Injuries continue to shape the early part of the season, and Week 3 was no exception. Several key players went down, with some facing multi-week absences/season-ending injuries and others still awaiting further evaluation. The fallout could have a major impact on fantasy lineups. Below, I break down the most notable injuries, projected recovery timelines, and what it all means moving forward.
Key: Position Player, Team | Injury | Projected Return to Play
WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas | Ankle (Likely High Ankle Sprain) | Projecting Week 7 Return
During Sunday's matchup in Chicago, CeeDee Lamb lined up in the backfield and took a handoff to the right. A Chicago defender rolled over his ankle, forcing it outward—a common mechanism of a high-ankle sprain.
Lamb, who has just five career carries from the RB position, attempted to return but was unable to finish the game. Postgame, Lamb expressed optimism about playing next week, but injury trend data tells a different story. High-ankle sprains typically sideline NFL wide receivers for 3 to 4 weeks, and based on my dataset, there's a 90% chance Lamb misses at least one game.
If a high-ankle sprain is confirmed, I'd expect this to be a multi-week absence. The severity will determine whether he lands on injured reserve, but there's at least some chance he avoids it.
WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay | Hamstring | Projecting Week 8 Return
Mike Evans left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury, his sixth since 2019. Unfortunately, this has become an almost annual occurrence for the veteran receiver.
Hamstring strains for NFL wideouts typically result in a 2 to 3 week absence, but when isolating older receivers (age 28+), the timeline tends to lengthen. Most WRs in this "older WR" bucket miss at least 3 weeks, with 50% sidelined between 3–6 weeks.
Tampa Bay announced Evans will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury. In my opinion, an IR stint is on the table. With the Buccaneers' bye in Week 9, a Week 10 return is possible, though for now I'm projecting Evans back by Week 8.
RB James Conner, Arizona | Ankle | Season-Ending
James Conner was carted off the field with an ankle injury, and based on the video and immediate reaction, it didn't look good. Shortly after, reports surfaced that Conner's injury would end his 2025 season.
Cardinals RB James Conner did in fact suffer a season-ending injury to his right ankle that will require surgery, per source. The injury is considered “severe”, even if the team does not yet know the full extent of the damage. pic.twitter.com/IMktQeYBoz
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 22, 2025