The return of regular-season NFL action, unfortunately, also brings the return of injuries. Plenty of players got banged up in Week 1, while others suffered injuries that could knock them out for several weeks or more. Let’s round up the most notable injury updates from this past week.
NFL Injury Updates for Week 1
Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love was lucky to avoid an ACL tear on the final play of the Packers’ Week 1 loss to the Eagles, but he did sprain his MCL. He’s initially expected to miss between three and six weeks while recovering.
Green Bay acquired backup QB Mailk Willis just before the start of the regular season and has since contacted free agent Ryan Tannehill. The Packers face the Colts, Titans, Vikings, and Rams over the next four weeks.
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen landed hard on his left hand during the Bills’ win against the Arizona Cardinals. He never missed a snap, but Allen finished the game with a large wrap on his hand. While the Bills QB said he was “fine” after Sunday’s victory, he admitted he would likely undergo further tests.
On Monday, head coach Sean McDermott said Allen had been cleared to face the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football in Week 2.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III departed Seattle’s Week 1 win over the Denver Broncos after suffering abdominal pain in the fourth quarter. Although head coach Mike Macdonald didn’t mention Walker’s status on Monday, the third-year RB downplayed his injury, telling reporters, “I’m good.”
Zach Charbonnet, who handled five touches after Walker left, would start if Walker were forced to miss time.
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua appeared to aggravate the knee injury he battled through training camp during the Rams’ Sunday night loss to the Detroit Lions. The second-year WR initially returned to last night’s game for one play before being carted to the locker room at halftime.
Unfortunately, head coach Sean McVay announced on Monday that Nacua has a sprained PCL and will go on injured reserve.
Nacua will be required to miss at least four games. Over the next four weeks, the Rams will face the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers.
Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears
Keenan Allen limped off the field in the fourth quarter of the Bears’ Week 1 comeback win and entered the blue medical tent. However, Chicago never formally announced Allen’s injury, while head coach Matt Eberflus has yet to address the veteran receiver’s condition.
Unfortunately, Allen isn’t the only Bears wideout dealing with an injury concern.
Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze is getting an MRI on his knee on Monday. As The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain noted, Odunze hobbled off the field following a fourth-quarter blocking rep and never returned.
The Bears may only have three healthy wide receivers — DJ Moore, Tyler Scott, and DeAndre Carter — on their active roster.
Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison left the Vikings’ Week 1 win over the Giants after suffering a third-quarter ankle injury. The second-year wideout injured his right ankle on Sunday after dealing with a left ankle injury during the summer.
NFL Network reported that Addison’s injury is not believed to be serious.
On Monday, head coach Kevin O’Connell said that while Addison still has “pretty significant soreness,” the Vikings are “still hopeful he’ll have a chance to play this week,” via Alec Lewis of The Athletic. O’Connell said Minnesota will “be smart” with the 2023 first-round pick but noted how quickly Addison recovered from his training camp ankle injury.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Considering how bad Jake Ferguson’s knee injury appeared on Sunday, he’s probably fortunate to emerge with only an MCL sprain. While he may miss time, Ferguson has not been ruled out for the Cowboys’ Week 2 game against the Saints, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.
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.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
David Njoku is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain in the Browns’ Week 1 loss to the Cowboys. While head coach Kevin Stefanksi labeled his tight end week to week, high ankle sprains are generally considered four-to-six-week injuries.
Cleveland only kept one other tight end — Jordan Akins — on its 53-man roster. They have two more TEs, Cameron Latu and Blake Whiteheart, on their practice squad.
Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have had a rough start to the 2024 season. Not only were they blown out by the division-rival Saints in Week 1, but DT Derrick Brown — arguably Carolina’s best player — is in danger of missing the rest of the year after injuring his meniscus on Sunday.
Brown’s upcoming surgery will determine how long he’ll be sidelined, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints
Marshon Lattimore said, “I’m good,” when asked about the hamstring injury that forced him to leave the Saints’ Week 1 win over the Panthers. New Orleans was winning by so much that it probably didn’t feel the need to re-insert its CB1.
Still, Saints reporter Nick Underhill says it’s “to be determined” whether Lattimore will be ready for Lamb and the Cowboys in Week 2.
Tyson Campbell, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tyson Campbell departed the Jaguars’ Week 1 loss to the Dolphins after suffering a third-quarter hamstring injury. It’s an especially concerning issue for Campbell, given that he missed six games in 2023 with hamstring problems.
On Monday, head coach Doug Pederson said Campbell “will miss some time” but didn’t specify how long Jacksonville’s CB1 will be sidelined. Montaric Brown replaced Campbell as a perimeter corner opposite Ronald Darby on Sunday.
Taron Johnson, CB, Buffalo Bills
Taron Johnson suffered a forearm injury in Week 1 and didn’t return. Bills head coach Sean McDermott didn’t have an update on his slot corner’s status, but Buffalo faces a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game against Miami on tap in Week 2.
Cam Lewis handled nickel duties after Johnson left on Sunday.
Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antoine Winfield Jr., a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and the NFL’s highest-paid safety, was in a walking boot and “pretty sore” after being injured on one of the final plays of the Bucs’ win over the Commanders, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine. Winfield is expected to miss a “couple of weeks,” reports Jordan Schultz of The Score.
Head coach Todd Bowles also said backup CB Bryce Hall may miss the remainder of the season after suffering a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle in Week 1.