Week 7 was a tough week for injuries in the NFL, leaving a number of teams at a crossroads as the November 5 trade deadline quickly approaches. There are a few playoff hopefuls who have been crushed by injuries so far in the season, putting them in a position where they may have to be active on the trade market.
There were a handful of notable players this week who suffered from the injury, giving the league a chance to look for possible moves. Here are a few high-profile players who suffered injuries this week and where it leaves their teams.
Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson is going down for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, presenting perhaps the most intriguing quarterback conundrum the league has had in a while. On the one hand, he’s still one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league with a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, but he was also the worst quarterback in the league not to be benched thus far. There’s a very real chance that the Browns’ offense could improve simply by not having him in the starting lineup.
If the Browns weren’t 1-6, it would make a lot of sense for them to trade for a quarterback, but they are. They signed former Patriot Bailey Zappe off the Chiefs’ practice squad, but they might as well start Jameis Winston for the rest of the season just to see what happens. They have already started transferring pieces to the Bills with the Amari Cooper trade. This isn’t going to get any easier for Cleveland.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin
The Buccaneers are a team that could actually make sense to make a trade at wide receiver.
Chris Godwin, who was having a career year, will be out for the rest of the season with a dislocated ankle. Mike Evans will also undergo tests and treatment for a hamstring injury that could keep him out for some time. That puts the Buccaneers in a pretty tough situation as they battle the Falcons for control of the NFC South.
Rookie Jalen McMillan will be relied on, but they simply need more firepower to survive the middle portion of the season with mediocre talent. Maybe it would make sense for someone like DeAndre Hopkins or Cooper Kupp to land here, depending on how aggressive Tampa Bay is. At 4-3 there is no need to give up on the season and handicap yourself completely. Being aggressive does have some credibility for the Bucs.
Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels left the Commanders’ win over the hapless Panthers early with a rib injury be able to causing him to miss a bit of time. The Commanders should be set at quarterback for now — backup quarterback Marcus Mariota has cut the Panthers to pieces on his play, which should satiate the need for scouting reinforcements.
Playing Carolina undoubtedly helped Mariota lead the Commanders to 40 points, but executing the job as requested is the expectation of a backup quarterback. Mariota and the commanders should feel fine as long as Daniels isn’t out for too long.
Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon Aiyuk is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL and MCL against the Chiefs on Sunday in the 49ers’ loss another top playmaker from their offense. On the one hand, the 49ers were somewhat prepared for this scenario by selecting Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round. On the other hand, Pearsall just made his first appearance in an NFL game this weekend after recovering from a gunshot wound in late August.
As Deebo Samuel recovers from a bout with pneumonia, it’s safe to say the 49ers’ depth at wide receiver is a bit thin. There aren’t many trade targets for wide receivers that would be worth the asking price — and it seems unlikely the Rams trade Kupp down the division — so they might just have to take this one on the chin for now.
DK Metcalf
DK Metcalf is currently considered week-to-week with an MCL sprain, but if there’s any team that doesn’t need to trade up for wide receiver talent, it’s Seattle. Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, along with quarterback Geno Smith, will be enough to keep this offense afloat while Metcalf recovers from his injury. They don’t need to trade for a wide receiver.
At the very least, they need to trade for someone who plays linebacker for them – not offensive player.
