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Fantasy football WR injury updates and reports for Week 3 (2024), as of 9/21. Includes updates on Justin Jefferson, Tee Higgins, Jordan Addison, Keenan Allen, and more.
Play fantasy football, they said. It'll be fun, they said. Seeing little red IR, O, D, and Q's next to every player on your bench isn't so fun.
Let's look at the updates for some wide receivers and see whether they may play in Week 3.
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Jordan Addison (MIN) Injury Update
Game Status: OUT
Minnesota's WR2 is dealing with an ankle sprain, his second of the young season (although to different ankles). He was not able to practice at all this week and will miss his second straight game.
#HOUvsMIN injury report
OUT: Jordan Addison, Ivan Pace Jr. and Dallas Turner pic.twitter.com/IRsLcf9dDA
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 20, 2024
Jalen Nailor caught three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown in Addison's absence. He'll start opposite Justin Jefferson but is only ranked as a WR5 against a solid Houston defense.
Keenan Allen (CHI) Injury Update
Game Status: OUT
Originally believed to be a minor issue (according to teammate D.J. Moore), Keenan Allen will now miss his second consecutive game with a heel injury. It's becoming concerning, considering a heel problem ended his 2023 season.
#Bears WR Keenan Allen (heel) has been ruled out for Sunday, while WR Rome Odunze (knee) has no designation and will play.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 20, 2024
His heel has been bothering him since before the regular season began, but he aggravated the injury during Week 1. Allen did not practice all week. The Bears also added "Personal" alongside his heel problem as to why he's missing the game.
A.J. Brown (PHI) Injury Update
Game Status: OUT
As expected, A.J. Brown is missing the second game of the young season. Prior to sitting out of "Monday Night Football", he told ESPN's Lisa Salters that he expects the hamstring injury to keep him out for "a couple of weeks." He did not practice all week and was ruled out on Friday.
Brown's next chance to suit up will be Week 4 against the Buccaneers. Britain Covey and Jahan Dotson will see an increase in snaps in Brown's place.
Greg Dortch (ARI) Injury Update
Game Status: Questionable
Another week, another late-week hamstring injury. Greg Dortch was added to the injury report on Friday with a hamstring issue. Unlike A.J. Brown and Tee Higgins, Dortch did participate in his team's practice, albeit in a limited fashion.
Friday’s injury report for Cardinals-Rams.
WR Greg Dortch shows up as questionable with a hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/IHXxtab1z4
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) September 20, 2024
Dortch draws a great matchup against the Lions' shaky secondary. Check back on his availability on Sunday. The Cardinals and Lions, however, don't kick off until the second window of games. It's safer to sit the Cardinals' slot receiver this week.
Josh Downs (IND) Injury Update
Game Status: No injury designation
The 2024 debut of Josh Downs has arrived! The Colts opted to play it safe with their second-year wideout in Week 2, despite practicing in full last Friday. Downs suffered a high-ankle sprain early in training camp and has been sidelined since.
With a week of full practices under his belt, Downs is cleared for Week 3. He carries no injury designation into the matchup with the Bears.
Downs will be one of the top options in the Indianapolis passing game. Unfortunately, Anthony Richardson is struggling with accuracy. Downs is best as a bench stash for the time being. That could change if Michael Pittman Jr. isn't able to play...
Michael Pittman Jr. (IND) Injury Update
Game Status: Questionable
...And speaking of (usually, the receivers are in alphabetical order, but rules can be broken for article flow), Pittman Jr. was added to the injury report on Friday with back and calf injuries. To make matters worse, he did not practice.
The final practice report for #CHIvsIND. pic.twitter.com/l2weYdpOF9
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 20, 2024
Head coach Shane Steichen told reporters that Pittman should be able to play against the Bears. Still, a Friday DNP is never a good sign, and fantasy managers should check back on Sunday morning. Pittman is ranked as a low-end WR2 after a very slow start to the 2024 season.
Justin Jefferson (MIN) Injury Update
Game Status: No injury designation
Limited, limited, and then full. That's what you love to see if you're a Justin Jefferson fantasy manager. A quad contusion took him out of the game in Week 2, but head coach Kevin O'Connell and Jefferson himself said there was nothing to worry about. They were telling the truth.
Vikings are not listing Justin Jefferson on this week’s injury report for Sundays game vs. the Texans, but Minnesota has ruled out WR Jordan Addison.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 20, 2024
Jefferson will suit up against former LSU teammate and current Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. on Sunday. Jefferson is ranked number two in RotoBaller's Week 3 rankings.
Tee Higgins (CIN) Injury Update
Game Status: Questionable
What a time for Tee Higgins to (possibly) return! The Bengals' WR2 sat out the first two games of the season after injuring his hamstring in one of the practices leading up to Week 1. He claims he will debut on Monday night, despite limited practices on Thursday and Friday.
Tee Higgins leaving little doubt he will return to the high level he was playing in camp when he makes his expected season debut on MNF:
“I’m back. I’m 100 percent.”
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) September 20, 2024
The Washington Commanders are the worst pass defense in football. Higgins has a lengthy history of hamstring issues, but the matchup is too good. Consider him a risky flex play for Week 3, but make sure he's cleared when Sunday games kick-off.
Cooper Kupp (LAR) Injury Update
Game Status: OUT
The belief was that Cooper Kupp would be placed on injured reserve with his ankle injury. Whether due to a massive amount of injuries that the Rams need to manage or the hope that he'll return sooner than four weeks, Kupp avoided the list.
#Rams star WR Cooper Kupp suffered a high-ankle sprain in LA’s loss on Sunday, and he’ll spend the next week or so in a cast helping the swelling calm down, sources said.
The team did not place him on Injured Reserve, as there is still a chance he’s ready within four weeks. pic.twitter.com/ONRAYkI6c2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 19, 2024
Regardless, he's out this week and will likely miss several more games before returning to the Rams' lineup. With Puka Nacua already on injured reserve, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Jordan Whittington, and Tutu Atwell will be the top wide receivers for Matthew Stafford against the 49ers.
Joshua Palmer (LAC) Injury Update
Game Status: Questionable
Joshua Palmer picked up three straight DNPs during the work week with elbow and calf injuries. Surprisingly, he's still listed as questionable. Last week, he also didn't practice on Friday and played on Sunday (to poor results).
full #LACvsPIT game status pic.twitter.com/aJ8BdiWXsZ
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 20, 2024
Palmer hasn't broken out like some anticipated he would. The Chargers aren't throwing the ball enough, and when they do, Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey are earning the targets. Justin Herbert is dealing with a high-ankle sprain. Palmer doesn't need to be rostered in standard-sized leagues right now.
Deebo Samuel Sr. (SF) Injury Update
Game Status: OUT
Already without Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers will have to navigate their early season schedule without Deebo Samuel Sr. and George Kittle as well. The do-it-all wide receiver was diagnosed with a calf strain. Head coach Kyle Shanahan says he will miss a few weeks.
Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will also be inactive until Week 5 at the earliest. Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings will be the primary wide receiver targets for Brock Purdy.
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