Injuries in the NFL 2024 Season You Need to Know About
Professional football is a physical game, and every player who straps on a helmet and steps out onto the field knows that there’s a risk of injury. Every year, some teams go into the season with a loaded roster, at least on paper, only to see injuries decimate them, throwing things into chaos.
We’re three weeks into the 2024 NFL season, and as usual, injuries have already changed the outlook for several teams.
Whether you’re a fantasy football junkie who needs to know what the prognosis is for a few of the guys on your roster, or you just like keeping up with how different rosters are looking early in the season, knowing more about some of the most notable NFL injuries is a great place to start.
Christian McCaffery
San Francisco 49ers: Running Back
In 2023, Christian McCaffery was the AP Offensive Player of the Year, after a season in which he helped get the 49ers to another Super Bowl.
Unfortunately for San Francisco, McCaffery came into the NFL 2024 season a bit banged up, dealing with a bout of Achilles tendonitis. After week one, the 49ers put McCaffery on injured reserve, meaning he would miss at least four games.
Following the team’s week three loss to the LA Rams, the team announced that McCaffery would be seeing a specialist in Germany. It’s unclear what this means for McCaffery’s 2024 season, and since he’s 28, an age at which many running backs run out of steam, some insiders are concerned about the future.
George Kittle
San Francisco 49ers: Tight End
McCaffery isn’t the only playmaker for the 49ers dealing with injuries, as George Kittle missed the week three contest against the Rams due to a hamstring issue.
Kittle suffered the injury during the team’s week two game and was ruled out for week three later in the week. There is some optimism about Kittle’s chance to return by week four, as the team announced that he would return to practice in the week leading up to the game.
Puka Nacua
Los Angeles Rams: Wide Receiver
The Rams’ wide receiver room took another blow when Puka Nacua, who took the league by storm in 2023, went down with a scary knee injury during the team’s week two matchup with the Detroit Lions. The team immediately put him on injured reserve, meaning he would miss a minimum of four games.
However, after the team’s week three game against the 49ers, during which the Rams came back and won, the team announced that Nacua may be out until week nine.
With Kupp and Nacua both out, the Rams' offense must rely on some receivers who are generally considered to be role players but it worked out in week three.
Cooper Kupp
Los Angeles Rams: Wide Receiver
Near the end of the second quarter of the Rams’ week two game against the Arizona Cardinals, Cooper Kupp left the game. He was later seen leaving the stadium in a walking boot, and word came down that he had suffered a sprained PCL.
There was some speculation that Kupp would end up on IR, requiring him to miss four games, but the Rams never added him to the list. He missed week three and has already been ruled out for week four, so the Rams may expect him back by week five, but that remains to be seen.
Sam LaPorta
Detroit Lions: Tight End
Last season, Sam LaPorta established himself as the best rookie tight end from his draft class and quickly emerged as one of the bright young stars in the league.
On September 23, following Detroit’s game against the Cardinals that LaPorta left early, the team announced that he had suffered a low ankle sprain.
This is better news than a high ankle sprain that usually involves players missing four or more games, but it’s still a concern for the Lions. LaPorta is expected to see a doctor before week four and may miss one or two games with the injury.
Justin Herbert
Los Angeles Chargers: Quarterback
Justin Herbert went into the Chargers’ week three contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers with an injury designation because of a sprained ankle. Near the end of the third quarter, he reaggravated the ankle and was pulled from the game.
After the game, which the Chargers lost, head coach Jim Harbaugh announced that his start QB would probably miss the week four contest. X-rays on Monday came back negative which is good news, but it’s safe to assume that Herbert is going to miss at least a game, and maybe more.
Tua Tagovailoa
Miami Dolphins: Quarterback
The football world held its breath when Tua Tagovailoa hit the ground during the team’s week two matchup with the Buffalo Bills and appeared to immediately lose control of his extremities.
To make things scarier, it was the second time in three seasons that Tua displayed the same symptoms. On September 17, the team put Tua on the injured reserve list, ruling him out for at least four games, but there are rumblings of him missing more action than that.
With the new information about head injuries that continues to come out, some are calling for Tagovailoa to hang it up for good before risking any further damage.
Devonta Smith
Philadelphia Eagles: Wide Receiver
Devonta Smith found himself in concussion protocol during the Eagles’ week three game and was pulled from the game after failing to clear the on-site neurological tests. He will undergo further testing before the Eagles take on the Bucs in week four.
The team has not ruled Smith out for their next game, but he'll have to clear the league's concussion protocol to play.