NFL Week 4 Injury Report: DeVonta Smith Doubtful for Eagles, Nico Collins Probable for Texans

Unlike the previous week, Week 3 of the NFL season didn’t cut through troves of the league’s starting quarterbacks, but there were still some notable injuries that wreaked havoc on some teams. The New York Giants, who already have to contend with a season without second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, lost one of their fearsome pass-rushers, Brian Burns.

There were some equally nervy moments for some of the league’s top receivers. Justin Jefferson and Mike Evans both exited their respective contests on Sunday afternoon and could now be in jeopardy of missing Week 4. The injury wheel keeps turning, and whose status is impacted as we head towards the start of October football?

✅ Probable

Position	Team	Player	Injury
QB	Carolina Panthers	Bryce Young	Knee
WR	Houston Texans	Nico Collins	Hamstring
WR	Denver Broncos	Jaylen Waddle	Foot
LB	Carolina Panthers	Devin Lloyd	Calf
WR	Los Angeles Rams	Puka Nacua	Groin
S	Kansas City Chiefs	Chamarri Conner	Knee

Bryce Young (Panthers vs. Lions): Probable

It’s no overstatement to say Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young entered the 2026 NFL season on the hot seat. The former number one pick in 2023 has had brief spells of success but has never found the consistency to earn the Panthers’ organisation’s long-term trust. In a way, the 2026 season has felt like a do-or-die scenario for Young. So far, so good. Young is 13th in EPA per play among quarterbacks, per Sümer Sports, completing 59.5% of his passes for 939 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. Week 3 presented some challenges, and Young (knee) picked up a minor injury but enters the end of the week with a couple of full-participation practices logged. That’s a relief for the Panthers. They face a tough test against the Detroit Lions in Week 4, and a win would lift the team to 2-2 and potentially take control of an open NFC South. That doesn’t happen without Young, who has a growing command of the offense.

Nico Collins (Texans vs. Cowboys): Probable

Nico Collins (hamstring) has been a frequent name that’s appeared on the injury report early in the season. The former Michigan receiver was at his best in the season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills, catching 7-of-10 targets for 75 yards and one touchdown while proving to be a nightmare for the Bills’ secondary. Since then, we’ve yet to see Collins back on the field, and the Texans have lost three straight games. Inexplicably, a team that was considered a potential Super Bowl candidate is staring down the barrel of a 0-4 start to the season. 

They need Collins back on offense. Fast. The Texans are 20th in EPA per play on offense, per Sümer Sports, and are still struggling to efficiently run the football. Collins can’t fix the woes on the ground, but can provide salvation for C.J. Stroud as a pass-catcher. The Texans face the Cowboys’ defense—a unit that ranks 32nd in EPA per play allowed. The Cowboys are hot on offense, but are there for the taking on defense. DeMeco Ryans has said that he’s hopeful Collins will be back on the field in Week 4—and it wouldn’t be a moment too soon.

Devin Lloyd (Panthers vs. Lions): Probable

The Panthers were without Devin Lloyd (calf) in their surprising Week 3 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Lloyd has been a leader for the Panthers’ defense in the first two weeks of the season, totaling 22 tackles and nine impact plays—tied for the 8th-most in the NFL. On top of that, Lloyd has been excellent in coverage, snagging two picks and breaking up three passes. Lloyd’s absence in Week 3 wasn’t the sole catalyst in the loss, but it did play a significant role. Not having Lloyd’s size, length, and presence in the middle of the defense left a void, but the imposing linebacker has logged full practices all week and should be in the lineup and ready to go against the Lions. A game where all of his abilities will be needed to slow down the Lions’ offense.

❓ Questionable

Position	Team	Player	Injury
T	Baltimore Ravens	Ronnie Stanley	Toe
WR	Minnesota Vikings	Justin Jefferson	Ankle
WR	San Francisco 49ers	Mike Evans	Ribs
HB	Miami Dolphins	Jaylen Wright	Foot
CB	New England Patriots	Christian Gonzalez	Shoulder
TE	New York Jets	Kenyon Sadiq	Back

Justin Jefferson (Vikings vs. Dolphins): Questionable

The Minnesota Vikings are surprising 3-0 starters on the season, defeating the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first three weeks of the season. It’s not been without hiccups, though. Quarterback Kyler Murray essentially missed the first two weeks of the season, and now All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson is facing an injury battle of his own. Jefferson suffered an ankle injury against the Buccaneers in Week 3 and didn’t return to the lineup, and is now being considered day-to-day heading into Week 4. That gives him, at least, a chance to suit up against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Jefferson is the fulcrum of the Vikings’ passing attack. His 25.4% target share is 17th among wide receivers, and he’s still one of, if not the best, wide receivers in the NFL. It comes as no shock that Jefferson needs to be on the field for the Vikings to be at their best.

Jaylen Wright (Dolphins vs. Vikings): Questionable

An already tough start to the season for the Miami Dolphins got a little tougher in Week 3. The Dolphins lost their star running back Devon Achane to a season-ending torn ACL, and thus their bottom-10 offense in EPA got significantly worse. Though fantasy managers might be clamouring for Ollie Gordon on waivers, it’s far more likely the Dolphins will split backfield duties between Gordon and Jaylen Wright (foot), though Wright was considered questionable heading into Week 4 with a foot injury. Gordon brings the power and short-yardage ability, while Wright is a little more versatile. He’s bigger than you’d expect, but still can break off the big yards. The Dolphins can’t replace Achane with Gordon or Wright alone. They have to build him through the aggregate, and even if Wright only has six or seven carries against the Vikings, he can still make an impact. Luckily, he’s trending towards suiting up. 

Christian Gonzalez (Patriots vs. Bills): Questionable

The New England Patriots are just the latest victim of the dreaded Super Bowl hangover. Drake Maye has struggled to replicate his play from 2025, and the Patriots are 1-2 after a 35-6 humbling loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3. Concerningly, things might not be headed in the right direction in New England, especially if the defense is without their star man, cornerback Christian Gonzalez (shoulder), on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4. Gonzalez missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but played most of the game against the Jaguars. The former first-round pick can cut fields in half with his ability to shut down receivers, and without him, the Patriots’ defense isn’t as imposing as a pass defense. With him, they still have a lot of life in them. 

🏥 Doubtful

Position	Team	Player	Injury
C	Baltimore Ravens	Jovaughn Gwyn	Fibula
CB	Dallas Cowboys	Cobie Durant	Hamstring
CB	Los Angeles Rams	Jaylen Watson	Shoulder
WR	Philadelphia Eagles	DeVonta Smith	Hamstring
QB	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Baker Mayfield	Thumb
HB	New Orleans Saints	Travis Etienne	Hamstring

Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers vs. Packers): Doubtful

Baker Mayfield (thumb) isn’t playing well. The Buccaneers are 0-3 to start the 2026 season, and though Mayfield isn’t solely to blame, he’s a root cause of their struggles. Mayfield is 34th out of 38 quarterbacks in EPA per play and has five turnovers in the first three games of the season. Whatever the cause, something isn’t working for Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offense, and the former number one overall pick is forcing himself to be aggressive. Despite the struggles, things could be about to get worse in Tampa Bay. Mayfield injured his thumb in the loss to the Vikings and had to leave the game, with rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels taking his place. Mayfield is expected to miss at least three weeks, and the Buccaneers could feasibly fall to 0-6 in that time. Even if Mayfield isn’t playing well, the Buccaneers are asking a lot of a rookie undrafted free agent to come in so early in his career and to galvanise a fledgling team.

Travis Etienne (Saints vs. Falcons): Doubtful

Elsewhere in the NFC South, the New Orleans Saints hope to take a leap in 2026, but they’ve started the season 1-2. They’re also about to take a major hit on offense, with starting running back—and big free-agent signing Travis Etienne (hamstring)—landing on IR. Etienne had started the season fairly efficiently, carrying 30 times for 128 yards, but suffered a hamstring injury against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3. Without him, there should be some concern over their viability to produce an effective ground game. Alvin Kamara is long past his best, and while Kendre Miller has shown flashes in his four-year career, he’s struggled to stay healthy and put together a meaningful run of consistency. A wide-open NFC South is up for grabs—a division the Saints haven’t won since 2020—but the lack of a running game could hinder the Saints.

DeVonta Smith (Eagles vs. Rams): Doubtful

A tough loss on Monday Night Football dropped the Eagles to 2-1. The Eagles face more scrutiny than most teams do after a loss, but losing to the Case Keenum-led Chicago Bears in 2026 feels particularly egregious. Bouncing back will be a must, but the Eagles have an uphill battle against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon. A battle they’ll likely enter without DeVonta Smith (hamstring). Smith has missed practice and is trending towards sitting on the sideline in Week 4. That’s a real worry for an Eagles’ passing attack that is already light on options. Dallas Goedert missed Week 3 and is set to face an extended spell on the sidelines, and the running game hasn’t been up to its usual potency. Pair that with Jalen Hurts ranking 27th in EPA per play—with Smith—and you’ve got some real concerns.

Photo Credit: REUTERS