Seven NFL Teams Hit Hard by Injuries in Week Three

Football coaches from the pee wee level up through high school and college always tell their players that just because they are not starting it doesn't mean they will not play. The back-ups have to do the best they can to prepare as if they are going to play because they are only a play away from having to go in.

In the NFL coaches don't worry about stroking egos. They stress about having a back-up that can adequately do the job in case of injuries. After Sunday's injury-fest there will be a number of teams that will be hurting to fill major spots by next week and possibly for the season.

The Miami Dolphins were afraid that they were going to lose running back Reggie Bush after he left the game against the Jets with a knee injury. As it turns out, there is no structural damage so they might only have to do without him for a week or two. The team will likely hope that rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill can step up without the running threat that Bush gives the Dolphins.

New York, on the other hand, is not as lucky. The Jets will have to do without Revis Island for the rest of the season after corner back Darelle Revis tore his ACL. Loyal Jets fans can only hope that Kyle Wilson is up to the task. If he is, that could have ramifications on Revis's contract negotiations.

Buffalo may be able to dodge a bullet this week. Back-up running back C.J. Spiller—who has been playing like he wants the starter's job since Fred Jackson went down—will likely be out for a couple of weeks after spraining the AC joint in his shoulder against the Browns.

Spiller is not ruling out playing this week, but if the team is able to get Jackson back like expected he can rest assured the team will rule him out.

Shaun Hill may get a chance to start again after Mathew Stafford had to leave with a hamstring injury against the Titans. As far as we know of it's a strain, but since the Lions aren't saying much there is a chance it could be something more serious.

Dallas may have a tougher time stopping the pass after losing safety Barry Church for the season to a ruptured Achilles tendon. In the same game Tampa Bay lost one of its key defenders for the season, defensive end Adrian Clayborn to a knee injury.

Colts' quarterback Andrew Luck was probably looking forward to getting Austin Collie into the lineup, but he'll have to wait till next season now. Collie had been out because of lingering concussion symptoms, but returned against the Jaguars only to have his patellar tendon rupture in one knee and knocking him out for the season.

New York will hurt the most with the loss of Revis, but the one injury that could loom large in the playoff picture (sorry Jets fans; you guys don't have a chance) is that of Dallas's Barry Church.

If Dallas is going to make the playoffs they will need to be able to stop the dangerous passing attacks of the Giants, Eagles, and even the Redskins. With Gerald Sensabaugh injured as well the Cowboys are thin in the secondary.

Detroit will miss Mathew Stafford if he is out, but they have other holes that will keep them out of the playoffs this season (running back, secondary). Tampa Bay should be fine with the loss of Clayborn as along as Gerald McCoy can handle an increased work load.

If players keep falling at this rate the Super Bowl might end up being decided by whomever has the last man standing!