Jackson, Barkley and Chase injuries headline chaotic NFL Week 4

Week 4 in the NFL turned into a war of attrition, with several contenders losing star players to injury while key games came down to a handful of plays. As teams are being graded on their early-season performances, the story of the week was less about style points and more about who could simply stay healthy long enough to finish the game.

Star players go down across the league

In Baltimore, Lamar Jackson exited at halftime after suffering an ankle injury against the Tennessee Titans. His departure in the middle of the contest raised immediate concerns about how the Ravens’ offense will function if he is forced to miss additional time.

The Philadelphia Eagles also lost a key playmaker when Saquon Barkley left in the first quarter versus the Los Angeles Rams with a hamstring injury and did not return. Any extended absence from Barkley would likely reshape how Philadelphia distributes touches in the running game and short passing attack.

Cincinnati’s receiving corps took a major hit in its matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ja'Marr Chase was ruled out in the first half after suffering a concussion, and fellow wideout Tee Higgins later left with an adductor injury. Losing both primary targets in the same game is a significant blow for a Bengals offense built around its passing game.

On defense, the Denver Broncos were dealt a setback when 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain left with an ankle injury. Quarterback depth is also becoming a pressing issue in Washington; in London, Commanders passer Marcus Mariota went down with a knee injury against the Indianapolis Colts, adding to the team’s concerns at the position.

Packers, Colts and Browns secure important wins

Amid the injury chaos, several teams picked up results that could prove meaningful later in the season. The Green Bay Packers improved to 2-2 with a 17-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, dropping Tampa Bay to 0-4 and prolonging its search for a first victory.

Across the Atlantic, the Indianapolis Colts also moved to 2-2 by defeating the Washington Commanders 30-13 in London, sending Washington to 1-3. Navigating the travel and neutral-site environment, Indianapolis’ performance keeps it firmly in the mix in the early standings.

The Cleveland Browns opened the week on a positive note, edging the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 on Thursday night. That result lifted Cleveland to 3-1, while Pittsburgh slipped back to 2-2. With several playoff hopefuls now facing uncertain timelines for injured stars, those early-season wins could take on added importance as the playoff race develops.