Puka Nacua and Jordan Love are at the top of the player list

The NFL's opening week did not pass without several key players suffering injuries that could affect their availability for this week and beyond.

With pre-season games shortened to just three, and many teams not using their regular players at all in these friendlies, it's hard to say whether the usual bumps and bruises of training camp could have lasting effects.

On the other hand, there are always unexpected injuries that simply cannot be avoided as players give it their all when the game counts. So let's take a look at some of the health issues that some notable players are dealing with in Week 2.

Puka Nacua was a key part of the Los Angeles Rams offense in 2023, catching 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. He was injured in the team's opening game of 2024 after catching four passes for 35 yards.

The Rams will have to do without Nacua for at least a month.

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Rams head coach Sean McVay announced Monday that Nacua is expected to land on the injured list due to a knee sprain sustained during his team's 26-20 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 1.

McVay initially told reporters that Nacua was an IR candidate, but later clarified that.

“He's going to go on the injured list. That's always a possibility. It's probably not likely that he won't go on the injured list because his injury will keep him out of action for more than a month. That's the most likely path,” McVay said. “That's the most likely direction we would go.”

Nacua limped off the field and went into the Rams' blue medical tent midway through the second quarter after catching a ball. He briefly returned to the game on the Rams' next possession, but the wideout was unable to continue and was taken out of the game at halftime. At the time of his injury, he had made four catches for 35 yards.

Wide receivers Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson will be asked to step in in Nacua's absence.

“I feel sorry for Puka,” McVay said. “The other guys will get some chances and I'm confident they will step up and play good football for us.”

Love injured the medial ligament in his left knee with six seconds left in the Packers' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night.

Initial tests on Love's knee showed that the anterior cruciate ligament is intact and that his “tentative timeline for return is in the range of 3-6 weeks.” However, he is scheduled to seek a second opinion and there are early hopes that Love may return sooner.

According to NFL Media, Ferguson was diagnosed with a bone bruise and a sprained medial ligament in his knee. He is expected to be out for some time, but the Cowboys have not ruled him out for Week 2.

The Panthers may have suffered a major loss if early reports about their best defensive player prove correct. Brown is believed to have suffered a meniscus injury to his knee that could require season-ending surgery.

Njoku left Sunday's game after taking a hard hit on a play in the middle of the field. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Njoku is week-to-week, but did not address speculation that the Pro Bowl tight end suffered an ankle sprain — which could force him to miss multiple games.

Puka Nacua and Jordan Love are at the top of the player list

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Puka Nacua and Jordan Love are at the top of the player list

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