#nfl-injuries

#nfl-injuries

Tests on Friday morning confirmed that Lions star defensive back Brian Branch has torn his Achilles, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Branch was carted off the field with 3:45 remaining in the fourth quarter of Detroit's 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. He suffered the injury while attempting to break up a pass in the endzone with teammate Alex Anzalone against Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson.

INDIANAPOLIS -- When Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones first developed soreness in his lower left leg and went in search of a diagnosis, rookie backup quarterback Riley Leonard waited anxiously to learn how the situation might impact him. With 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson Sr. still on injured reserve, Leonard knew he would be the first quarterback off the bench. Then he realized he had some idea of what Jones was dealing with once some details became known. Leonard had also sustained a fibula stress fracture while playing at Notre Dame and knew what it felt like.

However, they nearly beat the Lions last week in a game that went into overtime, with QB Jameis Winston throwing for nearly 400 yards and two touchdowns in Detroit. It looked like that could be a problem for New England's defense, but they might run into bigger trouble now that rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has cleared concussion protocol and will be the starter on Monday Night.

Philadelphia Eagles rookie safety Andrew Mukuba suffered an ankle fracture that will require surgery, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Monday. Mukuba suffered the injury during Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and it will be determined during surgery whether there is potential for him to return this season. Selected in the second round of this year's draft, Mukuba has appeared in the Eagles' first 11 games, making 10 starts. He has two interceptions, three passes defended and 46 tackles, included two for loss.

On Friday, Arizona Cardinals right tackle Jonah Williams was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the season. Williams will undergo season-ending surgery for a shoulder injury that he suffered in Arizona's Week 10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, coach Jonathan Gannon said Friday. "He is a starter, good player," Gannon said. "Just he wasn't going to be able to play the rest of the year."

The injury occurred late in the second quarter on a second-and-3 pass from quarterback Jacoby Brissett to Jones in the back of the end zone. The pass was incomplete, but Jones didn't go down at first. A few seconds after the pass, Jones raised his foot awkwardly and then looked behind him down at his left foot. He left the game and then was carted to the locker room.

Miami's starting quarterback, though, has no game status designation and is expected to start against the Falcons. Tagovailoa is trying to rebound from back-to-back three-interception games, the second instance while throwing for just 100 yards in an ugly 31-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Atlanta is already going to its backup quarterback Sunday, albeit a very experienced and well-paid one, in Kirk Cousins. Falcons starter Michael Penix is expected to be inactive with his knee injury.

Dalton is happy in his role as Bryce Young's backup at Carolina, which is above .500 (4-3) for the first time this late in the season since 2019. The soon-to-be 38-year-old is ready for an opportunity to start, which appears likely Sunday against the Buffalo Bills ( 1 p.m. ET, Fox), as Young is dealing with a sprained ankle suffered in the third quarter of Sunday's 13-6 win at the New York Jets.

The Indianapolis Colts have placed their top cornerback Charvarius Ward on injured reserve, sidelining him for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers and at least the next three contests. Ward sustained his second concussion of the season after a violent collision with tight end Drew Ogletree during pregame warmups for the Colts' Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Ward was down for a sustained period before regaining his faculties and being helped off the field.

"When Fred got hurt, we just gave each other a look and honestly just spoke just by looking at each other," Bethune said this week.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Bears wide receiver DJ Moore is back in Chicago after spending the night in a Washington, D.C.-area hospital where he was evaluated for a groin injury, according to coach Ben Johnson. Johnson declined to provide details about Moore's injury but categorized the receiver as "day-to-day." "That's a little bit more of a personal story there," Johnson said.