The Baltimore Ravens have lost three games in a row as they try to hang on to their lead in the AFC North division. Things will be a bit tougher for the team if they lose wide receiver Torrey Smith for any amount of time after he suffered a concussion in Sunday's 34-17 loss against the Denver Broncos.
Smith left the game in the third quarter after taking a hard hit on the sidelines and knocking his head on the turf. He was unable to catch the pass from quarterback Joe Flacco and took time to get back of the field after being dazed and shaken up.
He did not return to the game and was diagnosed with a concussion later on. Although the Ravens clinched a playoff spot due to a Steelers loss, the team still has yet to lock up the division title. Smith has been an essential part of the offense for the Ravens and is one of Flacco's most popular targets as a deep threat because of his speed.
This season Smith has made 44 receptions for 767 yards and seven touchdowns while playing in 14 games this season. Smith had his best game of the season against the New England Patriots only days after dealing with a family tragedy. He had six catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-30 win and followed it with another six catch game with 97 yards and a touchdown against the Browns.
Smith has made at least one reception in every game this season and has one catch on three targets for 14 yards before leaving the game on Sunday. He has not scored a touchdown since he caught two against the Raiders in a 55-20 win on Nov. 11 and hasn't had a double-digit reception game all season.
In his career, Smith has 94 receptions for 1,608 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons. The Ravens have a crucial matchup at home against the New York Giants on Sunday. To return for that game, Smith will have to pass all the NFL's concussion protocols.
San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews is known to be injury prone and he isn't shaking that notion anytime soon. The third-year pro suffered a season-ending fracture of the left clavicle on Sunday in the 31-7 loss to Carolina and will likely be placed on injured reserve.
Mathews left the game in the second quarter after rushing for 22 yards on nine carries. The injury is another big setback for Mathews, who already suffered a fractured right clavicle in the preseason that he recovered from.
This season Mathews has played in 12 games and has rushed for 707 yards and one touchdown. He has yet to play a full 16-game schedule in his career and rushed for a career-high 1,091 yards in 14 games last season. Throughout his career, Mathews has missed 10 of 48 games.
The Chargers have been dealing with injuries to the position all season, including to Mathews and backup Ronnie Brown, who has a hamstring issue. With Mathews and Brown out, it is likely that Jackie Battle will get the start next Sunday against the New York Jets. Battle has rushed for 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Mathews hasn't had a 100-yard rushing game this year and had a season-high 95 in the Chargers' 7-6 loss against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 28. He scored his one touchdown in week three against the Saints and also made a season-high six receptions in that game for 59 yards.
San Diego has been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL this season and is now just 5-9 after losing to Carolina on Sunday. The team is ranked seventh in rushing defense, but is ranked in the bottom half of the league in both passing and rushing offense. San Diego has lost five of the past six games, including a 16-13 overtime loss to the Ravens.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders suffered a rib injury early in the loss to the Dallas Cowboys and could miss time next week in a crucial matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III did not play on Sunday, but the team still defeated the Cleveland Brown behind backup Kirk Cousins.
"I was not happy with the decision," said Griffin to the Associated Press. "That's the decision they went with and I respect that. It doesn't mean I have to necessarily like it. I feel like I could have played this week, next week, the week after. But that's not my decision."
Other notable injuries around the league include New York Giants offensive lineman Chris Snee, who suffered a minor hip injury, 49ers All-Pro defensive tackle Justin Smith, who suffered an elbow injury, as well as Washington Redskins center Will Montgomery, who suffered a sprained knee.
