Week 2 in the NFL is underway, and as usual, there were a few key injuries in the first week of the regular season that need to be monitored before making your bets.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy highlights five of the biggest NFL injuries, and I delve into how they are impacting the NFL odds leading up to Sunday.
Key NFL Week 2 injuries
Purdy (QB) — Out
Johnson (CB) — Questionable
Ward (CB) — Out
Goedert (TE) — Out
Bowers (TE) — Questionable
Brock Purdy, Questionable — Out
With quarterback Brock Purdy out with a toe injury, the San Francisco 49ers’ spread for Sunday's game in New Orleans has shrunk from -7 to -3. That isn’t surprising since there’s a big drop-off from Purdy to Mac Jones, and San Francisco has a slew of other key injuries on offense.
The 49ers are still missing wideout Brandon Aiyuk and just added Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle to the IR. Meanwhile, WR Jauan Jennings and stud LT Trent Williams are both questionable.
Meanwhile, the Niners’ defense played extremely well in Week 1, and they get a favorable matchup against an inefficient Saints offense led by Spencer Rattler. That has caused the total to plummet from 44.5 to 40.5.
Taron Johnson, Cornerback — Questionable
Buffalo Bills nickel cornerback Taron Johnson is questionable after being limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. The Bills surrendered 40 points to the Ravens last week, and now they face the New York Jets, who dropped 32 points versus Pittsburgh in Week 1.
The Bills struggled to defend the pass last year, and injuries are piling up at cornerback. Backup corners Tre’Davious White and Jordan Hancock are also questionable, while first-round pick Maxwell Hairston is still recovering from a knee injury.
Buffalo opened as 8.5-point road favorites, but that number has slimmed to -6.5. Meanwhile, the total has surged from 44.5 to 47.5.
Johnson's status won’t move the line, but it could represent value as a betting angle — especially if you’re considering the Jets’ team total (O/U 20.5) or looking at player props for receivers like Garrett Wilson.
Dallas Goedert, Tight End — Out
Tight end Dallas Goedert has been ruled out for Sunday's Super Bowl rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
The Eagles love to get their tight ends involved in the offense, and Goedert had a team-high seven catches in Week 1. His absence will be particularly noticeable since the Chiefs struggle to defend the position, having allowed a league-high 1,191 receiving yards to the position last year.
This line has flipped from Chiefs -1.5 to the Eagles at -1.5. Interestingly, the total has ticked up from 45.5 to 47, despite the absence of Goedert and the doubtful status of Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy.
Charvarius Ward, Cornerback — Out
Indianapolis Colts corner Charvarius Ward has been ruled out for Sunday due to a concussion. The 2023 Pro Bowler posted an impressive 76.6 coverage grade in Week 1 despite a tough matchup against Tyreek Hill.
His absence could really be felt this week, as CB2 Jaylon Jones is also sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Colts’ revamped secondary was a big reason they dominated Miami last week, and it will be interesting to see if Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix can take advantage of the injuries at corner in Week 2.
The Colts opened as 3.5-point home underdogs, but that line has swung to +1.5. The total has ticked down from 44.5 to 43.5.
Brock Bowers, Tight End — Questionable
One of the biggest injuries to monitor is the status of Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers, who exited Week 1 with a knee injury after racking up 103 yards.
Initial reports suggested that Bowers would be good to go for Monday night, but he’s trending in the wrong direction after missing practice on Thursday and Friday.
Having an extra day to prepare for MNF gives Bowers a chance of suiting up against the Los Angeles Chargers. That said, Vegas might be reluctant to rush their best offensive player back on the field, especially with a capable backup like Michael Mayer waiting in the wings.
This line has been bouncing between Raiders at +3 and +3.5, and is currently sitting at +3.5 juiced to -120. With how well both of these offenses played last week, the total moved from 44.5 to 47 before ticking down to 46.5.
If Bowers ends up suiting up, expect that spread to shift to the key number of 3, with the total moving back to 47.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
