It’s been a brutal Week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Cornerback Jimmie Ward was ruled out with a non-contact quad injury, and now tight end Vance McDonald is joining him out for the game. The team announced he will not return due to a hip injury. He actually suffered the injury shortly before Ward’s own injury.
The timing is particularly bad with another tight end injury in the third quarter. Garrett Celek took a tough hit to the back on a short Blaine Gabbert throw. It was on third down, so Celek will have a defensive series to rest his back. If he is unable to play, Blake Bell will be the team’s only healthy regular tight end. Long snapper Kyle Nelson can also play tight end.