With Week 1 officially over and Week 2 just around the corner, Tuesday saw a mix of injury updates across the NFL as teams processed their season openers.
Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback Mansoor Delane appears to have avoided a long-term injury after making a big play against the Denver Broncos, while Baltimore Ravens tight end Ja’Kobi Lane could face a month-long absence.
In Chicago, Ben Johnson explained why his Bears kept scoring in the fourth quarter during a blowout win against the Carolina Panthers instead of taking their foot off the gas late.
Here are the latest from around the NFL.
The Bears turned in their best Week 1 performance in franchise history Sunday, beating the Panthers 59-37, and coach Ben Johnson made it clear Monday that relief was not an option. Even with Chicago up 45-31 after a third-quarter touchdown by Kyle Monangai, the offense was halted on two more scores in the fourth.
“Anytime you’re still within a couple of scores in the fourth quarter, the game is still on and that’s how we needed it,” Ben Johnson. said via transcript from the team. “I forget what time it was when we came out on the field for that last drive, and it was, ‘Guys, we want to end the game with the ball,’ and then we ended up getting one and (D’Andre Swift) ended up scoring there at the end.”
Johnson also noted how often Carolina’s offense rallied from behind a season ago, adding that story stuck with the Bears’ coaching staff when preparing for the Panthers.
“It’s a credit to Carolina more than anything. We came into the game with a lot of respect for how well they could play in the fourth quarter. They had a bunch of plays a year ago where the quarterback and the offense found a way to come back and come from behind; that was just something we had in mind going into the game. We knew we couldn’t let off the gas.”
The Bears’ offense will get an early test in their home opener against the NFC North division rival Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Baltimore’s receiving corps just thinned out.
Rookie wideout Ja’Kobi Lane is is expected to undergo surgery for a broken wrist on Wednesday, a procedure that could sideline him for nearly a month, according to a CBS Sports report. The Ravens have reportedly not ruled out an injured reserve designation.
Lane’s absence creates an already battered receiving room after Zay Flowers went down with a hamstring injury, pushing Rashod Bateman, Chris Moore and Elijah Sarratt up the depth chart.
“Zay’s probably a little bit more like in the day-to-day range. You know, feel pretty good about where he’s at. We’ll see how the week goes,” Minter said of Flowers before adding that he expected Lane to be out “maybe a little bit longer” on Monday.
The 21-year-old third-round pick out of USC was expected to be a red-zone weapon alongside Flowers after a standout college career, but his NFL debut was cut short in Week 1 against the Colts. Lane arrived in Baltimore with much fanfare after a three-season run at USC that produced 99 catches, 1,363 yards and 18 touchdowns, and he was lined up as the No. 2 behind Flowers before the injury.
A month-long absence could have Lane back for Baltimore’s game against the Falcons in October, after games with the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans.
There is encouraging news on the injury front for one of Kansas City’s top starters.
Cornerback Mansoor Delane is believed to have suffered only a short-term shoulder injury during Monday night’s win over Denver. according to the NFL NetworkX-rays and CT scans are said to be coming back clean. Delane was still scheduled to undergo an MRI.
Choice no. The 6 overall pick appears to have aggravated a shoulder problem that dated back to the offseason and training camp. He made an immediate impact anyway, hauling in his first interception on his third career drive to end Denver’s opening possession, but he landed awkwardly on his shoulder on the play and did not return.
With early word pointing to a short-term issue rather than a long-term absence, the Chiefs will be hoping their top corner can be back in the mix quickly as the secondary settles into the regular season.
The Chiefs host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night in week two.