It’s the first NFL Sunday of the 2024 season, and the injuries have already started to pile up. Specifically, Jordan Addison left the Vikings’ game with an injury on Sunday, and then Jake Ferguson, Kenneth Walker III, and others did in the afternoon. Lastly, on Sunday Night Football, Puka Nacua left in the first half with a knee injury. Here is the latest on the notable players who suffered injuries on Sunday and the fantasy implications.
What Happened to Jordan Addison?
Addison returned to practice on Monday of this week after missing time since Aug. 14, when he injured his ankle during joint practices with the Cleveland Browns. He was listed on Friday’s injury report as a full participant in practice and with no game designation, an indication he was fully healthy heading into Week 1.
Addison ended up leaving the game and was seen walking toward the blue medical evaluation tent. Eventually, he was ruled out with an ankle injury.
The good news for Addison, the Vikings, and fantasy managers is that the injury doesn’t appear to be serious.
#Vikings WR Jordan Addison will have more tests on his ankle injury tomorrow, but my understanding is he is not believed to have suffered a major injury.
Good news for an offense that saw Sam Darnold look effortless — with his only INT coming on a deflected pass after being hit
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2024
Fantasy Implications of Addison’s Injury
Addison hauled in three receptions for 35 yards prior to going to the medical tent in the third quarter of their matchup against the Giants. The Vikings’ passing offense is already a bit shorthanded with T.J. Hockenson set to miss the first four games of the 2024 NFL season while rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered late last year.
Should Addison miss any time, Justin Jefferson will continue to be the focal point of this passing attack, while the role of Jalen Nailor should be set to expand.
Sam Darnold’s fantasy value would likely drop a bit with Addison out of the lineup but would mostly remain unchanged. Nailor scored a 21-yard touchdown later in the drive after Addison exited the game.
– PFN Fantasy Football Analyst Derek Tate
What Happened to Keenan Allen?
On 3rd-and-2, Williams dropped the snap, loaded up, and chucked a deep ball to Allen in the end zone. The ball was sent nearly 10 yards too deep, and he limped his way to the medical tent for examination after the play.
Allen has been the team’s second-leading receiver behind Moore, catching four passes for 29 yards, including a key fourth-down conversion.
With Caleb Williams making his first regular-season start, a veteran presence like Allen is crucial as a safety net for this offense that’s struggled in their Week 1 matchup.
Allen ended up returning to the game, but it will be worth monitoring what appears to be a heel injury.
Fantasy Implications of Allen’s Injury
Allen had a 44% target share prior to coming up gimpy, putting to bed all of the preseason concerns when it comes to his weight, role, and anything else thrown at the veteran as he joined a crowded receiver room.
This passing game is pretty clearly going to be a work in progress, and Rome Odunze will develop with time. But when healthy, Allen deserves to be labeled as a viable Flex option, even as Caleb Williams goes through inevitable growing pains.
– PFN Fantasy Football Analyst Kyle Soppe
What Happened to DJ Moore?
Allen wasn’t the only Bears wide receiver to get banged up in Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.
In the first half, Moore exited the game with an injury and went inside the medical tent. Moore ended up returning to the game, however, and appears to be just fine.
Although the Bears won 24-17 in Williams’ debut, Moore had a modest performance. He finished the day with just five receptions for 35 yards on nine targets.
Fantasy Implications of Moore’s Injury
Moore was projected to be the leading man of this talented Bears WR trio entering the 2024 NFL season and has accounted for 25 of Williams’ 38 passes through the first 28 minutes of action.
If all three receivers in Chicago stay healthy throughout the year, it could be tough to count on the dominating 28.9% target share Moore saw last year in this offense. But should Moore miss any time, expect both Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze’s role to expand significantly with him out of the equation.
Other beneficiaries of a potential Moore absence could be Cole Kmet and D’Andre Swift.
– PFN Fantasy Football Analyst Derek Tate
What Happened to David Njoku?
Njoku took a big hit from Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks after hauling in a 29-yard pass from Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson with 11:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Njoku entered the blue medical tent along Cleveland’s sideline for evaluation. He was later spotted trying to run along the sideline, but it didn’t go well.
Cleveland’s medical staff eventually helped Njoku leave the field and limp to the locker room.
David Njoku is headed to the locker room pic.twitter.com/utTYmP5HQX
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 8, 2024
The Browns announced that Njoku was questionable to return with an ankle injury, but he never re-entered the game.
Unfortunately, Njolu is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He’ll undergo further testing on Monday to confirm the diagnosis.
High-ankle sprains are generally considered four-to-six-week injuries. Cleveland’s bye doesn’t come until Week 10.
Over the next six weeks, the Browns will face the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Njoku, 28, broke out for a career-best campaign in 2023, hauling in 81 passes for 882 yards and six touchdowns. He’s under contract with Cleveland through the 2026 season.
The Browns only kept one other tight end — Jordan Akins — on their 53-man roster. They have two more TEs, Cameron Latu and Blake Whiteheart — on their practice squad.
Fantasy Implications of Njoku’s Injury
Njoku, with another injury concern, is frustrating for fantasy managers. The tight end position is thin at the best of times, so anytime you lose a potential starter, it will cause headaches. Njoku had some troubles staying healthy across the 2019 and 2020 seasons, but has missed just five games in the last three seasons.
If he misses time in 2024, there is no obvious tight end option on the Browns roster to step in. Therefore, fantasy managers will need to look elsewhere. If that is the case, then Isaiah Likely will be an intriguing option on waivers this week after his monster performance on Thursday.
However, fantasy managers better be prepared to pay a high price for a player who is likely to be a very popular waiver wire target this week. If Njoku is only out for a week or two, then paying up for Likely may not be worth the investment required.
– PFN Fantasy Analyst Ben Rolfe
What Happened to Jake Ferguson?
Ferguson landed awkwardly after making a third-quarter catch as he tried to jump over Browns linebacker Jordan Hicks. He immediately grabbed at his left knee after falling to the ground.
Dallas’ medical staff evaluated Ferguson before helping him to the locker room.
The Cowboys have since announced that Ferguson is questionable to return with a knee injury.
Oh no…looks bad for Jake Ferguson…immediately grabbed his knee…#Cowboys pic.twitter.com/dIGmVU0lrg
— Drew Davenport (@DrewDavenportFF) September 8, 2024
Ferguson caught three passes for 15 yards before leaving Sunday’s game.
Ferguson, 25, broke out for 71 catches, 761 yards, and five touchdowns for the Cowboys in 2023. He was second among Dallas’ pass catchers in receptions and yards, behind only CeeDee Lamb.
The Cowboys have three other tight ends on their roster: 2023 second-rounder Luke Schoonmaker, undrafted rookie free agent Brevyn Spann-Ford, and 2023 UDFA John Stephens Jr., who was inactive in Week 1.
Fantasy Implications of Ferguson’s Injury
The game between the Cowboys and Browns has been troublesome for the tight end position. After we lost David Njoku to an ankle injury earlier in the game, Ferguson was helped off the field. Ferguson looked in a lot of pain, which raises concerns for fantasy managers.
If Ferguson is out, it is not clear that there would be another option that could step up and provide value at the tight end position for the Cowboys. The biggest beneficiary is perhaps Brandin Cooks, who also left the field and headed to the locker room earlier in the game.
Ultimately, this situation likely forces more targets to Lamb, but one of Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, or Kavontae Turpin could be a beneficiary. The problem is that we do not have a clear picture of what it will be, making it tough for fantasy managers.
– PFN Fantasy Analyst Ben Rolfe
Kenneth Walker III Injury Update
Walker appeared to get banged up on an early fourth-quarter run, as Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune reported.
The Seahawks quickly labeled Walker questionable to return with abdominal pain. Macdonald will surely be asked about Walker’s condition at his postgame press conference.
Walker handled his final carry with 10:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. He didn’t appear on either of Seattle’s final two offensive drives.
Backup running back Zach Charbonnet took four carries and earned two targets (catching one) over the Seahawks’ last two series in their 26-20 win.
Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh are the only other two RBs on Seattle’s roster. The Seahawks also have undrafted rookie free agent George Holani on their practice squad.
Walker, a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has averaged 978 yards and nine touchdowns through two seasons in Seattle.
Fantasy Implications of Walker’s Injury
Losing Walker would be a proverbial gut punch to fantasy managers after the Seahawks RB demonstrated his abilities in Week 1. Walker rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. He also added six yards on two receptions from three targets.
Walker was clearly the lead back for the Seahawks, which means he would be penciled in as a starter in nearly all leagues going forward. However, injuries have been a constant cause of frustration in the last couple of years. Walker has only missed four games in his career but is often banged up during games.
If nothing else, this injury may make the Seahawks hesitant to continue giving Walker the majority of the work going forward. If Walker cannot stay healthy, then the Seahawks may look to make this a 50-50 split, at which point, no one wins.
If Walker were to miss time, then Charbonnet would be expected to be the starter and would be a virtual must-start in all leagues. The Seahawks have McIntosh on their roster, but he would be unlikely to step into a major role, having not had a touch in Week 1.
– PFN Fantasy Analyst Ben Rolfe
What Happened to Puka Nacua?
Nacua was slow to walk off the field after hauling in a 6-yard pass from Matthew Stafford with 7:16 remaining in the second quarter. He limped to the sideline to prevent the Rams from having to use a timeout and made his way to the blue medical tent.
Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua shaken up after this play… 😬 pic.twitter.com/qnEheDkOWv
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 9, 2024
He emerged after spending nearly 10 minutes in the tent and was spotted now running up and down the sideline while being watched by L.A.’s medical staff, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.
The Rams initially announced that Nacua is questionable to return with a knee injury. He returned to the game on Los Angeles’ next offensive series.
However, Nacua was carted to the locker room at halftime. NBC’s broadcast reported that he appeared “devastated” on the sidelines. The Rams officially ruled Nacua out for the rest of Sunday’s game at the start of the third quarter.
Nacua suffered a training camp injury in early August, bursting the bursa sac in his right knee. He started practicing again in late August and was fully cleared before Week 1.
Nacua posted four catches for a team-leading 35 yards before departing. He set NFL rookie records for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) in 2023 after the Rams made the BYU product a fifth-round pick.
Cooper Kupp becomes Los Angeles’ WR1 with Nacua sidelined. Kupp, 31, began the 2023 season on injured reserve while battling a hamstring injury. He finished last year with just 59 catches for 737 yards and five touchdowns.
DeMarcus Robinson is the Rams’ WR3, leaving reserves Tyler Johnson, Jordan Whittington, and Tutu Atwell to compete for Nacua’s vacated snaps. L.A. could also lean into two-TE personnel with starter Colby Parkinson joined by Davis Allen.
Fantasy Implications of Nacua’s Injury
The fantasy football darling from the 2023 NFL season, Nacua entered this game expected to be fully healthy after working through a knee injury throughout most of the preseason.
If Nacua should miss any time in the near future, Kupp would instantly enter the top-five fantasy WR conversation on a weekly basis. Additionally, look for the roles of Robinson, Johnson, and potentially even Whittington to expand as a second pass-catching option in this Rams’
– PFN Fantasy Analyst Derek Tate