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Turning the NFL Week 2 Injury Report Into A Longshot Parlay

by Nick Galaida (nickgalaida) Last Updated 2024-09-15 02:08:04

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This weekend, Week 2 of the NFL regular season features 14 Sunday games, beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET. Though we are only heading into the second week of games, the injuries around the league are already beginning to pile up. Jordan Love and Russell Wilson have already suffered injuries and forced their respective teams to consider backup quarterback options. As of this writing, wide receivers Tee Higgins, Keenan Allen, and Jameson Williams are all questionable for Week 2 – not to mention the laundry list of defensive players that find themselves on this week’s injury report.

New at RotoGrinders this year, we will be doing a complete Sunday slate injury breakdown, including news, analysis, and potential betting angles for each game. Some of the largest edges in NFL betting are a result of key players being sidelined due to injury – and a lot of those key injuries are on the defensive side of the ball or the offensive line, which are two overlooked areas of research for most NFL fans and bettors.

At the bottom of this article, we will have a weekly longshot parlay to see if we can take this injury information and turn it into a nice payday. This week’s 14-leg parlay comes to +2595.

Below, we have relevant injury news and analysis for each Week 2 Sunday NFL game!

NFL Week 2 Injury Report

As a disclaimer, inactive reports come out 90 minutes prior to kickoff for each NFL game, so we often don’t know a player’s final status until shortly before the game begins. This article is accurate as of Saturday afternoon. If looking for any last-minute injury updates or analysis, make sure to join the RotoGrinders discord and follow @CommishFilmRoom on Twitter.

New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Saints’ injury report is not in good shape heading into the weekend. Their prized rookie left tackle, who didn’t allow a single pressure in pass protection in Week 1, is officially questionable after not practicing on Thursday or Friday. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is unlikely to play, which leaves the team’s secondary unit dangerously thin on talent going into a matchup against one of the league’s better aerial attacks. Defensive tackle Khalen Saunders will miss his second consecutive game as well. He finished 2023 ranked 7th on the Saints in tackles and was a league-average run defender.

Dallas has a couple of notable names on injured reserve in EDGE Sam Williams and CB DaRon Bland, but they are otherwise in pretty good shape heading into Week 2. Tight end Jake Ferguson seems unlikely to suit up, but this group has other pass catchers that should be able to make up for his absence. If nothing else, CeeDee Lamb is likely capable of carving up this New Orleans secondary unit by himself.

Saints

Cowboys

LEAN: CeeDee Lamb OVER 6.5 Receptions (-160)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions

Tampa Bay has a difficult task going into the Motor City with a number of key players on the mend. Starting RT Luke Goedeke has already been ruled out for this weekend. The Buccaneers will also be without one of the league’s premier safeties in Antoine Winfield. Safety Tykee Smith and CB Zyon McCollum are also banged up, which is far from ideal when playing a dangerous Detroit passing attack in their home building.

Detroit will be without safety Ifeatu Melifonwu for the second consecutive week, but their defense held up reasonably well in their season opener against a Rams passing attack that is arguably better than what Baker Mayfield and company have to offer. The Lions have other notable names listed as questionable, but none of them seem to be seriously at risk of not playing this weekend.

Buccaneers

Lions

LEAN: Over 51 (-110)

Indianapolis Colts vs. Green Bay Packers

The Jordan Love injury and surprising questionable tag is getting all of the headlines heading into this matchup, but the laundry list of Indianapolis defensive players listed as questionable or out is arguably just as noteworthy.

The Colts placed starting CB Julius Brents on injured reserve earlier this week, joining EDGE Samson Ebukam on that list. That’s a pair of defensive starters on injured reserve, with starting safety Julian Blackmon also ruled out for Week 2. DT DeForest Buckner is a game time decision, and EDGE Kwity Paye didn’t practice until Friday this week due to a hamstring injury. When the dust settles, the Colts are at real risk of being down 5 defensive starters this weekend.

Love likely won’t suit up this weekend, which is a massive blow for the Packers, but they have to feel lucky that it’s not a season ending injury after how things looked last Friday in Brazil. RB MarShawn Lloyd could make his NFL debut, but he will be on a limited snap count, even if he does play. WR Jayden Reed was a late addition to the team’s injury report this week with a new calf/shin injury that is worth monitoring ahead of kickoff.

Colts

Packers

LEAN: Josh Jacobs OVER 62.5 Rushing Yards (-112)

New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans

The big name to watch ahead of kickoff in this matchup is DJ Reed, who is one of the best cornerbacks in the entire NFL. If he’s unable to go, it could make life a little bit easier on Will Levis and company through the air.

Jets

Titans

LEAN: Titans +4 (-110)

San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco will be without star running back Christian McCaffrey for the second consecutive week, but they appear to be in good hands with Jordan Mason in the backfield, who had 28 carries for 147 rushing yards in Week 1. Expect Deebo Samuel to continue to get some rushing attempts as well. The larger issues for the 49ers continue to be on defense, where they will be without a pair of starting members of their secondary unit, with Talanoa Hufanga doubtful and Ambry Thomas on injured reserve.

Minnesota’s most notable injuries are all on the offensive side of the ball. Their offensive line was already down starting LG Dalton Risner heading into Week 1, and now starting RT Brian O’Neill is listed as questionable. WR Jordan Addison has been ruled out for Sunday, leaving them with Justin Jefferson and not much else in the way of pass catchers heading into this weekend. Their lone defensive injury is Harrison Smith, who played 67 snaps in Week 1, but he did log a limited practice on Friday, which bodes well for his chances of playing on Sunday.

49ers

Vikings

LEAN: Justin Jefferson OVER 6.5 Receptions (-113)

Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots

There is probably no Week 2 matchup more impacted by the injury report than this contest between the Seahawks and Patriots. Seattle will be down their starting running back and potentially 3 defensive starters. Nwosu is a significant loss for this defense. He was 7th in the NFL with 46 pressures in 2022 and had 2 sacks in his first 6 games in 2023 before suffering a pec injury. Seattle’s defense ranked 13th in EPA/play and 17th in success rate through 6 weeks with a healthy Nwosu last year compared to 32nd in EPA/play and 31st in success rate from Week 8 to Week 18. This will be Nwosu’s second consecutive missed game to begin 2024. Linebackers Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson both had 5+ tackles and played 68+ snaps in the team’s Week 1 victory over the Broncos.

New England continues to be ravaged by injuries everywhere that a team doesn’t want to be ravaged by injuries. After already being without starting LG Sidy Sow in the team’s season opener, they could be without starting RG Layden Robinson on Sunday. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore remains on injured reserve and is one of New England’s best pass rushers and run defenders when healthy. No team wants to be promoting practice squad players to protect their quarterback, especially this early in the season. The defensive injuries only further the cause for concern in Foxborough.

Seahawks

Patriots

LEAN: Seahawks -3 (-118), DraftKings

New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders

LB Darius Muasau played 45 defensive snaps in Week 1 and led the Giants with 6 tackles and a pass defensed. He is a notable loss for this defense. CB Nick McCloud isn’t a significant loss for New York, but he did play 21 snaps last weekend against the Vikings, and New York isn’t really in a position to be sacrificing any bodies in their secondary unit, which is already dangerously thin on NFL-level talent.

The Commanders will be without CB Emmanuel Forbes in Week 2, but that might not be the worst thing. Forbes was repeatedly torched in Week 1 against Tampa Bay, finishing the week ranked 86th out of 86 players at his position in PFF coverage grade.

Giants

Commanders

LEAN: Jayden Daniels OVER 50.5 Rushing Yards (-110)

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Carolina Panthers

The Chargers came away with a comfortable win in Week 1, but their defense is limping heading into Week 2. EDGE Joey Bosa is one of the better defenders in the entire NFL – he finished the team’s season opener with a team-high 7 tackles, including a sack and a pair of quarterback hits. CB Ja’Sir Taylor and S Alohi Gilman are two integral components of this group’s secondary unit. If either player is unable to suit up, it will likely be felt acutely.

Carolina lost arguably their best defensive player to injured reserve earlier this week. DL Derrick Brown set an NFL single-season record in 2023 for most tackles by a defensive lineman (103). He played in 89.1% of Carolina’s defensive snaps, making this a substantial loss for a team that is already not off to a great start this fall. Both LG Damien Lewis and RT Taylor Moton are expected to play on Sunday.

Chargers

Panthers

LEAN: Under 39.5 (-115)

Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Browns are already suffering from a number of injuries to key players only two weeks into the new campaign. RB Nick Chubb is the most recognizable name for fantasy football owners, but Cleveland played Week 1 without both of their starting offensive tackles as well. Jack Conklin is questionable for this weekend, but Jedrick Wills has been ruled out once again. Cleveland will also be without starting tight end David Njoku on Sunday in Jacksonville. On the defensive side of the ball, they lost DT Maurice Hurst and S Juan Thornhill to injured reserve earlier this week. Hurst played 25 snaps in Week 1, totaling 3 tackles including a tackle for a loss. He finished 13th out of 130 players at his position last year in PFF grading. This is a notable loss for the team’s defense. Thornhill is one of the best safeties in the NFL and was excellent again in Week 1 for the Browns. He played 60 snaps, finishing with a team-high 9 tackles. He ranked 12th out 68 safeties last weekend in PFF coverage grade and 7th as a run defender. This is a big loss for Cleveland.

Jacksonville isn’t without their bruises either. Earlier this week, they placed their top cornerback, Tyson Campbell, on injured reserve. They will also be without S Darnell Savage this weekend, leaving this secondary unit dangerously thin on talent. The Jaguars are used to playing a lot of man coverage, but it remains to be seen if they have the personnel to execute their game plan with Campbell and Savage on the sidelines.

Browns

Jaguars

LEAN: Deshaun Watson OVER 211.5 Passing Yards (-113)

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Baltimore Ravens

Las Vegas didn’t play well defensively in their season opener, and it looks as though they could struggle again in Week 2. Decamerion Richardson is out yet again, as is one of their top pass rushers, DE Malcolm Koonce.

Baltimore is in relatively good shape heading into the weekend. EDGE Kyle Van Noy is listed as questionable with an eye injury, but his ability to practice in a limited capacity on Friday bodes well for his chances of playing on Sunday. CB Nate Wiggins was a 1st round draft pick this past summer, but the Ravens still have plenty of talent in their secondary unit, even with Wiggins unavailable.

Raiders

Ravens

LEAN: Lamar Jackson UNDER 29.5 Pass Attempts (-129)

Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals

If there was an award for most injured team each week, the Rams would be unanimous winners in Week 2. Entering play on Sunday, they project to be without their starting LT, starting LG, backup LT, starting WR, and starting CB. They also have their starting RG, another starting CB, and one of their starting S listed as questionable. Simply, there is a lot of talent that will be unavailable for the Rams this weekend in a big divisional contest.

The Cardinals aren’t completely injury free ahead of kickoff on Sunday, but all of their notable missing pieces have been missing since the preseason. And from that list, only BJ Ojulari is a true impact player for this group. Arizona is unquestionably in a better spot from a health perspective going into this matchup.

Rams

Cardinals

LEAN: Cardinals ML (-105)

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos

Russell Wilson was Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback heading into Week 1, but a calf injury forced Justin Fields into action against Atlanta to begin the year, and it appears likely that Fields will draw another start in Week 2 against the Broncos. Fields could have WR Roman Wilson back on the field this weekend, who was a 3rd round draft pick by the Steelers this past summer. The largest concern for Pittsburgh this Sunday is the continued absence of LG Isaac Seumalo, who was one of the better starting offensive lineman in the league in 2023.

Denver’s only notable absence this weekend is rookie WR Devaughn Vele. In Week 1, Vele became only the 6th WR since 2000 to record 8+ receptions in his NFL debut. Expect a bigger role for Denver’s other pass catchers on Sunday in his absence.

Steelers

Broncos

LEAN: Steelers -2.5 (-120)

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Both of these teams are relatively healthy through the first two weeks of the season. WR Tee Higgins is a notable loss for the Bengals, but they have talent and depth capable of making his absence a relative non-issue. Andrei Iosivas is the most likely player to see an expanded target share in Higgins’ absence.

Earlier this week, Kansas City placed WR Hollywood Brown on injured reserve. Expect Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson to continue seeing an expanded role in the offense with Brown on the mend.

Bengals

Chiefs

LEAN: Rashee Rice OVER 67.5 Receiving Yards (-110)

Chicago Bears vs. Houston Texans

RG Ryan Bates played 38 snaps at right guard in Week 1 before getting hurt. He didn’t allow a single pressure on 22 pass blocking snaps. Nate Davis is likely to start at RG in Week 2 — he had a 7.7% pressure rate allowed in Week 1 and a 7.6% pressure rate allowed in a larger sample size in 2023. Chicago could also be without two of their top-three wide receivers, with both Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze listed as questionable on the final injury report of the week. DJ Moore is likely to see a larger share of the team’s targets if Allen and Odunze are both out.

Houston’s biggest injury concerns continue to be on the defensive side of the ball, with LB Christian Harris and DT Kurt Hinish on injured reserve. Harris finished 2023 with the 2nd most tackles of any Texans defender, adding 2 sacks and 7 passes defensed. He wasn’t a strong run defender, but he ranked 21st out of 77 players at his position in coverage. His absence could make Houston more vulnerable in the middle of the field through the air. The only other notable name on Houston’s injury report this week is C Juice Scruggs. Scruggs would be a notable absence, but backup C Jarrett Patterson is a respectable alternative if needed.

Bears

Texans

LEAN: DJ Moore OVER 5.5 Receptions (+105)

NFL Week 2 – Longshot Injury Report 14-Leg Parlay

Odds = +2595 (DraftKings)

Image Credit: Getty Images

About the Author

nickgalaida
Nick Galaida (nickgalaida)

A failed high school pitcher, Nick Galaida discovered that he has a higher aptitude for analyzing and writing about sports than he does playing them. To his friends, he is better known as “The Commish.” When he’s not organizing a fantasy league, placing a bet, or writing an article, he’s probably nose-deep in a book—further illustrating the point that his niche in this world is as a nerd rather than an athlete. Follow Nick on Twitter – @CommishFilmRoom