The injury report coming out on Sunday of Week 7 of the NFL season features some big names at the top and a number of potentially season-altering injuries for several teams around the league. The most serious situation of the weekend occurred during the Jets vs. Steelers Sunday Night Football game, when New York guard Xavier Newman was carted off the field on a backboard and taken to a Pittsburgh hospital with a neck injury. Fortunately, initial reports say Newman was conscious and moving his limbs when he was taken from Acrisure Stadium.
Other stars, including Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson, Washington’s Jayden Daniels and San Francisco’s Brandon Ayiuk all left their games early Sunday with injuries. Here’s a look at the news and comments from week 7.
Xavier Newman released from Pittsburgh hospital
The scary scene that unfolded at Acrisure Stadium was ultimately a precautionary measure. Jets guard Xavier Newman underwent testing after a neck injury and the tests came back negative due to serious injury. He was able to return to New York with the team after the Jets’ 37–15 loss to the Steelers. Although the Jets confirmed the neck injury after the game, the extent of the injury is not yet known.
Jeff Ulbrich provides an update on injuries, including Xavier Newman, who is returning with the team after a neck injury: pic.twitter.com/GEJ8UDqz0a
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 21, 2024
Deshaun Watson feared he tore Achillies
Another potentially crushing injury for the Browns’ quarterback, whose career has been marred by scandals, suspensions and lengthy stays on injured reserve. Watson was carted off the field during Cleveland’s 21-14 loss to the Bengals after going down with a non-contact injury. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski says the team fears it’s an Achilles injury that would cost Watson at least the remainder of the 2024 season. In his three years with Cleveland, after signing a five-year, $230 million contract, Watson played just six games in each of the three years.
49ers believe Brandon Aiyuk may have an ACL injury
In what would be another crushing blow to the 49ers offense, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk may have suffered a torn ACL in San Francisco’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Coach Kyle Shanahan said that after the game – a game that Jauan Jennings missed with a hip injury and in which Deebo Samuel made just three appearances after winning with an illness on Sunday. The 49ers offense has been decimated by injury this season, with George Kittle missing a game and Christian McCaffrey not playing at all in 2024 due to Achilles tendonitis.
Jayden Daniels drops out early with a rib injury
The leading candidate for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year left Washington’s 40-7 win over Carolina with a rib injury. Although they didn’t miss a second in the comfortable victory without him, any moment on the injury report could be short-lived – if his mother is to be taken at her word. During the game, “He’s doing well” was posted on X (formerly Twitter), and Daniels finished the game on the sideline during warm-ups.
