NFL injuries: Justin Herbert and CJ Stroud update as Minnesota Vikings dealt double blow

Another fascinating slate of NFL action, another bout of injuries. Unfortunately, the 2023 season has been riddled with a number of high-profile players going down - and Week 14 was no different.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans each lost their franchise quarterbacks during defeats on Sunday, while the Minnesota Vikings lost running back Alexander Mattison and Justin Jefferson in their drab 3-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Just a week after losing exciting receiver Tank Dell for the season, the Texans were dealt another blow as Nico Collins went down.

Here are the injury storylines to keep an eye out for heading into Week 15...

Justin Herbert – Los Angeles Chargers (finger)

The Chargers were down by a score in their eventual defeat to the Denver Broncos when Justin Herbert exited in the second quarter. He was quickly ruled questionable to return, with fifth-year backup Easton Stick taking over before Herbert was ruled out. After the defeat, head coach Brandon Staley revealed Herbert had fractured his finger. He has since been ruled out for the remainder of the season, placing a firm stake in the heart of the Chargers amid a season to forget.

C.J. Stroud – Houston Texans (concussion)

C.J. Stroud has enjoyed a tremendous rookie campaign, but the Texans quarterback was dominated by the New York Jets defense on Sunday. He had completed just 43 percent of his passes for 91 yards before he exited with a head injury. Stroud has since been put into the league's concussion protocol, putting his status for Week 15 in doubt with former starter Davis Mills ready to takeover if he misses the clash on Sunday.

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Alexander Mattison – Minnesota Vikings (ankle)

The Vikings struggled for any production in the narrow win against the Raiders, although Alexander Mattison had put up 66 yards on 10 carries before he went down early in the third quarter. Mattison, injured while looking to haul in a Josh Dobbs pass, was replaced by Ty Chandler.

Justin Jefferson – Minnesota Vikings (chest)

It wasn’t the return Justin Jefferson hoped for. After missing seven games with a hamstring injury, the superstar receiver was immediately knocked out of the win over the Raiders with just two catches to his name. Jefferson was crushed by a hard hit to the midsection, with the wideout forced to go to the locker room for additional evaluation. He was then ruled out and taken to a local hospital as part of a precaution, while head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Jefferson had ‘avoided any significant’ injury.

Nico Collins – Houston Texans (calf)

Nico Collins surpassed 1,000 yards on the season with his sole catch against the Jets before he left with a calf injury. He was swiftly downgraded from questionable to being ruled out, leaving the Texans to turn to Noah Brown and Robert Woods in a brutal defeat.

Javon Hargrave – San Francisco 49ers (hamstring)

As the San Francisco 49ers dismantled the Seattle Seahawks, their defensive line was dealt a blow as Hargrave - a big free agency signing from the Philadelphia Eagles - left with a hamstring issue and was questionable to return. San Francisco’s defensive line is ailing with Arik Armstead already out with injury, so this could be a weakness for the dominant Niners.