NFL Week 2 Injury Report 2026: A.J. Brown, Sam Darnold and Fantasy Updates
Fantasy recommendation update, September 15: a direct injury replacement is not automatically the best available player. Compare starting roles, alternatives and league format in the revised Week 2 waiver guide. Sources: Football Nation Week 2 waiver guide.
NFL Week 2 injury report: the short version
The opening-week injury fallout is led by A.J. Brown moving to injured reserve, Sam Darnold being expected to miss Seattle's Week 2 game with an unusual glute injury, Kyler Murray entering the concussion protocol and Myles Garrett heading toward injured reserve after knee surgery. Zay Flowers, Ladd McConkey, Brock Bowers, Brian Thomas Jr. and TreVeyon Henderson remain early-week monitoring cases rather than confirmed Week 2 absences.
The practical fantasy answer on Tuesday is to move Brown into an IR slot, compare available starting quarterbacks before considering Drew Lock as emergency depth in two quarterback and superflex leagues, add a contingency behind Murray, keep Flowers and McConkey in provisional lineups with late pivots available, and avoid treating any platform's early label as an official NFL game status.
Official new-week practice designations are not generally available until teams issue their first Week 2 reports. A Tuesday 'questionable' tag on a fantasy platform can be useful shorthand, but it is not the same as an official game-status designation. This report separates confirmed team and league information from projections.
For the previous baseline, see Football Nation's Week 1 injury report. The sections below cover only injuries that remain materially relevant or changed after the games.
Week 2 injury dashboard
A.J. Brown
Team / Pos.: Patriots / WR
Confirmed status and likely replacement: High ankle sprain reported; placed on IR, so he must miss at least four games. Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams are the primary outside-receiver replacements.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Move Brown to an IR slot. Hollins is a deep-league add; Williams is a stash. Next: New England's rehab updates and first eligible return week.
Sam Darnold
Team / Pos.: Seahawks / QB
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Unusual glute soft-tissue injury; hip joint unaffected. Seattle calls it short term and has not supplied a firm return date, but Darnold is expected to miss Week 2. Drew Lock is in line to start.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Plan for Darnold to miss Week 2 unless team updates change the outlook. Compare available established starters first. Lock is an emergency two quarterback or superflex option only if he starts, not a routine one quarterback waiver claim. Next: Mike Macdonald's Wednesday update and the first official practice report.
Kyler Murray
Team / Pos.: Vikings / QB
Confirmed status and likely replacement: In the concussion protocol after Week 1. No official Week 2 game status exists Tuesday. Carson Wentz is the likely starter if Murray is not cleared.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Roster Wentz in superflex. Do not project Murray active until he clears every protocol stage. Next: Wednesday practice and independent-neurologist clearance.
Zay Flowers
Team / Pos.: Ravens / WR
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Hamstring injury; MRI reportedly showed no major damage and Baltimore described him as day-to-day. Rashod Bateman is the top healthy veteran alternative.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Hold and plan for Flowers, but keep a pivot. Bateman gains target upside if Flowers sits. Next: Wednesday participation and later-week game designation.
Ladd McConkey
Team / Pos.: Chargers / WR
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Rib injury; day-to-day while testing continues. Quentin Johnston and Tre Harris would absorb more routes if he cannot play.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Keep McConkey in provisional lineups, not locked ones. Johnston is the immediate pickup. Next: Wednesday participation and pain-management reports.
Brock Bowers
Team / Pos.: Raiders / TE
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Bowers had a meniscus procedure before Week 1 and his Week 2 availability remains uncertain. Michael Mayer would handle the larger tight end role if Bowers is unavailable. Sources: Reuters on Bowers.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Start if active, but roster Mayer where practical. Next: practice participation and whether Las Vegas gives Bowers a Week 2 designation.
Brian Thomas Jr.
Team / Pos.: Jaguars / WR
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Shoulder injury. Liam Coen said Thomas is expected to play but may be limited in practice. Parker Washington is the clearest volume beneficiary if that changes.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Keep Thomas in starting plans while monitoring practice. Washington is a contingency, not an automatic start. Next: Wednesday-Friday participation.
TreVeyon Henderson
Team / Pos.: Patriots / RB
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Ankle injury; New England expected him to return to practice Monday. Rhamondre Stevenson remains the lead alternative.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Hold Henderson and avoid a premature drop. Stevenson is the safer Week 2 play until workload evidence arrives. Next: first official participation level.
Dylan Sampson
Team / Pos.: Browns / RB
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Left Week 1 with a knee injury. ESPN reported Tuesday that he is expected to miss significant time; no specific timetable was given. Raheim Sanders is expected to back up Quinshon Judkins.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Move Sampson out of Week 2 lineups. Sanders is a deep-league contingency; Judkins remains the starter. Next: the first official practice report and any roster move.
Landon Dickerson
Team / Pos.: Eagles / G
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Knee injury; Philadelphia is placing him on injured reserve, requiring at least a four-game absence. The next healthy interior reserve will enter the line.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Downgrade the offense only modestly, but note added protection and run-blocking risk. Next: Eagles depth-chart and Week 2 line combinations.
Chris Lindstrom
Team / Pos.: Falcons / G
Confirmed status and likely replacement: In the concussion protocol. Atlanta has not issued a Week 2 game status. A healthy reserve guard must prepare in his place.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: A meaningful efficiency concern for Atlanta's run game if he sits. Next: progression through the protocol and official practice participation.
Myles Garrett
Team / Pos.: Rams / EDGE
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Underwent knee surgery Monday and is expected to go on IR. No responsible return date is available. Byron Young and the edge rotation take larger roles.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Downgrade the Rams D/ST ceiling and boost opposing pass-protection confidence. Next: formal IR transaction and team recovery guidance.
DeMarvion Overshown
Team / Pos.: Cowboys / LB
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Hamstring injury; coach Brian Schottenheimer said a one-to-two-week absence was likely. Dallas must expand its healthy linebacker rotation.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Bench in IDP formats this week unless practice evidence reverses the outlook. Next: Wednesday participation and Dallas' final designation.
Da'Shawn Hand
Team / Pos.: Falcons / DL
Confirmed status and likely replacement: Season-ending quadriceps surgery is planned. Atlanta must replace his defensive-line snaps for the rest of 2026.
Fantasy call / next checkpoint: Remove from IDP lineups. This is a season-long depth loss, not a weekly status question. Next: official roster transaction and replacement rotation.
Platform check: Yahoo, ESPN and CBS injury/fantasy pages were reviewed September 15, 2026 at 5:18 a.m. Central. Their early availability labels are cited as platform projections only. Official participation levels and game statuses come from teams and the NFL.
Quarterbacks: Darnold and Murray create two very different decisions
Sam Darnold's injury is the most unusual quarterback situation. Seattle said the issue is in the glute rather than the hip joint and described it as short term, but the team did not attach a firm return timetable. Independent reporting says Darnold is expected to miss Sunday's visit to Arizona, putting Drew Lock in line to start after he completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown in relief during the Week 1 win. Reuters' September 15 report and Football Nation's detailed Sam Darnold injury update provide the full context.
Football Nation's full prior injury-report baseline should be read alongside the official
Seahawks update. In one quarterback leagues, compare Jordan Love, Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Tyler Shough and Baker Mayfield where available before considering Lock. In superflex, Lock is emergency depth if he starts and better options are unavailable. A temporary starting opportunity does not make him the best waiver pickup or establish a lasting role.
Kyler Murray is in the concussion protocol, which is a process rather than a forecast. He can progress quickly, slowly or experience symptoms at any point, and clearance requires the prescribed medical steps. Carson Wentz is the likely starter if Murray cannot play.
Our Kyler Murray Week 2 report explains the Minnesota offense with Wentz. Fantasy managers should not wait until Sunday to add a backup in two-quarterback formats. The first factual checkpoint is Wednesday practice; the decisive one is independent clearance, not a reporter's optimism.
Running backs: Henderson could return to work, while Sampson is expected to miss significant time
TreVeyon Henderson's ankle injury looks more encouraging than it did immediately after Week 1 because New England expected him to practice Monday. That is not the same as full participation or clearance. Rhamondre Stevenson remains the safer projection until the Patriots show how Henderson handles team work.
Fantasy managers should hold Henderson and use an IR spot only if their platform permits it under his actual designation. Stevenson belongs in starting consideration because he has the clearest path to early-down and passing-game volume if Henderson is limited.
Dylan Sampson's knee injury now has a firmer short-term outlook. Reuters reported September 15 that ESPN expects him to miss significant time. No specific timetable was supplied. Raheim Sanders is expected to serve as the backup to starter Quinshon Judkins. Sampson should be out of Week 2 lineups; Sanders is a deep-league contingency rather than an automatic start.
Isiah Pacheco is a longer-range Detroit depth-chart issue. He underwent back surgery for a pinched nerve and is expected to miss roughly 12 weeks, according to the league's Monday update. He was already on injured reserve because of a knee issue. Jahmyr Gibbs remains the fantasy centerpiece; the injury changes backup depth more than the identity of the lead back.
For wider pickup priorities, compare these situations with Football Nation's Week 2 waiver-wire guide. Do not spend top waiver priority on a backup unless the projected role is supported by practice and roster evidence.
Wide receivers and tight ends: Brown is out; Flowers, McConkey and Bowers are watches
A.J. Brown is the clearest actionable loss. New England placed him on injured reserve after he hurt his ankle in the opener, guaranteeing at least four missed games. Independent reporting identified a high ankle sprain and an expected absence of about six weeks, but the four-game IR minimum is the firm roster fact. Mack Hollins becomes the most likely outside receiver to handle the X role, with Kyle Williams and Efton Chism candidates for additional work.
The Patriots' official transaction and analysis makes Brown unavailable in the short term. Fantasy managers should move him to IR, not cut him. Hollins is a deeper-league volume bet; Williams is a speculative stash with a wider range of outcomes.
Zay Flowers left Baltimore's Week 1 win with a hamstring problem after producing five catches, 150 yards and a touchdown. The MRI reportedly showed no serious damage, and Baltimore described him as day-to-day. That combination supports patience, not an automatic start. Rashod Bateman is the most direct veteran beneficiary if Flowers misses time, while Baltimore can distribute touches across its tight ends and running game.
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Ladd McConkey's rib injury is a day-to-day situation. Rib issues can affect route volume, contact tolerance and catch-point confidence even when a receiver is active, so the participation trend matters more than a Tuesday tag. Quentin Johnston is the priority add if available; Tre Harris would also gain routes.
Our detailed Ladd McConkey injury update gives the Chargers-specific fallout. Keep McConkey in a provisional slot and avoid locking a Thursday player over him unless the practice report worsens.
Brock Bowers had a meniscus procedure before Week 1. A possible Week 2 return remains an uncertainty rather than a confirmed game status. Compare Dalton Schultz, Juwan Johnson and other available tight ends before assuming Michael Mayer is the best pickup. Mayer is a conditional stream if Bowers is out; his longer term target share is not established. Sources: Reuters on Bowers; Football Nation Week 2 waiver guide.
Brian Thomas Jr. is expected to play through a shoulder issue, according to coach Liam Coen, with limited practice work possible. Keep Thomas in starting plans while watching for contact limitations. Parker Washington is a contingent volume play only if the official report deteriorates.
Baltimore's Week 1 offensive context is available in our Ravens-Colts recap, while the Chargers' passing-game context is in the
Offensive line: Dickerson and Lindstrom matter beyond individual fantasy rosters
Philadelphia is placing Landon Dickerson on injured reserve because of a knee injury. The mandatory minimum absence is four games. The Eagles must adjust their interior combination, which can affect pocket firmness and short-yardage blocking even if no skill player receives a formal downgrade.
Chris Lindstrom is in the concussion protocol after Atlanta's opener. Offensive linemen receive less fantasy attention, but Lindstrom's availability matters to the Falcons' inside run efficiency and protection. The next healthy reserve guard must prepare, and Wednesday's report will show whether Lindstrom can participate at all.
The correct fantasy response to line injuries is proportional. Do not bench an elite runner solely because one guard is out, but do lower the offense's floor in close start-sit decisions—especially if multiple starters are missing.
Defense: Garrett changes the Rams' ceiling; Atlanta loses Hand for the year
Myles Garrett underwent knee surgery Monday and is expected to move to injured reserve. The Rams have not supplied a trustworthy return timetable, so the immediate conclusion is the only responsible one: Byron Young and the edge rotation must absorb more responsibility, while the defense loses its premier individual pass-rush threat.
Football Nation's Myles Garrett knee update explains the roster and opponent effects. In fantasy, the Rams D/ST becomes more matchup-dependent, and opposing quarterbacks receive a modest protection upgrade.
Da'Shawn Hand is expected to undergo season-ending quadriceps surgery. This is a permanent 2026 depth-chart change rather than a weekly availability question. Atlanta will have to reallocate defensive-line snaps and may need a transaction to reinforce the rotation.
DeMarvion Overshown's hamstring injury carries a reported one-to-two-week expectation from coach Brian Schottenheimer. That is a sourced coaching estimate, not an official designation. IDP managers should bench him provisionally and revisit only if practice participation changes the picture.
Houston linebacker Henry To'oTo'o is expected to be out for some time with a shoulder injury, with an injured-reserve decision still pending. The Texans must redistribute linebacker work. His status matters most in IDP leagues and for evaluating Houston's middle-of-field defense.
What fantasy managers should do Tuesday
Move A.J. Brown to an injured-reserve slot. Do not drop him.
In superflex, compare available established starters with Carson Wentz. Wentz is a contingency if Murray cannot play, not a confirmed permanent starter.
Add Quentin Johnston before practice reports if wide-receiver depth is thin. He gains the cleanest path to volume if Ladd McConkey sits.
Use Rashod Bateman as Zay Flowers insurance, but do not assume Flowers will miss Week 2.
Compare available tight ends before adding Michael Mayer. His strongest case is a short term stream if Brock Bowers is out, not an automatic season long replacement.
Hold TreVeyon Henderson. The expected return to practice is encouraging, but the official participation level is the useful evidence.
Downgrade the Rams D/ST from automatic-start territory while Myles Garrett is unavailable.
The Vikings-Packers recap provides additional context for Wentz's fit in Minnesota's offense.
The next factual checkpoints
Wednesday practice reports are the first major checkpoint for most Sunday teams. They will distinguish non-participation, limited work and full work, but even a full Wednesday does not guarantee a player will avoid a game designation. Thursday shows the trend; Friday usually delivers the final Sunday status.
Concussion cases are different. Murray and Lindstrom must complete the league protocol, and a return to limited activity is not equivalent to clearance. Injured-reserve cases are simpler: Brown and Dickerson are unavailable for at least four games, while Garrett's formal transaction will establish his minimum absence.
Managers should also verify Saturday elevations, Sunday inactive lists and any workload comments. Those final facts matter more than platform icons set early in the week.
The official NFL injury report hub and the league's
September 14 transaction and injury roundup are the primary live references for the confirmed facts in this report.
Football Nation conclusion
Week 2 is a preparation week, not a guessing contest. A.J. Brown and Sam Darnold are already removed from the Week 2 fantasy board, while Garrett and Dickerson are confirmed multiweek lineup losses for their teams. Murray, Flowers, McConkey and Bowers require contingency plans, but none should be assigned an official Week 2 label before the teams do it.
The best edge is simple: use IR correctly, compare the best available players rather than automatically adding direct replacements, preserve flexibility at flex and superflex, and let Wednesday-through-Friday participation data replace Tuesday speculation. Football Nation will update the outlook when the official practice reports create new facts.
Jets injury update: Omar Cooper Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Jets received encouraging imaging news on rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr., but he is still expected to miss time. NFL Network reports that the ankle MRI brought positive news, Cooper is week-to-week and the club hopes he can return within four weeks. He is not an injured-reserve candidate at this stage. Fantasy managers should stash him in deeper leagues and keep him out of Week 2 lineups unless practice evidence changes the outlook.
Minkah Fitzpatrick is expected to miss at least one game and could remain out into Week 3 with a groin injury, according to Reuters' September 15 report. He played six defensive snaps before leaving the opener. New York is preparing safety depth without putting him on injured reserve, so Wednesday's practice report and the Week 2 game designation are the next official checkpoints.
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