A telltale sign the National Football League (NFL) has begun its season: top players find themselves on the injury report. Several high-profile wide receivers are injured after the first week of play. Who are they and how will this affect their teams’ approach to next week and beyond?
Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers
Las Vegas’ two best wide receivers are injured. Davante Adams has a foot injury while Jakobi Meyers remains in concussion protocol after a scary hit he sustained against Denver. Both players did not practice, per Ari Meirov.
While it would not be surprising if Meyers did not play, Adams sitting out would be a critical loss. If both he and Meyers sit out, Hunter Renfrow becomes the top wide receiver. While Renfrow is highly talented as a receiver, he usually works best out of the slot. If both Adams and Meyers cannot go Sunday, expect Josh Jacobs to get an unhealthy amount of carries for a team that will need as much help as it can get.
Jaylen Waddle
Per Ari Meirov, Jaylen Waddle was limited in practice with an oblique injury. The limited designation is encouraging, but Waddle on the injured list is still worth keeping an eye on. Waddle is one half of the most dynamic wide receiver duo in the league.
Were Waddle to somehow sit out, Tyreek Hill‘s already big workload would increase. Cedrick Wilson would potentially slot in as the second receiver while the eternally underrated Braxton Berrios sees more targets from the slot.
Brandin Cooks
The newest member of Dallas’ starting wideout core finds himself dealing with a knee injury, per Ian Rapoport. Cooks made two catches for 22 yards in a game in which Dallas did not need to go to the air often. Cooks finds himself in an already strong wide receiver room with CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Kavontae Turpin.
While the Cowboys and Cooks are both confident he will be back on the field soon, how will Dallas handle things taking a turn for the worse? CeeDee Lamb will likely get more reps than the four targets he got in East Rutherford but has to deal with reigning defensive rookie of the year Sauce Gardner. Cooks will likely be ready for Sunday, though, but his action may be limited.
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