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Week 3 continues Thursday night with quarterback injuries dominating the headlines and affecting betting lines. With various reports indicating varying levels of concern regarding injuries, having a licensed physical therapist to interpret the NFL Week 3 injury reports will help you gain an advantage.
Below are the top NFL Week 3 injuries to consider when placing your Week 3 NFL bet picks. Please note that all odds are current as of Thursday, September 23.
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NFL Week 3 Injuries & Betting Tips
Carson Wentz, QB, Indianapolis Colts (Bilateral Ankle Sprains)
Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans
Carson Wentz suffered a left ankle sprain followed by a more severe right high-ankle sprain in Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The right ankle was the direct result of Aaron Donald wrapping him up and twisting him down with the foot getting caught underneath.
It’s also important to note that the left ankle is also the foot that he had surgery on last month.
Dealing with a foot that may still not be 100 percent, in addition to two ankle sprains, makes him a sitting duck in the pocket. He won’t have the power to push off his right foot, will have trouble with his follow through on his throws on his left foot, and have difficulty scrambling.
I don’t expect the Colts to be able to move the ball effectively through the air if Wentz does play. However, if he doesn’t play, expect the line to move further towards the Tennessee Titans.
Feel comfortable in taking the Titans moneyline (-250) and spread (-5.5) at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 3 Colts vs Titans betting picks & tips.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins (Rib Fractures)
Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders
Tua Tagovailoa left Sunday’s game after a thunderous hit from Buffalo Bills DE AJ Epenesa. Initial reports indicated x-rays were negative, but further testing revealed fractures, forcing the Dolphins to rule him out for Week 3.
Injured reserve hasn’t been discussed yet, but should be considered as rib fractures take 4-to-6 weeks to recover from.
Starting in place of Tagovailoa will be Jacoby Brissett, who was largely ineffective in relief. Add in the wide receiver corps dealing with injuries with Jakeem Grant, DeVante Parker, and Preston Williams, and this severely limits the offensive weapons available.
With how porous the Dolphins’ offensive line was against the Bills and Brissett skittish in the pocket, my betting pick is Raiders cover the spread (-4) at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 3 Dolphins vs Raiders betting picks & tips.
Tua Tagovailoa’s latest injury could keep him sidelined for several weeks.
Tyrod Taylor, QB, Houston Texans (Hamstring Strain)
Houston Texans vs Carolina Panthers
Tyrod Taylor continues to lose his starting job wherever he goes in the NFL. The latest reason being a hamstring strain suffered against the Cleveland Browns.
Considering how mobile of a quarterback Taylor is, this is not an injury he would even be able to throw effectively with or avoid hits in the pocket.
Starting in place of Taylor is Davis Mills, a rookie out of Stanford. The Texans were not expected to play well this year, but Taylor kept them competitive through two weeks, which is reflected in the NFL gameday odds.
I expect the Texans to regress offensively, and although the Panthers haven’t exactly been putting up points themselves, they have a stout defense. My betting pick is Under 43 (-110) at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 3 Texans vs Panthers betting picks & tips.
TJ Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Groin Strain)
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals
TJ Watt suffered a groin injury in the 2nd quarter in the loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and was unable to return. He requires the full use of his groin as this lets him bend around the edge, shed blockers, and use spin moves to get to the quarterback.
However, it was reported that it was minor and that he could play in Week 3. While some strains are possible to play through, there is concern about whether he re-injures the groin, leading to more missed time.
Add in that Joe Haden, Alex Highsmith, and Devin Bush are all dealing with groin strains themselves, this could expose the Steelers’ defense at different levels if they exit the game. If Watt or others sit out, this could move the line in the Bengals’ favor.
However, my NFL bet of the day is the Steelers moneyline (-175) at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 3 Steelers vs Bengals betting picks & tips.
Jarvis Landry & Baker Mayfield, WR & QB, Cleveland Browns (MCL Sprain & Left Shoulder Injury)
Cleveland Browns vs Chicago Bears
Jarvis Landry went to IR following an MCL sprain Sunday that will keep him out for at least the next 3 weeks. The MCL is a ligament that runs on the inside portion of the knee that provides stability during cutting and pivoting.
Baker Mayfield suffered an injury to his left non-throwing shoulder that he described as “popped in and popped out” which suggests a shoulder subluxation or partial dislocation, although reports state there is no structural damage.
With Landry out and Odell Beckham Jr. still not 100 percent, this puts further pressure on the run game to produce.
Mayfield’s shoulder could cause fumbling issues if he gets hit on the left side, and his throwing accuracy may suffer due to pain and weakness from the instability as the game progresses. There is also the chance he could suffer a recurrence with further hits.
I have a feeling these injuries will catch up with the Browns, which makes my betting pick Bears +7 (-110) at BetMGM.
- Read our full Week 3 Browns vs Chicago Bears betting picks & tips.
Thanks for reading our NFL Week 3 Injury Report! Check out more of our NFL Week 3 betting tips and predictions here.
