NFL injury tracker Week 2: Christian McCaffrey out, Russell Wilson questionable, Tee Higgins doubtful

Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season got underway Thursday night with the Buffalo Bills taking care of the Miami Dolphins, 31-10.

But there was plenty of concern afterward for Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered a concussion following a collision with Bills safety Damar Hamlin.

“I’m just worried about the human being,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. “I was just worried about my guy. It’s not something you ever want to be a part of. You hope not to.”

“He is a great football player but he is an even greater human being,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said on the Amazon Prime postgame show. “He’s one of the best human beings on the planet. I’ve got a lot of love for him, praying for him and his family, hoping everything’s OK.

“It’s tough, man. This game of football that we play, it’s got its highs and it’s got its lows — and that’s definitely one of its lows.”

Hamlin, who had his own serious medical incident during a game, posted a message on social media afterward sending his “love and prayers” to Tagovailoa

49ers pondering IR stint for McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey will be out for the 49ers’ Week 2 game against the Vikings and potentially longer.

The Niners ruled out the Pro Bowl running back Friday, with Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan telling reporters the team is considering an injured reserve stint due to his calf/Achilles injury:

An IR stint would keep McCaffrey out until at least Week 6.

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is set to undergo surgery to repair a dislocated sternoclavicular joint in his shoulder and will be placed on injured reserve by the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 27-year-old wide receiver did not play during the Chiefs’ Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens and has been out since suffering the injury during the team’s first preseason game in August. Earlier this month he was given a 4-6 week recovery timetable, but after further evaluation it was determined that surgery would be the best next step as the shoulder was not healing properly.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins says he’s not faking injury

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins did not play Week 1 due to a hamstring injury that’s hampered him. Some fans, however, believed his absence during their loss to the New England Patriots was tied to his displeasure about his contract status.

That couldn’t be further from the truth, Higgins said.

“I just don’t understand why fans think I’m faking an injury, when for me to get an extension for a contract, the deadline is over,” Higgins told ESPN. “I just don’t understand why they think I’m faking an injury. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Higgins did not practice Friday, the third straight day he was away from the field. He’s considered doubtful for Week 2.

“I want to go out there and give my teammates a hundred percent of Tee Higgins, you know what I’m saying?” Higgins told ESPN. “I don’t want to give them 50% and half-ass it just to be a presence on the field.”

Russell Wilson ‘closer and closer’ to returning

A calf injury forced Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson to sit out Week 1, and while Justin Fields did fine during their 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons, they would like their appointed No. 1 signal caller healthy and ready to play.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Wilson is questionable for Sunday’s game, when the Steelers will visit Wilson’s old team, the Denver Broncos.

Wilson was set to start against the Falcons but aggravated the calf injury he suffered during training camp. On Thursday, he said he’s “getting closer and closer” to returning.

“I’m just trying to be smart,” Wilson said. “Got to do a lot of work today on the field and everything else, throwing and all that, so just trying to be smart.”

Here’s the rest of the Week 1 injury report:

• CB DeRon Bland (foot): out

• WR John Stephens Jr. (hamstring): out

• TE Jake Ferguson (knee): doubtful

GREEN BAY PACKERS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

• RB Raheem Blackshea (personal): questionable

• TE Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back): questionable

• OT Taylor Moton (back/knee): questionable

• G Damien Lewis (groin): questionable

• P Johnny Hekker (back): questionable

BALTIMORE RAVENS

“Nate was in a car accident a couple days ago,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said on Friday. “He’s healthy. He’s fine.”

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

DENVER BRONCOS

CINCINNATI BENGALS

• DT Kris Jenkins (thumb): out

• WR Tee Higgins (hamstring): doubtful

• TE Tanner Hudson (knee): doubtful

• OT Amarius Mims (pectoral): doubtful

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

ATLANTA FALCONS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES