No one is surprised to see the Kansas City Chiefs among a handful of undefeated teams, but that is about all that has gone according to schedule early in the NFL regular season. Injuries are beginning to mount across the league and that is stretching depth at key positions.
Here is the most pressing need for every team ahead of Week 4:
AFC North
Bengals: Defensive line
Myles Murphy, Cameron Sample and McKinnley Jackson are all on injured reserve. Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill were both inactive for Monday night's game against the Commanders. Those two players, as well as Trey Hendrickson and Kris Jenkins, were on Wednesday's injury report. It is a depleted unit in Ohio's queen city.
Cornerback was the other consideration just because they need the current group to play at a higher level. They did a good job muddying the waters against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs last week.
Browns: Offensive line
Starting left tackle Jedrick Wills returned last week but then left during in the game as a result of an injury. Jack Conklin has yet to make his season debut and starting right guard Wyatt Teller was added to injured reserve this week. The Browns have the second-highest pressure rate allowed (44.7%) this season, according to TruMedia. The poor quarterback play does not help.
The pass catchers need to be better as well. The Browns led the league in drops last year with 39 and already have a league-leading ten drops three games in 2024.
Ravens: Edge rusher
Former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is now the coach in Seattle. Baltimore is applying pressure on 27.1% of opponent's dropback attempts, which is the fourth-worst rate in the league, according to TruMedia.
Coming into the regular season, the concern was regarding the offensive line, who welcomed two new starters with Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele. Utilityman Patrick Mekari is in the starting lineup as well. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley has battled injuries in recent years. There is a lot of unknown in that unit. They are allowing pressure on 23.1% of dropbacks, which is the best rate in the league, according to TruMedia.
The unit has shown a lot of creativity working horizontally, but the lack of a downfield threat could prove to be challenging over the course of the season. Since registering nine receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown in the opener, tight end Isaiah Likely has just three catches for 30 yards.
Steelers: Wide receiver
With Diontae Johnson gone, Pittsburgh has little outside of George Pickens. The hope is that Calvin Austin III takes on a bigger role and rookie Roman Wilson's acclimation to the NFL is fast and smooth. Austin had a big week against the Chargers, but that will need to continue.
The offensive line has taken a few hits with Troy Fautanu and Nate Herbig have succumb to injuries.
AFC South
Colts: Cornerback
The most-pressing need is cornerback. The situation was exacerbated when second-year starter JuJu Brents found his way onto injured reserve Sep. 10. Of the five cornerbacks on the Colts roster, three were undrafted free agents and none were drafted earlier than the fifth round.
Last week, the team added defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to injured reserve.
Jaguars: Cornerback
Cornerback is also an issue elsewhere in the division. Darious Williams was a casualty of the franchise's search for salary cap health. He was replaced by 30-year-old Ronald Darby. Although Tyson Campbell impressed a year ago, he is now on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Jacksonville's offensive line needs to be more consistent. The Jaguars are allowing pressure on 40.2% of dropbacks, which is the seventh-worst rate in the league, according to TruMedia. They rank below average in yards before contact on the ground but Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby combine for the league's third-best yards after contact (3.72).
Texans: Defensive tackle
Defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins, Maliek Collins and Teair Tart are gone from last year's roster. They signed veterans Folorunso Fatukasi and Mario Edwards, but that remains a position to monitor. Fatukasi was limited at practice Thursday. Depth could not handle any injuries to that unit.
Titans: Edge rusher
The new-look Tennessee defense leaves a lot to be desired in Brian Callahan's first season as coach. A lot has been put on the plate of Harold Landry III and Arden Key. The unit needs to find a more consistent way to generate pressure having finished in the bottom five in team pressure rate a year ago, per TruMedia. Depth is even more concerning. The operation is currently second-worst in the NFL (23.1%).
Tennessee has used its first-round pick on offensive linemen in each of the past two years. The Titans hired one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL and signed free agent center Lloyd Cushenberry. Despite that investment, pressure has still been getting home through three games.
AFC East
Bills: Linebacker
Buffalo lost a lot of leadership from its defense this offseason and circumstances were exacerbated in training camp when linebacker Matt Milano was potentially lost for the year. Reserve Tyrel Dodson departed for Seattle in free agency so it leaves Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard to shoulder the load.
The interior offensive and defensive lines were also a consideration, but the team has performed well early in the season.
Dolphins: Defensive tackle
Several seasoned pieces from last year's team are now gone. Tua Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve last week and the offensive operation was turned over to Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley. There are concerns about that position in the short term, but there is not exactly a bevy of options awaiting them in free agency.
They signed multiple veteran defensive linemen to pair with Zach Sieler in an effort to rebuild a defensive line that lost Christian Wilkins this offseason. Benito Jones and Calais Campbell are the two who made it through the offseason. Campbell turned 38 not long ago. Miami has one of the lowest yards-before-contact rates in the league, but one of the worst yards after contact, according to TruMedia.
Cornerback and wide receiver depth is also a concern at the present time.
Jets: Linebacker
C.J. Mosley is dealing with a toe injury. Quincy Williams is still healthy and available but the depth is unproven.
There is also the lingering question about Haason Reddick's future with the organization. Fortunately, former first-round pick Will McDonald IV has exploded with five sacks. Jermaine Johnson II was added to injured reserve so that does not help the pass-rush situation.
Patriots: Offensive tackle
It all starts upfront with the offensive line. If that is not solidified, then the rest hardly matters. The team is allowing pressure on 45.8% of dropbacks, which is the highest rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. Mike Onwenu started at right tackle, which is a role he has adequately filled in the past, and former sixth-round pick Vederian Lowe is starting at left tackle.
AFC West
Broncos: Offensive line
Denver is coming off its best performance of the season against the Buccaneers. Center Lloyd Cushenberry departed in free agency. Denver's interior offensive line consists of Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg and Quinn Meinerz. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey is now on injured reserve. While in New Orleans, Sean Payton consistently invested premium draft assets into the offensive line year over year but it is not exactly a strength for his Broncos team that is ushering in a new era at quarterback. According to TruMedia, they have a bottom 10 pressure rate allowed.
Linebacker depth has been challenged with Alex Singleton and Baron Browning finding their way to injured reserve.
Chargers: Offensive tackle
Starting offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater did not practice Thursday. Reserve offensive tackle Trey Pipkins was a limited participant. Foster Sarell is the only healthy option at this point.
Defensive tackle and cornerback are critical areas of weakness.
Coach Jim Harbaugh wants to build a tough, physical football team and that means being stubborn in the trenches, first and foremost, which led to the selection of Joe Alt at No. 5 overall. They have been running the ball efficiently and effectively. The wide receivers have performed above expectation.
Chiefs: Running back
Running back Isiah Pacheco was added to injured reserve this week. The team elevated Kareem Hunt to the active roster and will likely lean on rookie Carson Steele and Samaje Perine in the interim.
Cornerback was a primary need after moving L'Jarius Sneed this offseason. It looks as though they will be able to cobble a secondary together with Trent McDuffie, Chamarri Conner and others.
Raiders: Cornerback
The outlook at quarterback is not exciting, but little can be done about that at this stage of the NFL calendar. Cornerback is a bigger issue. Jack Jones was a good find for them on the waiver wire, but the team lost Amik Robertson in free agency. Nate Hobbs is a solid veteran. Rookie Decamerion Richardson did not practice Thursday.
Linebacker and defensive tackle are a few secondary needs. Las Vegas is allowing 152.7 rushing yards per game, which is the fourth-most. The unit ranks in the bottom 10 of yards before and after contact, according to TruMedia.
NFC North
Bears: Interior offensive line
There are a few positions that could warrant consideration as the biggest need but none are completely destitute either. Defensive tackle, edge rusher and the interior offensive line are the biggest needs on Chicago's roster. There is hope at edge rusher with DeMarcus Walker, Austin Booker, Darrell Taylor or Dominique Robinson potentially stepping up opposite Montez Sweat.
Lions: Edge rusher
There is not a position on Detroit's roster that requires dire attention. Even at a position like edge rusher, the franchise has options opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Marcus Davenport, Derrick Barnes and John Cominsky are on the injured reserve. The Lions have invested a second-round pick in Josh Paschal and need him to rise to the occasion.
General manager Brad Holmes did an outstanding job turning cornerback into a position of strength this offseason by trading for Carlton Davis, drafting Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.. Those additions give the defense more freedom.
Packers: Linebacker
Youthful is an accurate description of the Packers roster as it is currently constructed. There is a path forward for essentially every position but they are overly reliant on those young players developing rapidly. Three safeties were drafted to play alongside free agent signee Xavier McKinney.
Linebacker has some question marks with De'Vondre Campbell absent but rookies Edgerrin Cooper and Ty'Ron Hopper have a chance to fill the void. Quay Walker, a 2022 first-round pick, is suddenly the elder statesman in that room. Isaiah McDuffie is a part of the conversation as well. Green Bay is allowing 3.60 yards after contact, according to TruMedia, which is the fourth-worst rate in the league.
Two running backs, AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd, are on injured reserve, so there is a lot of pressure on Josh Jacobs to stay healthy and produce.
Vikings: Interior offensive line
Minnesota is allowing pressure on 40.4% of drop backs, which is the fourth-worst rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. Starting offensive guard Dalton Risner has been on injured reserve since August.
It was my assumption that some aspect of the defense would be high on the list of needs but the numbers have not reflected it thus far. Harrison Phillips and Jerry Tillery have been at the heart of a few defenses that were unable to stop the run. Yet, the Vikings are allowing 0.83 yards before contact, according to TruMedia, which is the second-lowest rate in the league.
NFC South
Buccaneers: Linebacker
Linebacker is a problem area. The Buccaneers are allowing 3.60 yards per rush after contact, which is third-worst in the NFL, according to TruMedia. The room looks a lot different with Devin White now in Philadelphia.
They have done an adequate job addressing the interior offensive line with the signing of Sua Opeta, last year's second-round selection of Cody Mauch and this year's selection of Graham Barton. Opeta is on the injured reserve. Tampa Bay is averaging 0.41 yards before contact, according to TruMedia, which is the second-lowest rate in the league.
Falcons: Wide receiver
An injury to Rondale Moore really put the team's wide receiver depth into perspective. Ray-Ray McCloud III is the third receiver with sixth-round pick Casey Washington and KhaDarel Hodge being the only other two wide receivers on the roster. Darnell Mooney leads the team in receiving yards through three games.
Starting offensive tackles Jake Matthews and Mike McGary did not practice Thursday.
Panthers: Edge rusher
Carolina diverted the majority of its resources to the offensive side of the ball in support of former No. 1 overall selection Bryce Young last offseason. The defense was adversely affected and the front line is essentially composed of hired mercenaries rather than homegrown talent. Those decisions did not impact Young in the way that they had hoped. Head coach Dave Canales elected to bench Young prior to last week's game.
Pass rusher Brian Burns was traded away at a discount and the burden falls on Jadeveon Clowney. They have applied pressure on 28.0% of opponent's drop backs through three games, according to TruMedia, which is the sixth-worst rate in the league. For perspective, the top of the league (Denver) sits at 44.7%.
Cornerback, other than Jaycee Horn, is a weakness. Four defensive backs are on the injured reserve. In general, there is not a lot for this franchise to hang its hat on right now.
Saints: Defensive line
New Orleans is allowing 1.85 yards before contact in the run game, which is the seventh-lowest rate in the league, according to TruMedia. Khalen Saunders was a limited participant at practice Thursday. Opponents have just 66 carries against the Saints this season despite averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
NFC East
Commanders: Offensive tackle
After taking LSU's Jayden Daniels as the quarterback of the future, the Commanders also need a left tackle of the future after releasing Charles Leno. Rookie Brandon Coleman and Andrew Wylie are the starting offensive tackles. Coleman has been credited with five pressures and two sacks allowed over the past two weeks. Wylie has one of the higher beaten rates in the NFL, according to TruMedia. As well as Daniels is playing and as quickly as he is getting rid of the football, that takes some of the pressure off of his blockers.
Edge rusher would be the other area at which they should throw future assets after sacrificing Chase Young and Montez Sweat in the rebuild.
Cowboys: Defensive line
Dallas had struggled to stop the run coming into Thursday Night Football against the Giants, but they managed to hold New York to just 1.1 yards per carry. Pass rushers Demarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons were unavailable at the end of that game as they nursed injuries. Can Dallas be stingy against the run moving forward or will they revert to old ways?
Eagles: Interior offensive line
The loss of center Jason Kelce to retirement has taken a harsh toll on the Philadelphia offensive line. They have the third-highest pressure rate allowed, according to TruMedia. Cam Jurgens stepped into the role left vacant by Kielce and Landon Dickerson, Mekhi Becton are starting at guard.
Giants: Offensive line
The construction of the offensive line remains a mystery. Jermaine Eluemunor has started at right tackle ahead of former first-round pick Evan Neal. What comes of the battery that includes John Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten and Jon Runyan Jr.? Depth behind that unit is relatively limited as well. They rank in the bottom half of the league in pressure rate allowed, according to TruMedia.
Cornerback concerns were alleviated a bit with the return of Adoree' Jackson. Linebacker is another position to consider.
NFC West
49ers: Running back
The 49ers have lost running backs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. The replacement, Jordan Mason, had a fumble last week. Coach Kyle Shanahan is proactive in investing in that position but early-season injuries have already challenged depth.
San Francisco needs to continue investing in its offensive line. The 49ers removed right tackle Mike McGlinchey but did not replace him with a similar investment. Trent Williams is the only former first-round pick and Aaron Banks was the only Day 2 selection prior to the selection of Dominick Puni. Puni has looked good early in his career but the remodeling must continue.
Cardinals: Defensive line
The biggest issue is the defensive front seven. Arizona had 12 draft picks and only two, including first-round choice Darius Robinson, were used on the defensive front seven. Robinson has yet to make his debut as he nurses a calf injury sustained during training camp. The Cardinals have one of the 10 lowest team pressure rates through two games, according to TruMedia.
Injuries have taken starting right tackle Jonah Williams and offensive tackle draft selection Christian Jones.
Rams: Wide receiver
Where does one begin when discussing Los Angeles' injury issues? The Rams have lost two star wide receivers, two contributing cornerbacks and two projected starting offensive linemen. Following the losses of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the Rams are left with Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell at receiver.
The trade of Ernest Jones IV opened up the conversation for linebacker being the biggest position of need at the time. In his absence, the team is left with Troy Reeder, Christian Rozeboom and Omar Speights.
Seahawks: Linebacker
Seattle signed linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker in free agency before drafting Tyrice Knight in the first round. New coach Mike Macdonald did bring out the best in linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen last season in Baltimore. The hope is that he has a similar effect on the group cobbled together by general manager John Schneider.
The Seahawks have a sound roster if they can stay healthy and, to this point, they have.
