Week 2 is here, and unfortunately, so are the injuries. So before you sift through the injury reports, beat writers' X posts, and newspaper clippings (what year is it?), stop what you're doing and scroll away. We’ve got you covered this week.
Midweek hamstring strains? No problem (well maybe for your team). Game-time decisions? I'll get you ready. I’ve sifted through the latest injury news, practice trends, and historical data to help you make those final lineup decisions. Here’s what you need to know before Sunday’s games kick off.
Understanding the NFL's Injury Report
(per Dr. Bramel - Footballguys OG)
"The injury report released by the NFL is [made up of] two reports. The first is the Practice Participation report, which lists which injured players practiced and their participation level. It also includes players who rested or missed practice for non-injury-related reasons. The second is the Game Status Report, which gives the probability that a player will play, i.e., Questionable, Doubtful, Out. The Practice Participation Report is released every day of the week (Monday through Saturday). The Game Status Report is released with the Friday participation report (Wednesday for Thursday games, Saturday for Monday games). In this feature, I'll include the Game Status Listing and my expectations of their likelihood of playing."
- Gameday Decision = this is going to come down to how the player feels in pre-game warmups
- Trending Doubtful = Likely Inactive
- Trending Probable = Likely Active
- Ruled Out = This player has already been ruled out; get him out of lineups!
If you are reading this article on Saturday, come back Sunday morning as more updates trickle in over the next 24 hours.
Current Status on High-Impact Injured Players
Gameday Decision
- WR Puka Nacua
- WR Ladd McConkey
- WR Michael Pittman Jr.
- WR Jalen McMillan
- RB RJ Harvey
- RB Kaelon Black
Trending Doubtful
- WR Zay Flowers
- QB Tua Tagovailoa
- TE Brock Bowers
Trending Probable
- QB Joe Burrow
- WR Chris Olave
Ruled Out
- WR Nico Collins (hamstring)
- QB Kyler Murray (concussion)
- WR A.J. Brown (high ankle sprain - IR)
- WR De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle)
- RB Jordan Mason (thumb - IR)
- QB Sam Darnold (hip)
- WR Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist - IR)
- WR Omar Cooper Jr. (ankle)
- TE Chig Okonkwo (hamstring)
- QB Michael Penix Jr. (knee)
* Key: Player, Team | Injury | Game Status Listing | Playing Projection
Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games
WR Nico Collins, Houston | Hamstring | Out | Inactive
Nico Collins popped up on the injury report midweek with a hamstring injury. Based on reports out of Houston, this appears to be a new injury rather than a pre-existing issue or the precautionary “tightness” we sometimes see teams manage during the week.
Houston has already ruled Collins out for Week 2, but I would not rule out the possibility that he misses Week 3 as well. In-season hamstring strains typically keep NFL wide receivers out for about two weeks.
#Texans Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins not practicing Friday morning, and not expected to play Sunday after sustaining Grade 1 hamstring injury Wednesday during practice, per league source@KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 18, 2026
Also not practicing during open portion: Jadeveon Clowney (knee), Ed Ingram (groin) https://t.co/kOw4ThnyAA pic.twitter.com/tHGIhYp7jf
Collins also has a history of soft-tissue injuries, including a hamstring strain that cost him five weeks in 2024, although it is unclear whether this injury involves the same hamstring. Given that history and the recurrence risk associated with hamstring strains, his practice participation next week will be important to monitor. Managers should prepare that Collins could be out until Week 5 or even beyond.
WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore | Hamstring | Doubtful | Projecting Inactive
Zay Flowers logged a limited practice on Friday but was ultimately listed as “doubtful.” Historical comparisons show that when a player carries a doubtful designation on the final injury report, they sit out more than 90% of the time.
Flowers dealt with hamstring “tightness” during the offseason, and his Week 1 injury appears related. I've discussed this before, but Flowers has typically returned faster than the average injury-specific timeline, so the fact that he practiced at all is an encouraging step toward Week 3. Should his practice participation continue next week, I think there is a chance he will be active.
QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati | Back | Questionable | Projecting Active
Although Joe Burrow's official status for Sunday is “questionable,” he has already told Bengals fans and fantasy managers alike that he's playing in Week 2.
"If I'm not getting surgery, I'll be out there."
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) September 16, 2026
Is Joe considering not playing Sunday for precautionary reasons?
"No ... That's ridiculous"
How much did Joe Burrow do at practice today?
"I got some good mental reps."#Bengals @WCPO pic.twitter.com/VnnFTG6pKM
Back injuries can be tricky, and the range of outcomes depends heavily on the specific issue. So naturally, I dug into the injury data looking for some additional guidance. Interestingly, I came across this blurb in my notes:
“Don't get cute. Play Joe Burrow.”
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Atlanta | Oblique | Doubtful | Projecting Inactive
All signs point to Tua Tagovailoa sitting out again in Week 2 as he continues to recover from the oblique injury he suffered in practice last week. Cooper Rush is expected to make another start for the Falcons.
WR Chris Olave, New Orleans | Hamstring | Questionable | Projecting Active
Unlike Nico Collins and his midweek hamstring injury, Chris Olave's situation appears more precautionary, possibly related to hamstring tightness. After exiting practice early on Thursday, Olave returned Friday and was officially listed as a limited participant.
I'm not overly concerned at this point. Olave should remain a cornerstone of your fantasy lineup. I'm starting him as usual.
WR Michael Pittman Jr. Pittsburgh | Foot | Questionable | Projecting Inactive
Michael Pittman Jr. is trending in the wrong direction. After starting the week as a limited participant, Pittman did not practice Thursday or Friday due to a foot injury. Historically, this practice sequence combined with his injury designation has resulted in players sitting out that week.
WR Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay | Knee | Questionable | Projecting Inactive
Jalen McMillan practiced in full on Friday but is still listed as questionable heading into Sunday. Tampa Bay appears to be slow-playing his return, and fantasy managers should be doing the same.
I could give you some fancy numbers about how wide receivers perform after nonspecific knee injuries, but they don't matter much here. Until we see what McMillan looks like and what kind of role he's stepping back into, I wouldn't have him anywhere near fantasy lineups.