Injuries, injuries, injuries. Several contenders lost key players to health issues last week, including the Ravens, who saw All Pro guard Marshal Yanda join a ever-growing list of Baltimore contributors that is done for the year. Tight end Greg Olsen is done for at least eight weeks after suffering a broken foot, but there’s hope he could return to the Panthers later in 2017. Elsewhere in the NFC South, Falcons edge rusher Vic Beasley is expected to miss at least a month with a hamstring ailment, but he won’t go on injured reserve. And the Chargers’ string of poor injury luck continued, as No. 1 corner Jason Verrett decided to undergo season-ending knee surgery.
Adversaries get new deals. The NFL is still expected to extend commissioner Roger Goodell through the 2021 season, although the contract has taken a bit longer than expected to get done. That may have been because Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly attempted to influence the process in the hopes of expanding the field of candidates. The NFLPA, meanwhile, re-elected DeMaurice Smith as executive director, although civil rights lawyer Cyrus Mehri is expected to contest the results.
Andrew Luck possibly nearing return. While the Colts are without Luck during Week 3 (but still winning), Indy could see its franchise quarterback back on the field in the near future. Week 6 is looking like a realistic date for Luck’s return, meaning the Colts would need to get through only two more games — against the Seahawks and 49ers — with Jacoby Brissett under center. If Indianapolis can hold onto against the Browns today, the club would be in a much better position if/when Luck comes back.
Dolphins’ linebacker room shaken up. Free agent addition Lawrence Timmons went AWOL prior to Miami’s Week 2 game, and has since been suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. Not only that, but Timmons took a bizarre trip to visit his old team — the Steelers — during the Dolphins’ Week 1 bye. Miami has since acquired former first-round linebacker Stephone Anthony from the Saints, although that deal was reportedly in the works before the Timmons saga began.
Su’a Cravens won’t play in 2017. The Redskins officially placed Cravens — who considered retirement earlier this year — on the reserve/left squad list, ensuring that he won’t suit up this season. Cravens had been planning to report to Washington, but that won’t happen now. He wants to continue his career in 2018, but it’s unclear if that will happen with the Redskins.