Analysis: Injuries are already piling up and forcing teams to turn to the next highest player

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The next man will see plenty of action in the NFL.

Injuries are piling up across the league, putting several star players out of action and forcing teams to resort to substitutes and reserves.

Everyone has to be ready because “one game away” is more of a reality in football than a cliche. The best teams at the end of the season are often those with the depth to overcome injuries early on.

The inactives read like a Pro Bowl list.

Russell Wilson did not make his debut for Pittsburgh due to a calf injury suffered in the preseason. Jordan Love suffered a knee injury in Green Bay’s season opener. Miami was without Tua Tagovailoa for at least four games and possibly longer after he suffered his fourth concussion in five years last week.

Those are just the starting quarterbacks on the sidelines.

Reigning NFC champion San Francisco continues to lose playmakers. Running back Christian McCaffrey is already out with Achilles tendinitis, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel will miss this weekend’s game with a calf injury. All-Pro tight end George Kittle missed Thursday’s practice with a hamstring injury and his status for Sunday is uncertain.

This could limit coach Kyle Shanahan’s options on offense.

“We still have the same number of games, just slightly different styles of play, different guys in different spots,” he said. “You cut out some specific things that you would only do for those guys, but the number doesn’t change. There are just things that those guys do very well. Nothing that other guys can’t do. But there are kind of different percentages of how often you call them and things like that.”

Brock Purdy can still rely on Brandon Aiyuk as a receiver and Jordan Mason has recorded 247 rushing yards and two touchdowns as a replacement for McCaffrey.

“Obviously it sucks when you don’t have your guys like Deebo and Christian and stuff, so it’s like, OK, how can we get the ball to the other guys,” Purdy said. “But man, we have playmakers. We have a really good scheme, great playmakers and some great players that step into their roles and do their jobs really well. So I still have to do my job as far as my reads and my progressions, more than I have to change my mindset now and make sure I get the ball to this guy or that guy because a couple guys are out. It’s not like that.”

The 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams, a team that is also weakened. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp has an ankle injury and Puka Nacua is on the injured list with a knee injury.

Matthew Stafford is not only missing his two top targets, he is also playing behind a damaged offensive line. Guard Steve Avila (knee) and tackle Joe Noteboom (ankle) are on the injured list.

“There are a lot of different moving parts, but our job is to figure out how we move forward. How do we represent the things we want to represent?” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “I like how the guys came here with a good look and we need to have a great week of preparation.”

The Chiefs, who won the Super Bowl twice, were without running back Isiah Pacheco indefinitely. Pacheco underwent surgery this week after breaking his fibula.

The Bengals have been without wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) for the first two games and are questionable this week. Eagles wideout AJ Brown (calf) is questionable this week after missing one game and Bears wideout Keenan Allen (heel) is questionable. Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson (quadriceps) is also dealing with an injury.

Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is questionable, although he appears to have escaped a more serious injury after making an alleged hip-drop tackle against the Bears that was not penalized.

Many talented defensive players are also out. Bills linebacker Matt Milano, Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown and Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland are on the injured list.

Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore looks to return this week after missing a game.

The Buccaneers were without defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield last week when nose tackle Vita Vea strained a knee ligament in a win at Detroit.

“Everyone that’s been put on our roster has been asked to do their job. When your number is called, you have to be ready,” said Kacy Rogers, the Buccaneers’ assistant defensive line coach. “And that’s kind of worked for us because a lot of guys have stepped in when others have been down, and we’ve had guys move from one position to another. It just kind of worked that when their numbers were called, the guys were ready.”

Players must be prepared to be eliminated because the NFL is a collision sport, core players will continue to get injured and teams will have to resort to substitutes. ___

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