The 2024 NFL season is underway and with the conclusion of preseason training, the teams’ injury situation for Week 1 has become a little clearer.
Some teams know they will be without certain players for the first game of the season. Others are seeing it day by day, as some names have popped up at practice this week.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers are two teams monitoring the health of their key players ahead of Sunday.
The Bengals may be without their top two receivers on Sunday against the Patriots. Tee Higgins is questionable with a hamstring injury, while star wideout Ja’Marr Chase is still dealing with an unsettled contract situation and the team announced he too is ill and questionable. He said a deal is “within reach” and he is ready to play if a contract extension does not come to fruition. While head coach Zac Taylor said only “we’ll see” if Chase will play, the three-time Pro Bowler said the decision will be made at the game and if he does play, he would be limited.
The Steelers have named Russell Wilson (questionable) their starting quarterback in place of Justin Fields, but now face concerns that a calf injury could affect his ability to play in Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday the tightness is in the same right calf that Wilson suffered earlier in training camp.
Tomlin added that he was confident Fields could step in if Wilson was out. Wilson traveled 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 due to a calf/Achilles injury that kept him out of action for training camp and preseason.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan did not say Saturday whether McCaffrey’s participation would be decided during the game.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert is no longer on the injured list after suffering a plantar fascia in his foot. This means he will be fully fit to play on Sunday against the Raiders.
Other players we know will definitely be out in Week 1 include Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (stress fracture in foot), Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (torn ACL), Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb (torn ACL), Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee/leg), 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles tendon), and Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (biceps).
Here is 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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Centre-back 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): from
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T Amarius Mims (pectoral muscle): out
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WR Tee Higgins (thigh): questionable
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WR Ja’Marr Chase (break/illness): questionable
MIAMI DOLPHINS
CAROLINA PANTHERS
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RB Jonathon Brooks (ACL): out
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TE Tommy Tremble (back/thigh): out
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TE Ian Thomas (calf): from
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T Yosh Nijman (shin): questionable
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
DALLAS COWBOYS
CLEVELAND BROWNS
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QB Marcus Mariota (chest/pectoralis muscle): out
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DT Jer’Zhan Newton (foot/breaks): questionable
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S Loren Strickland (thumb): eliminated
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S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle): questionable
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DE DJ Reader (Quad): questionable
NEW YORK JETS
Jets head coach Robert Saleh said it was “fair” to say Reddick would not play against the 49ers on Monday night.
