Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson has already missed time this season due to injures and he could out for an extended period of time after suffering an apparent hamstring injury on Sunday.
Nelson left the left Sunday's 23-14 win against the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter following the second drive of the game and did not return. He missed two games earlier this season with hamstring issues and has only made six catches in the past three games.
Last year Nelson was one of the top wide receivers in the league, making 68 catches for 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns, third in the NFL. This season he has been slowed by injuries and has made 46 receptions for 658 yards and six touchdowns.
The Packers have dealt with numerous injuries to the wide recieveing corps this season, including to Greg Jennings, who missed seven games before starting against Minnesota on Sunday.
The injury to Nelson has led to the emergence of Randall Cobb, who has made 64 receptions for 675 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Nelson has posted 12 catches in two different games this season and has only gone over 100 receiving yards twice. He caught nine balls for 122 yards and a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams on Oct. 21, but has only scored on touchdown in four games since.
The Packers also lost right tackle T.J. Lang to an ankle injury in the game. Undrafted rookie Don Barclay came into the game in relief.
Lang is just the latest injury to the Packers and the offensive line. The team has already lost All-Pro Bryan Bulaga and has had to shuffle a number of players into new spots, leaving quarterback Aaron Rodgers vulnerable to pressure this season.
The Miami Dolphins may have lost a key member of their team for an extended period as All-Pro offensive lineman Jake Long injured his triceps in the team's 23-16 loss against the Patriots on Sunday.
Long came out of the game in the first quarter and was replaced by second-round pick Jonathan Martin, who moved to the left side from his right tackle position.
"I think I did all right," Martin said to the Miami Herald. "I gave up that one sack late. I'm a little rusty. I haven't played [left tackle] in a while. I'll get some reps this week in practice and be all set."
According to Yahoo Sports, Long could be lost for the rest of the season.
Long will undergo tests on Monday, but NFL.com's Jeff Darlington spoke to a source who said the injury "doesn't look good."
If the injury causes Long to miss the season, it may be the end of his Dolphins career because he will be a free agent following this year. His level of play has declined over the past two seasons and his franchise tag number might be too expensive for Miami.
According to ESPN.com: "Because Long's salary-cap number this season is higher than the franchise number for offensive linemen, the Dolphins would have to franchise him at 120 percent of this year's salary. Thus, his franchise tag would be $15,365,952, according to league sources."
Long has dealt with numerous injuries the past few years, including last season when he suffered a torn right biceps and was placed in injured reserve before the final game of the year, snapping a 61-game streak of consecutive starts. In 2010 he played seven games with a shoulder injury.
"He's been a good player for a long time and he's the leader on the offense," quarterback Ryan Tannehill said to the Miami Herald.. "So, it's tough to replace him. I feel like Nate Garner and moving Jonathan over the other side, they did a good job."
Long has been selected to the Pro Bowl as a starter for four straight seasons and was the No. 1-overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Tight end Dustin Keller has been banged up all season for the New York Jets and he was injured again on Sunday.
According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, Keller suffered a high-ankle sprain in the 7-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals and may not play again this year. He had two catches for 12 yards in the game.
Keller is about to enter free agency and has played in only eight games this year. He hurt his hamstring in the preseason and missed four games following the season opener. This year Keller has 28 catches for 317 yards and two touchdowns
The injury to Keller has opened up the offense for tight end Jeff Cumberland. Keller led the Jets in receiving in 2011 and was a first-round draft pick by the team in 2008.
