NFL Injury Updates & NHL Trade Drama

NFL injuries are stacking up, the NHL has trade drama, and the World Series is almost here.

Whiskey’s Garage

Sports Talk 

Volume 19

12/10/2026

NFL Injury Updates & NHL Trade Drama

NFL 

‍‍ ‍We are in week 5 of the NFL season, and there has been no shortage of injuries to start the year. The Washington Commanders QB, Jayden Daniels, has been out since week 2, after suffering a dislocated elbow. He suffered the same injury last season, causing him to miss a total of 7 games. However, Daniels will make his return against the New York Giants in week 5. The Chicago Bears have lost QB Caleb Williams to a grade 2 hamstring strain sustained in Week 2. Williams and the Bears came out firing on all cylinders in week 1, putting up 59 points, but unfortunately took a 9-3 loss to the Vikings and a Williams injury the following loss. He is currently week-to-week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have been off to a terrible 0-4 start, now lost QB Baker Mayfield, who will be out 3-6 weeks with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand. The injury happened in week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings, causing Mayfield to leave the game in the 4th quarter. Saquon Barkley, star RB for the Philadelphia Eagles, is now week-to-week after suffering a hamstring injury in week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley left the game in the first quarter and did not return. This happened just a couple of weeks after he left the game in week 2 with a stinger. He did return to that game later but didn’t get much playing time. Lamar Jackson, QB for the Baltimore Ravens, has been ruled out for week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons. Jackson suffered an ankle injury (believed to be a sprained ankle) in week 4 against the Tennessee Titans, forcing him to leave the game and not return. He is currently day-to-day. The New York Giants have lost their starting QB, Jaxon Dart, for the remainder of the season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. He also suffered damage to the MCL and PCL (ligaments). The injury happened in week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, forcing him to leave the game and not return. He underwent surgery 4 days after, ending the remainder of his season. Jameis Winston is currently QB1 for the Giants. Ja’Marr Chase, the star WR for the Cincinnati Bengals, suffered a head injury in week 4 against the Jaguars. He was ruled out of the game after halftime. It’s reported to be a concussion, and he is currently questionable and in concussion protocol. Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers star DE, is out with a calf injury that he sustained in warmups during week 3. He is currently week-to-week with no timeline on his return.

In other NFL news, there are 3 remaining undefeated teams: the Kansas City Chiefs, the Minnesota Vikings, and the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers and Vikings sit at 5-0, while the Chiefs are 4-0. Bye weeks are beginning as well, with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Carolina Panthers receiving their break this weekend. In week 6, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Detroit Lions, the Miami Dolphins, and the Minnesota Vikings are on bye week. Later tonight, we have a MNF battle between the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams. The Bills have been looking great so far this season, off to a 3-1 start, while the Rams have been lackluster compared to their projections prior to the season. Although the Rams still sit at .500 (2-2), they have not been playing great football and are nowhere near the level they were expected to be at as the Super Bowl favourites heading into the season. To be fair, they have been dealing with a plethora of injuries up and down the field, from their star defensive end to their star wide receiver. Myles Garrett is still out after receiving minor arthroscopic knee surgery, with no estimated return date. Puka Nacua also missed a couple of games due to a psoas injury (deep core/hips), but has since returned. 

NHL 

A lot has been happening in the world of hockey throughout the first couple of weeks of the season. The biggest story in the NHL right now is the situation between goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets. Hellebuyck, who has been with the Jets for 11 seasons since being drafted by them in 2012, requested a trade out of Winnipeg in the offseason. He has strongly indicated he is only willing to play for American-based teams and will most likely not waive his no-move clause for any Canadian franchise. Hellebuyck was the starting goaltender of Team USA at the Olympics this past year, where they defeated Team Canada to win Gold. The Jets, on the other hand, have stated they are not going to give away Hellebuyck for anything less than what they think he is worth, despite his desire to leave the team. The Jets suspended Hellebuyck without pay when he failed to report to training camp just before the season started. At the time of writing this, Hellebuyck has forfeited over $520,000 USD in salary, equating to around $747,000 CAD, and continues to lose more each day he is suspended.

On the other side of the border, Hellebuyck’s Team USA teammate, Dylan Larkin, is in the midst of his own controversy. Dylan Larkin was the captain of the Detroit Red Wings for 5 seasons before being stripped of the C at the beginning of this season after requesting a trade. He has played his entire NHL career (11 seasons) for the Red Wings so far. Larkin and former Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman have had multiple public disputes and disagreements for some time now. Yzerman recently stepped down from his role as GM, just a couple of months before the start of the season. At the Red Wings home opener, Larkin was booed as he was announced, even though he wasn’t suited up for the game. He has since returned to the lineup, and we will await to see what happens further.

MLB

The MLB Postseason is well underway, with the 4 Championship Series teams being set. The NLCS (National League Championship Series) is set between the reigning champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves in the Division Series, 3 games to 1. On the other side, the Tampa Bay Rays have secured their spot in the ALCS (American League Championship Series) after sweeping the New York Yankees, 3 games to 0. The Rays await the Cleveland Guardians, who just defeated the Chicago White Sox, 3 games to 2, after being down 2-1 in the series. The Brewers have home-field advantage over the Dodgers, and the Rays have home-field advantage over the Guardians. The series now moves to a best-of-7, with the winner advancing to the World Series.