Week 4 of the NFL season brought a wave of injuries across the league, and the grades for all teams reflect the fallout. From Lamar Jackson leaving the game at halftime to Marcus Mariota’s knee injury in London, the week was defined by absent stars as much as by the games themselves.
The biggest losses came in a single afternoon. Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson injured his ankle against the Titans and left the game at halftime. Saquon Barkley didn’t return for the Eagles after hurting his hamstring in the first quarter against the Rams. Those two hits were followed by a string of other notable exits.
Ja’Marr Chase was knocked out of the game with a concussion in the first half against the Jaguars, a blow that hurt the Bengals badly. Tee Higgins suffered an adductor injury in the same game. The Broncos lost Patrick Surtain, the 2024 NFL defensive player of the year, to an ankle injury. The Commanders took another hit at quarterback when Marcus Mariota went down with a knee injury in London against the Colts.
The Bengals Slipped Again
Cincinnati’s loss to Jacksonville was the headline result, and the injuries clearly shaped how the game unfolded. Chase and Higgins were both out for the Bengals, and the Commanders’ situation was simpler: Mariota’s injury at quarterback changed the game.
The grades account for the context. A team that loses its quarterback mid-game faces a different test than one that plays with a full roster.
What the Grades Show
The grades for all teams are now available, and the pattern is clear. The week’s events were dramatic, but the grades capture the actual performance on the field, not the drama around it.
| Team | Key Injury | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Ravens | Lamar Jackson (ankle) | Left at halftime |
| Eagles | Saquon Barkley (hamstring) | Did not return |
| Bengals | Ja’Marr Chase (concussion), Tee Higgins (adductor) | Lost to Jacksonville |
| Broncos | Patrick Surtain (ankle) | — |
| Commanders | Marcus Mariota (knee) | — |
The table tells the story quickly. Baltimore and Philadelphia both lost their quarterbacks early, while the Bengals and Broncos each lost a key player.
The Takeaway
The week’s grades show a league where injury luck mattered as much as talent. A team can be built perfectly on paper and still lose because a starter went down at the wrong moment. The grades reflect that reality.
The Bengals slipped again, and the injuries were the reason. For the rest of the league, the lesson is simple: protection matters. A healthy roster is the difference between a good week and a bad one.
The grades are out, and the league moves on.
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