Superstar injuries shake up Week 4 as Texans slide and Cowboys seize NFC East edge

Week 4 of the NFL season delivered high drama on the field and serious concern off it, as a string of injuries hit some of the league’s biggest names. At the same time, the Houston Texans continued their alarming slide, while the Dallas Cowboys strengthened their grip on a suddenly fragile NFC East.

Star players go down across the league

In Philadelphia, Saquon Barkley was limited to almost no action in an eventual loss after suffering a hamstring injury. Cincinnati’s offense took a major blow when Ja'Marr Chase left a defeat with a concussion, and Baltimore placed Lamar Jackson on a day-to-day status after an ankle issue that forced him out at halftime of a Ravens win.

The injury toll did not stop there. Denver corner Patrick Surtain II exited a Broncos loss with a non-contact ankle injury. In London, the Washington Commanders were forced to turn to their third-string quarterback once Marcus Mariota departed with a knee problem. The Green Bay Packers, meanwhile, fear that linebacker Edgerrin Cooper may have torn his Achilles, a setback that could cost him the rest of the season if confirmed.

The Kansas City Chiefs also suffered a major scare when wide receiver Tyquan Thornton was carted off after a gruesome ankle injury later diagnosed as a dislocation. With their receiving corps already battered, Kansas City is now exploring the possibility of a reunion with Tyreek Hill to stabilize the position.

Texans’ season teeters as Cowboys gain divisional leverage

On the standings front, the list of undefeated teams shrank to three: the Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings are the only remaining 4-0 clubs. The Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders both absorbed their first losses of the year, but Houston’s situation looms as the most troubling storyline out of the weekend.

The Texans opened the season with Super Bowl expectations but remain winless nearly a quarter of the way through the schedule. A defense billed as perhaps the NFL’s best has not met that standard, and Sunday’s defeat is being framed as the most damaging of Week 4 given how far it pushes Houston from its preseason goals.

Across the field from them, the Cowboys made just enough plays to edge past the Texans. Given the broader context, analysts now see Dallas as having the upper hand in the NFC East. Their win, combined with the Eagles’ offensive collapse and mounting injuries for both the Washington Commanders and New York Giants, has opened a clear path for the Cowboys to control the division race.

Bears headline performances, Lamb makes history, officials under review

Chicago turned in what was graded as the top performance of the week. The Bears earned an "A-" for a 23-12 victory over the New York Jets, their third win with three different starting quarterbacks, as offensive coordinator Ben Johnson drew praise for his play design and execution.

There were notable milestones as well. The Jets’ defense finally recorded an interception after a drought of 637 days, ending the longest streak without a pick in the league. In Dallas, CeeDee Lamb set a franchise record for single-game receptions by a wide receiver and came close to surpassing Jason Witten outright in a dominant outing against Houston.

Officiating also came under the microscope. Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after criticizing a down judge, later describing him as "sensitive." The league is reviewing a profane remark allegedly directed at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride by an official, as well as referee Adrian Hill’s heated reaction when Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson tried to help him up from the turf. Those incidents capped a tumultuous week that mixed headline injuries, shifting playoff outlooks and renewed scrutiny on how games are being officiated.