Three teams in the playoff mix face big questions after injuries at quarterback Sunday.
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The Tennessee Titans might not remain in the playoff mix for long after Sunday. They gave Jacksonville the Jaguars' first win of the season, and they lost Jake Locker to a foot injury. Locker was seen on crutches after the game, and the Titans believe that his season is over because of a Lincfranc injury, NFL Media's Albert Breer reported.
Locker was only able to start 11 games with a shoulder injury. He's only started six games because of a hip injury this year.
Meanwhile, Jay Cutler's status figures to be an open question once again this week.
Cutler left Sunday's loss with a left ankle injury in the fourth quarter after struggling with the injury suffered just before halftime. Once Josh McCown entered the game for Cutler, McCown immediately led the Bears on a touchdown drive that cut the Lions' lead to two points.
The Bears were stuffed at the goal line and lost the game, but McCown's performance and Cutler's injury will reignite sentiment in Chicago that McCown should be starting. The discussion could be academic because Cutler might not be ready to play. He will undergo tests Monday to determine the extent of the injury, but he had no ice or wrap on his ankle and told NFL Media's Stacey Dales that he's "fine."
The Green Bay Packers were the third team to lose a quarterback. Seneca Wallace left Sunday's loss to the Eagles with a groin injury after only one series and was replaced by Scott Tolzien. The Packers might wind up signing Matt Flynn this week to back up Tolzien, if nothing else. Tolzien will start Sunday versus the Giants, Packers coach Mike McCarthy announced after the game.
Here are the other injuries we will be tracking all week
- San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis and rookie safety Eric Reid left the 49ers' 10-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers with concussions.Â
- The Packers also lost cornerback Casey Hayward (hamstring), center Evan Dietrich-Smith (knee) and guard Don Barcley (knee) to injuries. No team has had worse injury luck.
- The Eagles suffered three big injuries. Offensive tackle Jason Peters (quad), safety Earl Wolff (knee) and linebacker Mychal Kendricks (knee) also did not return
- Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor told reporters Sunday he played with a sprained MCL. He was able to stay in the game in Oakland's loss to the New York Giants.
"It got worse during the week," Pryor said after the game. "I want to play and help the team, but I just didn't feel well today."
- San Diego Chargers left tackle King Dunlap (concussion), fullback LeRon McClain (ankle) and linebacker Larry English (biceps) were all ruled out for the game against the Denver Broncos.
- Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (hip) was injured and did not return to Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.
- Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez hurt his toe in the team's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was uncertain about his status after the game.
- Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson left with a groin injury and did not return.
- The Seahawks lost cornerback Brandon Browner to a groin injury early in the game. The defender did not return.
- Peyton Manning never left Sunday's game, but he will undergo an MRI after taking a few low hits late in the team's win over San Diego.
- Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee left Sunday night's game with a left hamstring injury and was quickly ruled out. That's never a good sign.
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