Here are five injuries and injury situations to consider when deciding what NFL games to play:
Baltimore at Jacksonville: There is a Zig-Zag feel to backing the 0-2 Jaguars at home against the 2-0 Ravens, victors against the winless Bills and Browns. Caution is advised, though, and it’s not just because of the huge coaching edge that the Ravens possess. Jacksonville has offensive line problems. Left tackle Kelvin Beachum is out with a concussion. Center Brandon Linder may not play either after he sustained a knee injury during Wednesday’s practice. If Linder can’t go the Jaguars will have new starters at three different offensive line spots with left guard Luke Joeckel moving to left tackle, Chris Reed going to left guard and Tyler Shatley playing center. The Ravens’ pass rush should improve with Terrell Suggs getting healthier and Elvis Dummervil set to make his season debut Sunday.
Cleveland at Miami: Josh McCown and promising wide receiver Corey Coleman dominated the injury news out of Cleveland this week. Now the poor Browns may be without their best defensive player as cornerback Joe Haden is questionable with a groin injury. No other Cleveland defensive back has anywhere near the coverage skills Haden has. Haden is the No. 2 cornerback in the NFL behind only Josh Norman in the opinion of profootballfocus.com.
Oakland at Tennessee: Oakland gives up the most yards and passing yards of any team in the NFL. The Raiders are vulnerable to good tight ends so Pro Bowler Delanie Walker should have a big game for the Titans. There’s just one problem: Walker has a sore right hamstring and missed Friday practice leaving his status up in the air. He figures to be limited if he does play. Marcus Mariota lacks quality receiving weapons. Walker is his first look and security blanket.
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia: Not sure what to make of the Eagles? You’re not alone. The subject here is their secondary. Philadelphia has yet to give up a touchdown pass while allowing only five pass plays of 20 or more yards. That’s impressive until realizing the quarterbacks the Eagles have gone against are Robert Griffith III and Jay Cutler/Brian Hoyer. Now they draw Ben Roethlisberger, who leads the NFL with six touchdown tosses. The Steelers will have their projected No. 2 wide receiver, Markus Wheaton, for the first time this season. The Eagles are down Leodis McKelvin (hamstring), which greatly reduces their cornerback depth. As of Friday afternoon, the Steelers were only 3 1/2-point favorites. I’m not sure the Eagles deserve that much respect. Then again, I had the Bears against the Eagles on Monday night.
San Diego at Indianapolis: Early money has come on the Chargers knocking the opening number down from Colts minus 3 to 2 1/2. The Colts have a cluster injury problem in their secondary although they may get their top cornerback, Vontae Davis, back for this game. The Colts also lost Donte Moncrief, their No. 2 wideout. But Philip Rivers keeps losing weapons. The latest is veteran and still a touchdown machine, tight end Antonio Gates. He’s not likely to play Sunday because of a hamstring injury. The Chargers already have lost Keenan Allen, by far their best wide receiver, and their top receiving running back Danny Woodhead. That leaves Rivers throwing to largely untested Tyrell Williams, rookie tight end Hunter Henry, Dontrelle Inman and Travis Benjamin, who isn’t used to being the No. 1 wide receiver and may not be suited for the role. The 51 1/2 total on the game is by far the highest on the Sunday menu.
