Texans' Thursday night loss, but he was participating in practice on Monday. Despite this development, the Texans' aren't necessarily confident his knee is healthy enough to return to the lineup.
Lonnie Johnson Jr. started at safety for Reid last week and was targeted once in pass coverage, and notching a PBU.
Indianapolis Colts
Quenton Nelson seemed to suffer a devastating injury on Sunday, but Frank Reich told reporters the All-Pro guard is only considered “day-to-day” with a sprained ankle.
Nelson has had a rough go of it in 2021, spending time on the reserve/COVID-19 list and undergoing foot surgery during training. Despite all this adversity, he is playing some of his best football, blocking on 101 dropbacks without allowing a pressure.
Chris Reed will start at left guard if Nelson is inactive on Sunday. He started 14 games for the Panthers in 2020.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have a quick turnaround before their Thursday night clash with the Bengals. However, it seems like they will have Tre Herndon available for that game after he was a full participant in practice for the first time all season.
Herndon has been nursing a knee injury since the end of the preseason and his return could be huge for a pass defense that ranks 31st in the NFL in net yards allowed per attempt.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs had to finish the game with Rashad Fenton sidelined due to a concussion. He will have to spend the week in concussion protocol before he can be eligible to return.
In other news, head coach Andy Reid was sent to the hospital after feeling sick following the game. However, he has been released and will be able to resume his coaching duties this week.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders could be getting some reinforcements in their backfield as Jalen Richard is expected to start practicing this week. The running back has spent the entire season on the IR, but is eligible to return this week.
The Raiders rushing attack has been among the worst in football, averaging 3.4 yards per carry this season.
Los Angeles Chargers
A scary moment for Chargers fans as Justin Herbert left the stadium with his throwing hand wrapped in ice on Sunday. However, it seems the move was strictly precautionary after Herbert hit it on a helmet late in the game.
It would be a shock if he were to miss any time. At worst, he might be limited in practice early this week.
Los Angeles Rams
Linebacker Justin Hollins is expected to miss 8-10 weeks after undergoing surgery to fix a torn pectoral muscle. Hollins had two sacks for the Rams in the first two weeks of the season and there isn't necessarily an adequate replacement on the roster.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo could be an option, but he is on the IR, eligible to return this week. Terrell Lewis could do it, but he has a nagging knee issue and may not be able to hold up to an increased workload.
Even Chris Garrett could replace Hollins, but he just spent three weeks away from the team while on the reserve/COVID-19 list. A rotation built around the trio to keep them all healthy seems like the play here.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins didn't suffer any new injuries on Sunday.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings won on Sunday despite not having the services of Dalvin Cook. In his spot, Alexander Mattison shined, rushing for 112 yards and catching six passes for 59 yards.
Cook was listed as “questionable” on Sunday despite not participating in practice last week. We will see if he can maybe increase his workload during the week and be ready to go against Cleveland next week.
New England Patriots
N'Keal Harry is eligible to return from the IR this week and Bill Belichick said it is possible the former first-round pick suits up for the Pats.
One guy who won't be playing Tom Brady on Sunday night is James White. The running back suffered a hip subluxation and is out indefinitely. Branden Bolden should get more touches spelling Damien Harris in the pass game.
The Patriots also need to get Trent Brown (calf) back soon. Replacement right tackle Justin Herron struggled again on Sunday, allowing six quarterback pressures.
New Orleans Saints
Terron Armstead will miss several weeks due to an elbow injury. James Hurst replaced Armstead for most of the afternoon, and allowed a sack. The Saints also have rookie sixth-round pick Landon Young if they'd rather go younger at the position.
Young has just three snaps of NFL experience, but with Armstead expected to hit free agency at the end of the season, Sean Payton may want to see if the rookie can cut it and give the team a cheap, long-term replacement.
New York Giants
Middle linebacker Blake Martinez tore his ACL on Sunday and will miss the rest of the season. Second-year vet Tae Crowder is expected to take over the defensive signal-calling duties starting next week.
Things don't get much easier for the winless Giants, their next four opponents have a combined record of 10-2.
New York Jets
Elijah Moore is currently in concussion protocol and Jamison Crowder is dealing with a groin issue, so Week 4 may be Denzel Mims time.
Mims caught a 40-yard pass in Week 1, but has been inactive in each of the last two weeks. Robert Saleh told reporters on Monday that Mims will have a role in the offense against the Titans this week, so we will see if the 2020 second-round pick can produce after playing just three snaps in the first three weeks.
Philadelphia Eagles
Already down two starting offensive linemen, (Jordan Mailata and Brandon Brooks), the Eagles' o-line took another hit on Monday night when left guard Isaac Seumalo was carted off the field with a foot injury.
Nate Herbig replaced Seumalo and will be the long-term replacement if he is forced to miss time. The 334-pounder spent a lot of time at right guard last year, allowing just two sacks in 596 pass-blocking snaps.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers played on Sunday without the services of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Missing their top two edge rushers, the Steelers pass rush really struggled against the Bengals, managing to pressure Joe Burrow only three times in the loss.
In fact, the lackluster performance ended a streak of 75-straight games with a sack for the Steelers franchise.
Offensively, JuJu Smith-Schuster is “day-to-day” after x-rays were negative on his rib injury.
San Francisco 49ers
Despite spending the night in the hospital, Josh Norman's chest injury is considered “not serious.” Norman has played well since joining the 49ers, he earned the team's top coverage grade on PFF against Green Bay.
Rookie Deommodore Lenoir came in for Norman after starting the first two weeks of the season. With Emmanuel Moseley healthy for the first time this season, San Francisco has some depth if Norman misses Week 4.
Seattle Seahawks
Rookie receiver Dee Eskridge had three touches in the season opener, but has been inactive the last two weeks after suffering a concussion. Pete Carroll sounded optimistic Eskridge could be available in Week 4.
However, the head coach wouldn't commit to the availability of Brandon Shell (ankle) or Rashaad Penny (calf). We will have to monitor the practice reports later this week to understand where they are in their recovery.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs got good news on Monday after Rob Gronkowski's x-rays came back negative. He is expected to play in New England on Sunday despite the bruised ribs.
The news wasn't so great for Scotty Miller, who is headed to the IR with a “pretty severe” case of turf toe. Hopefully, the loss of Miller can be mitigated by the return of Antonio Brown, but he currently resides on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans will be without A.J. Brown for a while. He is considered week-to-week after injuring his hamstring on Sunday.
Julio Jones could make up for the loss of Brown, but he has been pretty limited so far as a Titan. Jones played just 50 percent of the Titans' offensive snaps in Week 3 and was targeted just four times.
Chester Rogers did catch a touchdown on Sunday and will get more snaps, along with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, with Brown sidelined.
Washington Football Team
Washington managed to stay healthy during their loss to the Bills on Sunday.