Four and out: Surprises from the NFL in Week 3

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Sep 20, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterbacks Drew Brees (9) and Luke McCown (7) on the bench in the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won, 23-19.Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

High-profile injuries

Nobody would have predicted that Drew Brees, Tony Romo, and Ben Roethlisberger would all be out with injuries by Week 3 of the season. Brees (shoulder) has a good chance of returning to the field as soon as Sunday, while Romo (clavicle) and Roethlisberger (MCL) have more serious injuries that will see them sidelined for much of the season. Romo’s injury happened last week, so he has a head start on his road to recovery.

In addition to Roethlisberger, several other big name players were injured during Week 3 games. Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis left the match up with the Eagles with a hamstring injury, the severity of which is yet to be disclosed. Cornerback Joe Haden is one of the Cleveland Browns’ most competent players, and he had to leave Sunday’s game with a rib injury.

But wait! There’s more! San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis injured his knee during the team’s horrible loss to the Cardinals. Perhaps most unfortunate, Orlando Franklin, fresh off of signing a $36.5 million contract with the Chargers, was carted off with an ankle injury.

Heading into Week 3 the number of injuries to key players were already astounding. Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs had been knocked out for the whole season with a ruptured Achilles; Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant left his game in Week 1 with a broken foot; and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson tore his ACL before the regular season began.

That’s quite a list. And, even by NFL standards, quite a surprise.

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