NFL Week 2 Injury Updates: Who's In, Who's Out

There's already plenty of pain around the league as we look at the NFL Week 2 injury updates, from the defending champs being without their quarterback Sam Darnold, to Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown sitting on the injured reserve.

The injury report is filled with uncertainty looking ahead, too. We're sorting it all out while examining the most significant questions heading into Week 2 and potential game-time decisions that will impact your NFL picks.

Latest NFL Week 2 injury updates

Updated at 2:12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

• Kyler Murray is in the concussion protocol: We often don't know until late in the week whether a player in the concussion protocol will suit up. That could be the case this week with Kyler Murray, whose Minnesota Vikings debut was short-lived after he exited with a head injury. We'll get another Carson Wentz sighting here in the year 2026 if he remains out and can't progress through the protocol quickly enough. However, Murray logging a limited session on Wednesday is a good start.
• Cooper Rush again in Week 2? Generally, it's not a fun time when two of your quarterbacks are on the injury report. The Falcons find themselves in that position again this week, with Michael Penix Jr. unlikely to be ready yet, and the oft-injured Tua Tagovailoa in doubt too. Rush could get called upon again. To the surprise of no one, he struggled immensely during a Week 1 start while going 12-for-24 with 143 passing yards and a 51.9 quarterback rating. He isn't even fully healthy while dealing with a back issue, but Rush practiced on Wednesday.

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Who will play in NFL Week 2?

Here are the latest updates on the most critical injury situations for Week 2.

Panthers vs Falcons

🔴 Likely out

(ATL) Michael Penix Jr.

Michael Penix Jr. is progressing, but he's not ready for game action yet, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. The signal-caller has now undergone three ACL reconstructions, and both Penix and the team are understandably approaching this recovery with caution. He did take some reps on Wednesday, so the progression continues.

Panthers vs Falcons

🟡 Day-to-day

(ATL) Tua Tagovailoa

Tua Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury last Thursday in practice, and as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport notes, that often leads to more than a one-week absence for a quarterback. It's still possible Tagovailoa is recovered enough to play Sunday, but the early indications this week are pointing to another Cooper Rush sighting. Sitting out Wednesday wasn't a good start for Tagovailoa.

Bengals at Texans

🟢 Expected to play

(CIN) Joe Burrow

Any even minor ailment is notable for the oft-injured Burrow. But normal breathing should resume, as Burrow is dealing with back tightness but said he expects to play on Sunday.

Saints vs Ravens

🟢 Likely to practice

(NO) Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara was surprisingly inactive during Week 1 after being a full participant in practice. The Saints' backfield depth allowed the team to ease him back in following a knee injury. Barring a setback, he seems likely to practice again this week and play.

Saints vs Ravens

🟡 Day-to-day

(BAL) Zay Flowers

Zay Flowers left Baltimore's Week 1 win early with a hamstring issue. However, it's not considered to be a serious injury, and he likely would have returned had the game script been different (the Ravens thumped Colts 41-23, and led 31-13 at halftime). He didn't practice on Wednesday, so the situation is worth monitoring, but his absence seems likely tied to rest and caution.

Steelers vs Patriots

🟢 Returned to practice

(NE) Treveyon Henderson

The Patriots' running game suffered significantly without Henderson, who didn't practice last week while recovering from an ankle ailment. But he returned to the field on Monday, putting him on track to play.

Vikings vs Bears

🟡 Limited

(MIN) Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray took the worst of a nasty collision with Packers safety Javon Bullard, and he exited early, with Carson Wentz taking over. He's now in the concussion protocol, leading to lingering questions about who's under center for the Vikings this week. It would be Wentz again if Murray isn't cleared.

Browns vs Buccaneers

🟡 Day-to-day

(TB) Sean Tucker

Sean Tucker missed Week 1 with a hamstring issue, leading to even more carries for Buccaneers workhorse Bucky Irving. He practiced on Wednesday, possibly pointing Tucker in the right direction, though he logged limited sessions last week and still sat out.

Raiders vs Chargers

🟡 Day-to-day

(LAC) Ladd McConkey

McConkey suffered a rib injury in Week 1, and head coach Jim Harbaugh said the status of the target vacuum remains uncertain. He missed Wednesday's practice, increasing the possibility of a Week 2 absence.

Jaguars vs Broncos

🟢 Returned to practice

(JAC) Brian Thomas Jr.

Thomas left with a shoulder problem in Week 1, but he returned to practice on Wednesday.

Seahawks vs Cardinals

🔴 Out

(SEA) Sam Darnold

Darnold has been ruled out for Week 2, but his status could get murky beyond that. The Seahawks have said Darnold suffered a "very unique" soft tissue injury, and his absence will be short-term. The fact he hasn't been put on injured reserve aligns with missing a short period.

Commanders vs Cowboys

🟡 DNP

(WAS) Chig Okonkwo

Chig Okonkwo departed with a hamstring problem in Week 1, and he's trending in the wrong direction now after missing practice on Wednesday.

Colts vs Chiefs

🟢 Likely to play

(IND) Alec Pierce

Alec Pierce, the Colts' primary deep threat, returned during the team's Week 1 game after suffering a wrist injury. The wideout says he's fine now, though he added that the supportive guard he needed to wear during the game was cumbersome, and made it tough to secure the ball.

Giants vs Rams

🟡 Uncertain

(LAR) Aaron Donald

Aaron Donald continues to work his way back into game shape after coming out of retirement. The Rams are giving him the time he needs, with head coach Sean McVay saying on Monday that Donald will "continue to work his process." His status is up in the air for Monday Night Football, but there's likely more urgency with Myles Garrett on injured reserve.

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NFL Week 2 injury impact

Let's take a deeper dive on a few of the most significant injury situations heading into Week 2, and the potential betting impact.

Ladd McConkey (WR, Chargers)

• Spread: Chargers -6.5 vs. Raiders
• Total: 43.5
• Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. ET
• Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif.

Ladd McConkey's shiftiness and route running make him a target magnet when healthy, as he's logged 100-plus looks in each of his first two NFL seasons. Yes, the Los Angeles Chargers could look more often to deep option Quentin Johnston, but the direct and underrated replacement for McConkey in the slot is Derius Davis.

He's primarily worked on special teams, but Davis ran nine routes from the slot in Week 1. If McConkey is out, he could be a sneaky anytime touchdown long shot ahead of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders in which Los Angeles is the -6.5 favorite in the NFL Week 2 odds and lines.

Kyler Murray (QB, Vikings)

• Spread: Bears -4.5 vs. Vikings
• Total: 48.5
• Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
• Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL.

If Kyler Murray ends up drifting back toward the wrong side of questionable, it'll be Carson Wentz under center again.

That would be concerning beyond this week for the Minnesota Vikings. But short term, a backup who just threw three touchdown passes after Murray departed can be serviceable enough against a leaky Chicago Bears defense. That unit just gave up 37 points against the Carolina Panthers, a game that featured 361 passing yards and three touchdowns from Bryce Young.

If anything, it'll be a chance to capitalize on receiving prop totals for the likes of Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson that might be slightly lower than usual.

Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa (QBs, Falcons)

• Spread: Panthers -2.5 vs. Falcons
• Total: 44.5
• Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
• Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA.

The Atlanta Falcons are combusting early at the most critical position. Though he hasn't been officially ruled out yet, that seems to be the likely fate for Michael Penix Jr., who understandably could want one more week to feel more comfortable after his third ACL reconstruction.

But if Tua Tagovailoa sits too and we get the Cooper Rush experience again, the line would shift swiftly in the Carolina Panthers' direction. There's already been significant movement after the Falcons surprisingly opened as the -1.5 favorite, and that's since changed to Panthers -2.5.

The latter is still a steal if Rush starts. A third-string quarterback falls to that area of the depth chart for a reason, and this particular one is fresh off getting sacked four times, throwing two picks, and completing only 54.5% of his pass attempts while averaging 6.5 yards.

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