Three Centers Down and Quenton Nelson Out: Week 10's Final Injury Reports Hit the Trenches Hard

Quarterbacks get the headlines, but Week 10 may be decided by the men who snap them the ball. Friday's final NFL injury reports sidelined three starting centers, a veteran guard in Seattle and Detroit's All-Pro safety for Sunday morning's game in Munich, according to team reports and league-wide injury roundups. Here is who is out, who is questionable and why it matters.

Arizona will play the Rams without starting center Hjalte Froholdt, who was ruled out with a concussion suffered last week against Seattle, RotoWire's Friday roundup reported. The Cardinals also ruled out guard Jon Gaines II (ankle) and defensive tackle Zach Carter (knee).

Miami is in the same spot. Center Aaron Brewer is out for Sunday's game against the Colts with a concussion and has entered the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, according to RotoWire.

In New Orleans, coach Kellen Moore ruled out two starting offensive linemen for the Saints' game against Carolina: center Erik McCoy (bicep) and right tackle Taliese Fuaga (knee), Yahoo Sports reported. The Saints will also be without rookie running back CJ Donaldson (shoulder) and second-round defensive lineman Christen Miller (knee).

The center is the least glamorous starter on the field and one of the most important. He makes the protection calls, handles every snap and is often the first line of defense against an interior blitz. Losing him forces a backup to learn the quarterback's cadence on the fly, and that is where false starts, bad snaps and free rushers come from. Three teams will be trying to solve that problem on the same Sunday.

The Seahawks will face the Raiders without guard Quenton Nelson, who is out with a knee injury, RotoWire reported. Nelson is considered week-to-week, and because Seattle has its bye in Week 11, he could return in Week 12. Seattle's line will need to hold up without one of its best players for at least one more game.

The Lions will be without All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph (knee) when they face New England in Germany on Sunday morning. Joseph appeared to have a chance to return this week before Detroit ruled him out on Friday. For a Lions secondary preparing for an early kickoff overseas, losing its best playmaker on the back end is a real blow.

New England has its own worries. Receiver A.J. Brown is listed as questionable, according to CBS Sports, though RotoWire reported some optimism that Brown (ankle, knee) and running back Rhamondre Stevenson (knee) will be able to play.

The Rams ruled out guard Steve Avila (hamstring) and tight end Terrance Ferguson (ankle, hamstring) for their trip to Arizona, and listed cornerback Trent McDuffie and safety Kam Curl as questionable, according to the team's official report. Myles Garrett (knee) is also listed as questionable, but coach Sean McVay said he expects his star pass rusher to play.

San Francisco ruled out receiver Mike Evans (Achilles), and Cincinnati ruled out safety Kyle Dugger (quadriceps). In Kansas City, running back Kenneth Walker III was added to the injury report with a new groin injury.

Football is still won up front. Fans love a highlight-reel catch, but the teams that win in November are the ones whose backups are ready when their name is called. That takes preparation, humility and a locker room where the third-string lineman works as hard as the star. The coaches who build that kind of culture tend to survive weeks like this one.

The other lesson is about player safety. Two of Friday's three missing centers are out with concussions, and the league's protocol exists for a reason. Nobody should want a player rushed back from a head injury for one regular-season game. Sitting them is the right call, even if it costs a team on Sunday.

Teams can still elevate practice-squad players and make roster moves before kickoff, so watch for late signings along the offensive line on Saturday. Questionable players like Garrett and Brown will be decided closer to game time. Final inactive lists come out 90 minutes before each kickoff, and that is when we will know exactly who answers the call.