The Cowboys took another hit in Week 2, losing Tony Romo for an extended stretch

Week 1 provided us with a reminder of how dangerous football can be, and the carnage continued in Week 2. Another player was removed from the field on a spine board, but reports on Buffalo’s Aaron Williams are positive. Williams was motionless on the field after tackling Patriots’ wide receiver Julian Edelman but, thankfully, reports quickly came in that he had full motion in all of his extremities and that he was released from the hospital.

Here is my rapid reaction to some of the significant injuries that occurred this Sunday.

Import your team for free to get lineup advice

Kiko Alonso (PHI LB) is the latest example of how Chip Kelley’s plan in Philadelphia might cost him his job. Alonso, who has injured both of his knees previously, left Sunday’s game against Dallas in the first half. Alonso injured his left knee, which is the same one that kept him out of action for the Buffalo Bills in 2014. Alonso will have an MRI on Monday but early reports indicate that he is lost for the season.

Tevin Coleman (ATL RB) left Sunday’s contest in the second quarter because of a rib injury. Coleman had to be carted off the field to be evaluated in the locker room, which is certainly not a good sign. Look for Atlanta to update his status at some point on Monday, but it looks as if Coleman could be out for next week. If you are in need of a running back look at Coleman’s teammate, Devonte Freeman, who could see an increased workload, especially near the goal line.

Jay Cutler (CHI QB) injured his hamstring trying to make a tackle after throwing an interception. “At this point,” coach John Fox said after the game, “he’s got a pulled hamstring.” The Bears will run further tests before finalizing a diagnosis, but Cutler’s teammates sounded resigned to playing Sunday in Seattle, if not longer, with backup Jimmy Clausen at quarterback. Look for Chicago to rely heavily on its running game, especially with Alshon Jeffery dealing with hamstring issues, so Matt Forte should get a bump in fantasy value.

Carlos Hyde (SF RB) was unable to follow-up on his stellar performance in Week 1, as he was limited to just 43 yards on 14 carries against the Steelers. The worst news for fantasy owners is that Hyde left the game because of a head injury, though he did pass the concussion protocol and was cleared to return. “I got hit on the crown of my helmet, so I was dizzy when I got up,” said Hyde. “I felt better when I got to the sideline. The concussion test, I passed that and I was ready to go but they pulled me.”

San Francisco was cautious with Hyde, especially considering the game was a blowout. Doctors examined Hyde on the 49ers bench and then brought him to the locker room for further evaluations. He passed their tests but did not return to the game. “I had my helmet (and was) ready to go in and coach (Tom) Rathman told me I wasn’t going back in,” Hyde said. Barring setbacks, Hyde should be a solid play next week against Arizona.

Eddie Lacy (GB RB) was carted to the locker room during the later stages of the first quarter during Sunday night’s game against Seattle. Per reports from the television broadcast, the Packers’ athletic training staff taped his ankle and then taped his foot/ankle over his cleat, but Lacy was unable to continue and was listed as questionable for the remainder of the game. Expect the Packers to update his status on Monday.

Tony Romo (DAL QB) was sacked in the third quarter of Sunday’s game, fumbling the ball in the process. When diving to try to cover the fumble Romo braced himself with his left arm and then his left shoulder was driven to the ground when Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks landed on top of him. Romo seemingly knew the gravity of the situation because, when walking off the field with Dallas’ medical staff, he appeared to say, “It’s broken.”

Initial reports indicate that Romo will miss at least eight weeks. Romo does have a history with this injury, suffering a fracture to the same left clavicle during Week 7 of the 2010 season and missing the remainder of the season. Romo can be dropped in all formats. With the absence of Romo and Dez Bryant, and with a lesser running game because of the loss of DeMarco Murray, the fantasy value of every Cowboys’ offensive player takes a significant hit. In fact, if you are looking at sleepers in the Defense/Special Teams category, look at anyone playing Dallas.

Matthew Stafford (DET QB) had X-rays on his chest/ribs after Sunday’s game. The results of those tests are unknown, and Stafford would not comment on his status for next week’s home opener against the Denver Broncos. “Obviously getting hit out here as many times as he got hit, obviously that took a toll on him,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “But he hung in there.”

Stafford’s progress should be monitored carefully throughout the week and, even if he is cleared for Week 3, he is a risky play against Denver’s defense. In fact, unless Detroit’s offensive line play improves, all Lions’ offensive players could see a decreased fantasy value. “Stafford is a very, very, very tough guy, and I will never doubt that, ever. But you got to keep your quarterback up,” stated Golden Tate. “Your quarterback can’t keep taking hits like that, especially the older he gets, anyone gets, it’s tough to come back from those. And we’ve got to find a way to protect him. We don’t know exactly what it is yet.”

Get Start/Sit & Waiver Advice with My Playbook

Jeremy Tiermini is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Jeremy follow him @JeremyTiermini.