Week 2 kicks off Thursday night with a multitude of injuries from Week 1 already altering betting lines and season projections. With teams being vague on injury specifics, having a licensed physical therapist to interpret the NFL Week 2 injury reports will help you gain an advantage.
Below are the top NFL Week 2 injuries to consider when placing your Week 2 NFL bet picks. Please note that all odds are current as of Thursday, September 16.
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NFL Week 2 Injuries & Betting Tips
Michael Gallup & DeMarcus Lawrence, WR/DE, Dallas Cowboys (Calf Strain/Broken Foot)
Dallas Cowboys @ Los Angeles Chargers
Michael Gallup exited last Thursday’s NFL season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a left calf injury that will send him to injured reserve for 3-to-5 weeks. DeMarcus Lawrence was a surprise addition to the injury report this week with a broken fifth metatarsal suffered in practice on Wednesday that will sideline him for at least 6-to-8 weeks.
Thankfully for Dallas, the presence of Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb in the receiving corps helps soften the blow of losing Gallup. The bigger loss is Lawrence, and if Randy Gregory is out due to COVID protocols the NFL gameday odds could sway even more in the Chargers’ favor (-3.5). This game will be all offense, which makes my Cowboys-Chargers betting pick to take Over 55.5 total points at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 2 Cowboys vs Chargers betting picks & tips.
Mekhi Becton, OT, New York Jets (Torn MCL, dislocated patella, cartilage damage)
New York Jets vs New England Patriots
Mekhi Becton was carted off the field during Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers after suffering an MCL sprain, dislocated patella, and cartilage damage. He has already been placed on the IR and may require surgery to clean out loose bodies from the joint. His expected timeline to return is 4-to-6 weeks and he may still not be 100 percent when he returns.
The loss of Becton forces George Fant to step up to protect Zach Wilson’s blind side. This change may put more pressure on Wilson in the pocket, leading to hurried throws and poor decision-making. Add in the losses of Lamarcus Joyner and Blake Cashman on defense along with Braden Mann on special teams heading to IR, and this puts the overmatched Jets at a significant disadvantage against the Patriots in Week 2. My Jets-Patriots betting picks are on New England to cover the spread (-6) and the Patriots moneyline (-250) at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 2 Patriots vs Jets betting picks & tips.
Raheem Mostert & Jason Verrett, RB/CB, San Francisco 49ers (Knee Injury)
San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Raheem Mostert exited Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions with a significant knee injury that will require season-ending surgery. Jason Verrett also saw his season end after suffering a right ACL tear.
While Elijah Mitchell stepped up in place of Mostert and performed well, San Francisco’s running back room is rather unproven with Trey Sermon and JaMycal Hasty. In addition, the loss of Verrett will further stress the 49ers secondary, and I believe that inexperience on both sides of the ball will catch up to them against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. My 49ers-Eagles betting pick is on the Eagles moneyline (+135) at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 2 49ers vs Eagles betting picks & tips.
The loss of 49ers RB Raheem Mostert could be a significant blow to San Francisco’s backfield for their Week 2 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles and beyond. (Image: USA TODAY)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Washington Football Team (Right Hip Subluxation)
Washington Football Team @ New York Giants
Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered a right hip subluxation against the Chargers on Sunday, forcing him to the injured reserve for at least the next 6-to-8 weeks. A subluxation is where the joint partially dislocates but pops back in instead of staying out. Even though there was not a full dislocation, this event still causes a lot of instability within the hip, leading to pain and weakness.
With Fitzpatrick on the IR, Taylor Heinicke will be under center Thursday night against the New York Giants. Despite losing Fitzpatrick, Washington still has other offensive weapons at their disposal and I like their chances against the Giants, who are also dealing with injuries. If Heinicke can play as well as he has during his last two games, then Washington will be in a great position to win. My Football Team-Giants betting pick is the Washington moneyline (-175) at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 2 Giants vs Football Team betting picks & tips.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos (Right High-Ankle Sprain)
Denver Broncos @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Jerry Jeudy suffered a gruesome-looking high ankle sprain in Week 1’s win over the Giants that will keep him out for at least three weeks and likely longer after he was placed on IR on Tuesday. A high-ankle sprain is when the foot is forcefully twisted out and upward, separating the syndesmosis that connects the tibia and fibula together that articulates with the talus to form the ankle joint.
Despite losing a top weapon for Teddy Bridgewater, he can still rely on second-year KJ Hamler to fill in for the interim. Playing Jacksonville early in the season while they’re still figuring things out makes this a very winnable game for Denver. My Broncos-Jaguars pick is to take the Broncos moneyline (-275) at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 2 Broncos vs Jaguars betting picks & tips.
Jeff Okudah, CB, Detroit Lions (Torn Left Achilles)
Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers
Jeff Okudah’s injury luck did not improve as his season quickly ended with a torn left Achilles in Week 1. This injury is the result of sudden forceful dorsiflexion of the foot while the calf muscle is under tension, overloading the tendon and causing it to rupture. This injury comes after his rookie year where he suffered a hamstring and core muscle repair that ended his 2020 season prematurely.
Okudah’s absence pushes rookie Ifeatu Melifonwu into the starting position at cornerback, making Detroit’s secondary vulnerable. With Green Bay out for revenge following a humiliating 38-3 loss to New Orleans, this game should see plenty of offense, which makes my Lions-Packers betting pick taking Over 48 total points at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 2 Lions vs Packers betting picks & tips.
Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints (Broken Thumb)
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers
Marshon Lattimore suffered a chipped bone in his thumb in New Orleans’ rout of Green Bay in Week 1. He reportedly requires surgery to correct it, but has not been placed on IR or been ruled out for Week 2. It’s not clear which type of fracture he has, but surgery will eventually be required to stabilize the area for proper healing.
If Lattimore plays, he’ll boost a reeling Saints team already dealing with injuries to Marcus Davenport (pectoral) and Erik McCoy (calf). He could also move the line to favor the Saints more than they already are (-3.5). With New Orleans going up against a young Carolina team still trying to figure out its identity, my Saints-Panthers betting pick is Over 44.5 total points at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 2 Saints vs Panthers betting picks and tips.
Thanks for reading our NFL Week 2 Injury Report! Check out more of our NFL Week 2 betting tips and predictions here.
