The 2024 NFL season is underway and as teams finished up with preseason, their injury picture for Week 1 became a little clearer.
Some teams knows they will be without certain players for the first game of their season. Others are taking it day-by-day as names have popped up during practice this week.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers are two teams monitoring the health of key players ahead of Sunday.
The Bengals could be without their top two receivers on Sunday against the Patriots. Tee Higgins is listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury, while star wideout Ja’Marr Chase is still dealing with an unresolved contract situation and the team announced he’s also dealing with an illness and is questionable. He said a deal “is in reach” and he’s willing to play if an extension can’t be worked out. While head coach Zac Taylor would only say “we’ll see” regarding Chase playing, the three-time Pro Bowler said he’s a game-time decision and if he did suit up he would be limited.
The Steelers named Russell Wilson (questionable) their starting quarterback over Justin Fields but now have to worry that a calf injury may affect his availability for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Thursday the tightness was in the same right calf that Wilson strained at the start of training camp.
Tomlin added he is confident that should Wilson be ruled out Fields can fill in just fine. Wilson did travel with the team to Atlanta.
Meanwhile, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is listed as questionable for Monday night’s game against the New York Jets as he deals with a calf/Achilles injury that sidelined him through training camp and the preseason.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan did not say on Saturday whether McCaffrey would be a game-time decision.
As for Chargers QB Justin Herbert, he is no longer on the injury report after dealing with a plantar fascia in his foot. That makes him a full go Sunday against the Raiders.
Other players we know will definitely be out for Week 1 include Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (stress fracture in foot), Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (ACL recovery), Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb (ACL recovery), Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee/leg), 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), and Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (biceps), among others.
Here’s the rest of the Week 1 injury report:
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
ATLANTA FALCONS
BUFFALO BILLS
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S Jamal Adams (hip): out
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LB Otis Reese (concussion): out
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CB Chidobe Awuzie (calf): questionable
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WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee): questionable
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
CINCINNATI BENGALS
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DT Kris Jenkins (thumb): out
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T Amarius Mims (pectoral): out
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WR Tee Higgins (hamstring): doubtful
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WR Ja’Marr Chase (rest/illness): questionable
MIAMI DOLPHINS
CAROLINA PANTHERS
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RB Jonathon Brooks (ACL): out
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TE Tommy Tremble (back/hamstring): out
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TE Ian Thomas (calf): out
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T Yosh Nijman (tibia): questionable
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
DALLAS COWBOYS
CLEVELAND BROWNS
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QB Marcus Mariota (chest/pectoral): out
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DT Jer’Zhan Newton (foot/rest): doubtful
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S Loren Strickland (thumb): out
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S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle): doubtful
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DE D.J. Reader (quad): queationable
NEW YORK JETS
Jets head coach Robert Saleh said it is “fair” to say that Reddick will not play Monday night against the 49ers.