The injury report is the story: battered contenders lean on depth as Week 7 arrives
The Rams lost three starters in one afternoon, the Ravens may be without their MVP, and the Browns are 4-2 anyway. Welcome to Week 7.
- The Rams suffered significant injuries to Puna Ford, Kobe Turner and kicker Blake in the loss to the Cardinals; Devante is expected to miss six to ten weeks, while Alaric Jackson returns from suspension this week. m:…3793
- Lamar Jackson is day-to-day and has made progress in his recovery; the Ravens also have Rashad Bateman dealing with a recurring shoulder injury and Trey Hendrickson managing a post-surgery finger injury. Baltimore lost to Cleveland 13-10. m:…7884
- Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton returned after a three-month absence caused by blood clots, playing 79 snaps in the win over the Eagles. He has played more than 8,000 snaps in his NFL career. m:…3621
- The Browns' defense held the Ravens scoreless in the second half, allowing a season-low 235 total net yards. Cleveland is 4-2 and sits atop the AFC North. m:…0318
The Rams lose a wall of starters
Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals cost the Rams three significant pieces in a single afternoon. Puna Ford and Kobe Turner suffered injuries during the game and will be unavailable, and Devante is expected to miss six to ten weeks. The Rams also lost kicker Blake, forcing fourth-down decisions the coaching staff tied directly to the kicking situation. m:…3793
The Rams are absorbing the losses as they reset for the coming week. Puna Ford, Kobe Turner and kicker Blake were the significant casualties in the loss to the Cardinals. The one positive on the ledger: offensive lineman Alaric Jackson returns to the team this week following a suspension. m:…3793
Miles will not play in the upcoming game, and Trent's status is being evaluated as the week progresses. McVay's stated focus is eliminating self-inflicted errors: the Rams went for it on fourth down because of the kicking situation, and pre-snap issues continue to be a theme. m:…3793
The Ravens limp into a tougher stretch
Baltimore's 13-10 loss to Cleveland left the Ravens at 4-2 and, more importantly, with their franchise quarterback's status unresolved. Lamar Jackson is day-to-day and has made progress in his recovery, per the Ravens' report. m:…7884
The casualty list extends beyond the quarterback. Rashad Bateman is dealing with a recurring shoulder injury that caused him to leave the recent game, and Trey Hendrickson is managing a finger injury that required surgery and is still being monitored. The offensive line is also banged up, with Andrew Voorhees dealing with a foot injury and Emory Jones with a knee injury. m:…7884
Baltimore's plan for survival leans on the next men up. Jacoby Lane is back on the field and considered a viable option to step into a major role if Bateman misses time, catching four passes, all for first downs, against Cleveland. The coaching staff intends to increase Lake Green's snap count and explore rotating Green and Hendrickson on the field together. m:…7884
The timing is poor. Baltimore's upcoming three-game stretch features the Bengals, Bills and Jaguars, a run the Ravens' podcast recap described as collectively tougher on paper than the first six games. With Lamar Jackson day-to-day and still progressing in his recovery, the margin for error narrows further. m:…7884
Moton's medical comeback
Carolina got its best news in months on the medical front. Right tackle Taylor Moton was sidelined for three months by a diagnosis of blood clots, then returned to the lineup and played 79 snaps in the Panthers' win over the Eagles. His return was immediate: coach Dave Canales noted that Moton and right guard Robert Hunt performed together as if they had been working together the whole time. m:…3621
Moton has played more than 8,000 snaps of NFL football in his career, and the Panthers are putting that experience to work. He was back in the lineup against the Eagles, playing 79 snaps after three months sidelined by a blood-clot diagnosis. Rookie offensive lineman Monroe Freeling is learning from Moton's preparation habits, and the team is considering using Freeling as a swing tackle now that Moton is back. m:…3621
Cleveland wins on depth
The team benefiting most from October's attrition is the one managing it best. The Browns beat the Ravens 13-10 in Week 6, holding Baltimore scoreless in the second half. The defense gave up a season-low 235 total net yards, and Cleveland sits atop the AFC North at 4-2. m:…0318
Depth did the damage. Audric Estimé scored the game-tying touchdown on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren played a season-high 94.7 percent of defensive snaps. The Browns have now recorded a turnover in the fourth quarter in four consecutive games, and they sit atop the AFC North at 4-2. m:…0318
Cleveland's Week 6 is the proof of concept for a roster built on depth. The offense still needs work, having managed just 46 net yards in the first half, but the defense and the depth chart are carrying the division lead. m:…0318
What is still unresolved
- Whether Lamar Jackson practices and plays in Week 7 after being described as day-to-day with progress made.
- How the Rams replace the interior defensive production of Puna Ford and Kobe Turner against upcoming opponents.
- Whether Bateman's recurring shoulder injury and Hendrickson's post-surgery finger hold them out or limit them in the Bengals game.
- Whether the Browns' defensive formula holds when their own injury list grows, and whether the first-half offense improves.
- The status of Miles and Trent for the Rams' next game, after Miles was ruled out and Trent was listed as still being evaluated.
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