There may not have been any NFL games recently, but many players are still dealing with injuries. With fantasy football drafts just a few weeks away, it’s important to know whether injured players are likely to be ready for the start of the season. Here is your all-encompassing fantasy injury update.
Nick Chubb Injury Update
Nick Chubb is progressing well in his recovery from tearing multiple knee ligaments in Week 2 of last season. He’s squatting more weight than I could ever dream of and running at full speed.
While Chubb has started making cuts and looks impressive, he’s nowhere near ready to play in an actual game. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and to the surprise of no one, Chubb is not expected to be ready for Week 1. My guess is he will start the season on the PUP list.
Fantasy managers considering drafting Chubb will do so knowing they will have to sit on him for what could be months. Jerome Ford is the presumptive starter in Cleveland for as long as Chubb is sidelined.
T.J. Hockenson Injury Update
T.J. Hockenson tore his ACL and MCL last season. Given the nature of his position, it’s easier for him to return than a guy like Chubb. However, Hockenson’s injury occurred in Week 17. An injury that late in the season makes it highly unlikely that he’ll be anywhere close to fully recovered in time to start the season.
Hockenson opened training camp on the PUP list and will likely remain there to start the season. It’s highly probable he returns at some point, though, but he won’t be fully back until next year. I would not consider drafting Hockenson until the final round or two of redraft leagues.
Kirk Cousins Injury Update
Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles in Week 8 of last season. An Achilles tear is one of the worst injuries an NFL player can sustain. However, it’s not quite as devastating for quarterbacks as it is for running backs or wide receivers who rely much more on cutting.
The news surrounding Cousins’ recovery has been all positive, though. He was fully cleared for the start of training camp. Setbacks or reinjury are always possible, but as of now, there’s no reason to think Cousins will be anything other than ready to rock come Week 1.
If there is a slight concern with Cousins, it would be his ability to really push off that back foot and step into throws. That might impact his deep-ball accuracy early in the season, but it is purely speculative. Fantasy managers should draft Atlanta Falcons players with the same confidence they would’ve had if Cousins had never gotten hurt.
Russell Wilson Injury Update
The Pittsburgh Steelers overhauled their quarterback room this offseason, replacing Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Wilson is the overwhelming favorite to be under center Week 1, but his training camp is off to an inauspicious start.
Wilson has been nursing a calf strain, which has limited him to mostly handoffs at practice. He’s not able to run at full speed just yet.
MORE: PFN’s Consensus Fantasy Football Rankings (Updated Weekly)
It’s still very early. We have over a month until the season starts. However, as we saw last season with Joe Burrow, calf strains have a tendency to linger.
Right now, it’s too soon for fantasy managers to panic. But if Wilson can’t get back to practicing in full by the end of August, we may have to consider the notion of Fields starting Week 1.
Aaron Rodgers Injury Update
Of all the players dealing with injuries right now, Aaron Rodgers is the farthest removed from his. Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1 of the 2023 season. His recovery was going well enough that he was going to play in the final two or three games last year had the New York Jets still been in playoff contention.
It’s now been an additional seven months since Rodgers was recovered enough to manage the injury on a football field. He is back to 100 percent (or as close to it as a 40-year-old recovering from a torn Achilles can get).
There’s definitely reason for concern that a quarterback as old as Rodgers — who did not look particularly good when we last saw him play in 2022 — could completely fall off this season. Nevertheless, fantasy managers can proceed into drafts as if Rodgers is all systems go for Week 1.
Joe Mixon Injury Update
Since NFL teams are not obligated to release official injury reports during the preseason, we don’t have much to go on as it pertains to Joe Mixon’s injury. We know he’s dealing with a hamstring strain, but we do not know the severity.
Although Mixon has already missed multiple days of training camp practices, it’s important to remember that teams are always extra cautious with injuries during the offseason. That’s even more pronounced with a veteran like Mixon.
It’s less than ideal that Mixon is on a new team. But regardless, Mixon should have no trouble integrating himself into the Houston Texans‘ offense when he returns.
As of now, there’s no reason to think Mixon will miss regular-season action. If Mixon is still sidelined three weeks from now, that’s when we can start discussing whether to lower him in rankings.
Jonathon Brooks Injury Update
The Carolina Panthers rookie running back is coming off a November ACL tear. Jonathon Brooks is not practicing just yet but is expected to be activated off the PUP list sometime in August. That would put him on track to play in Week 1.
In the meantime, Chuba Hubbard has been operating as the RB1, a role he earned last season. He may be in store for a larger early-season role before eventually giving way to the rookie.
Given where the Panthers drafted Brooks, making him the first running back off the board, he’s going to be the starter sooner rather than later. It will likely be a slow start for Brooks, but the second half of the season is more important than the first half. If the injury keeps Brooks’ ADP depressed, fantasy managers should very much consider drafting him at a discount.
Kendre Miller Injury Update
It’s been a challenging beginning to Kendre Miller’s career. He was sidelined for much of the 2023 preseason due to injuries. Now, his 2024 season is off to a similarly concerning start.
It’s bad enough that Miller is dealing with yet another hamstring strain. Compounding the issue is his coaches are clearly frustrated with his inability to stay on the field.
#Saints HC Dennis Allen on Kendre Miller:
“Kendre’s got a hamstring. So, look, that’s a player that’s gonna have to figure out how to stay healthy, ‘cuz it’s hard to make the team when you’re in the training room all the time.” pic.twitter.com/JR5kXeo5T0
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex)
There’s enough smoke here that fantasy managers need to downgrade Miller in rankings. With veterans like Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams on the roster, Miller needs to prove he deserves more work. As New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen pointed out, he can’t do that from the training room.
MarShawn Lloyd Injury Update
The Green Bay Packers‘ rookie third-rounder missed OTAs and the start of training camp with a hip issue. While it’s not great for MarShawn Lloyd to be missing out on valuable reps, he was cleared to return earlier this week.
There’s plenty of time between now and the start of the season. Plus, Lloyd should see significant action in the preseason. He will get more than enough opportunities to prove he deserves a meaningful role in the running back rotation.
TOOL: Try PFN’s Free Trade Analyzer
Lloyd should easily jump A.J. Dillon on the depth chart. On a team that has always used a committee, Lloyd could have standalone fantasy value behind Josh Jacobs. And if Jacobs struggles like he did last season, Lloyd could be a fantasy RB2 by midseason.
Keaton Mitchell Injury Update
It’s been a rough start to Keaton Mitchell’s career. He missed the first five weeks of his rookie season due to injury. After playing in two games, Mitchell got hurt again. He appeared in the Baltimore Ravens‘ next six games and thoroughly impressed before tearing his ACL.
Mitchell is currently on the PUP list. He likely will not be activated to start the season, meaning he will miss at least the first six weeks. Justice Hill should operate as the change-of-pace back behind Derrick Henry until Mitchell can return.
Chris Olave Injury Update
We don’t have a ton of information on Chris Olave’s injury. According to Saints head coach Dennis Allen, Olave fell hard on his hip.
Although we don’t have anything beyond that, it doesn’t sound like anything major. If there were a game this week, my guess is Olave would be on the field.
Mike Williams Injury Update
The oft-injured big outside receiver is on his way back from a torn ACL he sustained early last season. Mike Williams opened training camp on the PUP list. He’s been spotted doing a little something at Jets practices.
Williams is on the fringe of draftable in fantasy this year, but he does project to be the team’s WR2 opposite Garrett Wilson if healthy. By all accounts, Williams is on track to be activated before the start of the season but will likely not be 100% for another couple of months. He’s worth a late-round dart throw.
Jerry Jeudy Injury Update
Jerry Jeudy has been dealing with a minor leg injury that has held him out of practice. He’s been able to do some side work with the athletic staff, though, which is a good sign.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Jeudy is close to returning to the practice field with his teammates. Fantasy managers should have no concerns about Jeudy’s availability for the regular season.
Roman Wilson Injury Update
The Steelers’ rookie third-rounder sprained his ankle at practice earlier this week. Although he was carted off the field, fantasy managers shouldn’t fear the worst, as carts are used much more liberally during training camp.
According to Ian Rapaport, Wilson should be ready for the start of the season. Unfortunately, given that he’s a rookie, this is going to delay his progression. The team will likely ease him back into action. This injury removes Wilson from late-round dart-throw consideration, as he is unlikely to come into any fantasy value until later in the season.
DeMario Douglas Injury Update
The New England Patriots‘ second-year receiver has been dealing with a minor hand issue. He’s been spotted at practices with the red no-contact jersey on. This doesn’t appear to be serious at all, though. Fantasy managers can proceed as if Douglas is perfectly healthy.
Rashod Bateman Injury Update
According to the man himself, Rashod Bateman is just dealing with some soreness.
Ravens WR Rashod Bateman gives an update on his injury status on Instagram
“Lol on my mama it’s just sore bro, they trippn” pic.twitter.com/VUnsGlsWkb
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34)
There’s no cause for concern here. Fantasy managers should continue not drafting Bateman as normal.
Tucker Kraft Injury Update
The Packers’ tight end really came on strong last season after Luke Musgrave went on IR. However, Tucker Kraft has fallen a bit behind in the TE competition due to his inability to practice as he recovers from surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle.
There is good news, though. Kraft is reportedly close to getting back on the practice field. Fantasy managers should pay attention to this key positional battle, as the outcome could determine who is the better fantasy asset between Kraft and Musgrave.
Tyler Higbee Injury Update
Tyler Higbee remains on the PUP list as he works his way back from a torn ACL and MCL. Given that the injury was sustained so late in the season, it is extremely unlikely he is ready for Week 1.
In the interim, Colby Parkinson has been working with the first team. The former Seattle Seahawks TE hasn’t done much to start his career, but he could be poised to see the largest role of his career.
The Los Angeles Rams TE1 has always been on the fantasy radar during the Sean McVay era. Parkinson is worth a look in deeper leagues for those managers who completely punt the tight end position.