The injury bug woke up from its months-long hibernation during the NFL offseason ready to feast. And feast, it did.
Fantasy football
managers already have a host of injuries to contend with after Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. While running backs were largely spared to start the year, several top pass-catchers around the league sustained ailments that could keep them out for some time early on in the year.New Patriots receiver A.J. Brown is definitely going to miss time now that he's been placed on IR, while the Week 2 statuses of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Ravens top receiver Zay Flowers are up in the air.
A couple of quarterbacks also fell victim to the injury bug early. Seahawks starter Sam Darnold didn't make it to a second offensive
drive in Week 1, and Vikings newcomer Kyler Murray departed after sustaining a concussion on a hard hit in the first quarter.
Here's what to know about injuries to top fantasy producers:
Fantasy football injury updates: Week 2
QB Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Murray took a hard hit from two Packers defenders in the first quarter of his Vikings debut and sustained a concussion. He was ruled out of the game shortly after exiting it, and backup Carson Wentz helped lead Minnesota to a 39-22 win in Week 1.
The Vikings' starter will have to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol before he can play. That protocol includes symptom-limited activity, aerobic exercise, football-specific exercise, club-based non-contact training drills, then full football activity/clearance. Murray's Week 2 status will get more clarity as the Vikings post their official injury reports throughout the week.
WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
Flowers exited the Ravens' Week 1 win over the Colts with a hamstring injury he sustained late in the first half. The 26-year-old receiver was declared out of the game early in the fourth quarter, but all indications are that Baltimore's top wideout's injury is not a major one.
NFL Media and ESPN's Ian Rapoport reported on Monday, Sept. 14 that Flowers is getting an MRI for further imaging, but that he's otherwise "considered day-to-day."
QB Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Five plays into his second season with the Seahawks, Darnold exited his team's Week 1 game with an injury. Seattle's starting quarterback suffered a glute injury while taking a sack to end his team's first offensive drive of the season, and backup Drew Lock took over for the rest of the game.
Rapoport reported on Sunday, Sept. 13, that Darnold's ailment is expected to keep him out for Week 2 and potentially more.
"My understanding is Sam Darnold is going to be out next week, and then we'll see," Rapoport said. "'Probably a couple games' was the description given to me. We will see if he's able to get there for Week 3 against the Commanders."
WR Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
McConkey took a big hit late in the third quarter of the Chargers' Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He went to Los Angeles' blue medical tent on the sideline and was ruled "questionable" to return with a chest injury, but he ultimately did not return.
The Week 2 status of the Chargers' top receiver is unclear for now. Head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters after the game on Sept. 13 that he had no update on McConkey after the injury.
WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
Pierce managed to play in Week 1 after an offseason largely spent on the sidelines during practice. Following surgery on his left ankle, the Colts' top-paid receiver was not activated from the PUP list until late August. He had three limited practices with a heel injury leading up to Week 1 before he was officially active for Sept. 13's meeting with the Ravens, in which he sustained a hand injury.
Pierce managed to play out the game, and X-rays on his hand and wrist after the game came back negative, according to Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY network. Pierce wore a brace on his hand after the game, though he did not appear concerned about missing time with the ailment.
TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Bowers was a surprise addition to the Raiders' Week 1 injury report when he underwent a meniscus trim procedure on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Las Vegas' top pass-catcher was kept out of his team's season-opening win over the Dolphins, following initial reports that he could miss "a game or two" following the procedure.
Before Week 1's Sunday slate kicked off, ESPN reported that the Raiders are optimistic about Bowers' recovery so far and that "a potential return next week is within the realm of possibility." The tight end could be active for Week 2's clash with the Chargers, though his status remains uncertain this early in the week.
WR A.J. Brown, New England Patriots
Brown did not make it through his Patriots debut without an injury. New England's new top wideout suffered an ankle injury during the third quarter of the Week 1 Super Bowl rematch with the Seahawks in Seattle and missed the rest of the game. Brown left the locker room after the contest with a walking boot on his right foot.
The Patriots officially placed Brown on injured reserve on Saturday, Sept. 12, so he will miss at least four games with the ailment. His earliest return would be Week 6 against the Jets. According to multiple reports, the timetable for Brown's return is four-to-six weeks, meaning he could be sidelined up until Week 8's game against the Dolphins.
WR De'Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers
Stribling sustained an ankle injury in the 49ers' season opener against the Rams in Australia. The promising rookie receiver went down halfway through the second quarter with an apparent non-contact injury, leading to some speculation and concern about a potential Achilles tear. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game Stribling's Achilles was intact, avoiding the worst.
However, Stribling is expected to miss "at least a month with a deltoid sprain in his ankle," according to a report from Rapoport on Sunday, Sept. 13. The injury may require surgery to repair, though the 49ers have not made clear whether Stribling will need a procedure. The team has not made any official roster move for the rookie either.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football injury updates on Kyler Murray, Zay Flowers, more
