Week 3 active/inactive roundup: Jackson, Allen cleared to play
Week 2 saw another handful of key players fall victim to injuries. Here's who's in and who's out for Week 3 of the NFL season:
Active
DeSean Jackson, WR, Washington Redskins (shoulder): We don't know how long DeSean will be able to go in his revenge kick against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, but he will indeed go against his old team today. Jackson suffered a injury to his left AC joint last week against the Jaguars, but it was determined that it was a bruise to an old injury as opposed to a new one. Through the week of practice, it was reported that Jackson didn't look 100 percent when reaching above his body to catch passes, and new starting quarterback Kirk Cousins isn't necessarily a deep-threat thrower, so we'll have to see how much of a factor Jackson is against the Eagles.
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Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers (groin): Allen has been one of the more important targets in the NFL this season, given his ability to run good routes and open things up for his teammates even when he isn't catching passes. Allen was listed as questionable this week, dealing with a groin injury, but he'll go against the Bills today. Look for this matchup of underrated players: Allen, who has befuddled cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman so far this season, should line up against Bills cornerback Corey Graham.
A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (toe): Bengals fans held their collective breath all week after it was revealed that Green suffered a toe injury against the Falcons. But he went through practice this week, and he'll start against the Titans on Sunday.
Inactive
Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals (shoulder): For the second straight week, according to multiple reports, the Cardinals will go with Drew Stanton at quarterback in place of Palmer, whose nerve issue in his throwing shoulder may stem from a neck injury he suffered in Arizona's Week 1 win over the Chargers. In a 25-14 win over the New York Giants last Sunday, Stanton completed 14-of-29 passes for 167 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Against San Francisco's defense, Stanton may face a stiffer challenge, if only in playing catch-up with a 49ers offense that is more dangerous than Big Blue's.
Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans (hamstring): Foster had an NFL-high 55 carries through the Texans' first two games, and it's possible that head coach Bill O'Brien should have divided the workload. Foster will be out against the Giants, which means that rookie Alfred Blue will get the majority of reps against the Giants' struggling defense.
Bernard Pierce, RB, Baltimore Ravens (thigh): More running back issues for the Ravens, only this is an on-field thing. Pierce, expected to be Baltimore's main man in the backfield after Ray Rice's release, will miss today's game against the Browns with a thigh injury. You'll see a lot of Justin Forsett in Pierce's place, with Lorenzo Taliaferro expected to be the change-of-pace back against Cleveland's formidable run defense.
