Kyle Juszczyk injury, Terrion Arnold legal twist headline NFC West roundup

There were no NFC West games on the schedule yesterday, but it was still a busy news day atop a division led by the 4-0 San Francisco 49ers, followed by the 3-1 Seattle Seahawks, the 2-2 Los Angeles Rams, and the 1-3 Arizona Cardinals.

49ers: Juszczyk sidelined, contender status underlined

According to ESPN, as relayed by Pro Football Rumors, 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk is expected to miss multiple weeks after suffering a knee injury in San Francisco’s Week 4 win over the Denver Broncos. An MRI showed a bone bruise and sprain that are set to sideline him for two to three games. Even with that setback, CBS Sports continues to place San Francisco among the NFL’s elite teams and wonders whether the 49ers could firmly establish themselves as Super Bowl favorites in Week 5.

CBS Sports’ pickers have also spotlighted this weekend’s 49ers-at-Seahawks matchup as one of the top games on the Week 5 slate.

Seahawks: legal pressure rises on Terrion Arnold

In Seattle, the focus is off the field. Pro Football Rumors reports that another co-defendant in the criminal case involving cornerback Terrion Arnold, Boakai Hilton, has pled guilty and will testify against him, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. The deal is likely bad news for Arnold, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

On the field, the Seahawks’ showdown with the 49ers is among the marquee games CBS Sports experts are picking in Week 5.

Rams: Aaron Donald trending toward Week 5

For the Rams, Pro Football Rumors notes that Aaron Donald is moving toward a Week 5 return. A significant portion of the all-time great’s latest contract is tied to per-game roster bonuses, and he only needs to be on the 53-man roster to collect them rather than actually suit up. Despite what CBS Sports calls a slow start, Los Angeles is still ranked among the better teams in the league.

Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. buzz, Giants connection

In Arizona, Pro Football Rumors indicates that the Indianapolis Colts have interest in Cardinals wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, who spent all 13 of his NFL seasons in Indianapolis. In a separate Giants-focused note, Pro Football Rumors adds that New York center John Michael Schmitz missed Friday’s practice before Week 4 to be present for the birth of his first child and, while in uniform for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, remained on the bench as the team used backup Bryan Hudson instead.