Hill, Horne, Cook, Magee, 49ers

As the preseason came to a close, many teams experienced the horror of the worst-case scenario for most players: getting injured just before the team made final roster decisions. Some players experienced this worst-case scenario, while others got away with minor discomfort.

Texan Security Brandon Hill was one of those players who experienced a worst-case scenario this weekend. In Houston's final preseason game against the Rams, Hill suffered a serious knee injury, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The injury will be enough to end Hill's 2024 season before it even begins.

Hill, drafted in the seventh round by Pittsburgh last year, only appeared in two games. With much of the same cast returning in 2024 as last year, it was unlikely he would see much more time on the field, but his loss reduces the team's depth at safety and certainly ends his chances of making the 53-man roster.

Here are some more injury updates from the NFL:

• According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, Giants defensive tackling Timmy Horne will likely miss the 2024 season as well. The third-year player from Kansas State suffered a torn Achilles tendon that will sideline him for the year. Horne arrived in New York late last year after spending most of his first two seasons in the league with the Falcons. He started five games in 2022 as an undrafted rookie but has been a backup since then.
• The Steelers continues to struggle with some bumps and bruises along the offensive line. After being a rookie in the first round tackle Troy Fautanu suffered an MCL sprain two weeks ago and Center Nate Herbig Rotator cuff tear, latest bump hits key reserve lineman Daniel Kochaccording to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Pittsburgh acquired Cook after he was released by the Buccaneers last offseason, and although he made the team's final 53-man roster in 2023, he never played in a game. Due to his recent foot injury, it looks like Cook will have to wait several more weeks before he can make his NFL and Steelers debut.
• Another player who has avoided the worst case scenario but will be out for quite some time is Commanders Middle Linebacker Jordan Magee. According to ESPN's John Keim, the fifth-round rookie out of Temple had an MCL injury that required “surgery.” It was confirmed that the injury is not season-ending and that he will return at some point this season. Washington has some depth at the linebacker position, but Magee was the only player listed behind the veteran. Bobby Wagner in this Mike role.
• Finally, we received an update on the MRI results from 49ers Pass Rushers Leonard Floyd And Yetur Gross-Matos. Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported shortly after Friday's game that the two suffered knee sprains that did not result in an ACL injury, but to be sure, MRIs are scheduled for both players. Matt Barrows of The Athletic was the one to provide an update today, claiming that after MRIs scheduled for yesterday, Floyd was found to be day-to-day, while Gross-Matos will require a week-to-week analysis.