Week three of the NFL is fast approaching and many teams are dealing with their top players dealing with injuries. This is a critical week for some teams this year, as this game could make or break their season. All hands on deck are needed, but some players are battling injuries and might not be able to assist their team to victory. Let's take a look at the Big names dealing with injuries around the NFL.
Greg Olsen
The Panthers suffered a big blow to their offense in their past game. Their star tight end Greg Olsen broke his foot during their lackluster win against the Bills.
He said himself that he will miss "a lot of games," but now we have a specific timetable for his return. Olsen had foot surgery and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. The Panthers put Olsen on injured reserve Wednesday, making him unavailable until later in the season. Ed Dickson is the next man up in Carolina and they seem pretty confident in his skills. Cam Newton will miss Olsen. Since Newton came into the league, he has thrown 30 touchdowns to Olsen. That is 11 more than the next man on the list (Ted Ginn Jr.). Olsen has been as consistent as anyone on the Panthers, but this Injury will have him out for a long time.
Jordy Nelson
The Packers are dealing with a number of injured players, but none of them are bigger than Jordy Nelson.
Nelson hurt his quad in the Sunday night loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Nelson didn't return to the game. Aaron Rodgers struggled when Nelson left the game, showing how much of an impact he has on the success of the offense. As of now, Nelson is a "50-50" shot for Sunday's game against the Bengals. Fellow receiver Randall Cobb is also dealing with a shoulder injury suffered against the Falcons.
T.J. Watt
The Steelers are holding their breath to see if T.J. Watt is ready to go in week three against the Bears. Watt is dealing with a groin injury he suffered against the Vikings in the first half. Watt was labeled as questionable to return to that game before he was officially out. Watt has told reporters that he doesn't believe the injury is serious, but we will see how he fares over the next few days during practice.
James Harrison would be the next man up if Watt can't go, so they have a decent backup plan. Watt played great as the starter, making plays in both the running and passing game.
Vic Beasley Jr.
The Falcons' best pass rusher will be missing some time this season. Vic Beasley Jr. suffered a torn hamstring in their win against the Packers Sunday night. Beasley was the sack champion in the NFL last season with 15.5 sacks, so his services will be missed. It was reported on Monday that Beasley would be out at least a month while he rehabs from the tear. The Falcons generated a pass rush without Beasley, so they should be fine.
Other injuries include Rob Gronkowski, who is dealing with an injured groin he suffered against the Saints.
He should be okay to go for week three, but the Pats will be watching him closely at practice. Bears running back Jordan Howard is dealing with a shoulder injury and was seen in a sling leaving Raymond James Stadium. Sam Bradford's status is unknown after not playing in week two due to a knee injury.
