2026 NFL Week 1 injury report: Henderson out for kickoff, Stevenson leads Patriots, Rams-49ers status firm
The 2026 NFL regular season kicks off with official game statuses: TreVeyon Henderson is ruled out for Wednesday night, Rhamondre Stevenson takes primary Patriots backfield volume, and the Rams and 49ers set their Australia baseline.
The 2026 NFL regular season opens tonight in Seattle, providing the first official game designations of the year. This report covers verified practice participation and game designations for the Wednesday kickoff game and Thursday's matchup in Australia, followed by confirmed lineup decisions and the early practice watchlist for Sunday's slate.
The short version
- TreVeyon Henderson is ruled out for Wednesday night. New England ruled out its second-year running back due to an ankle injury sustained in late August. Rhamondre Stevenson takes over primary backfield volume against Seattle. 12
- Seattle enters kickoff down multiple defensive backs. Safety Ty Okada is ruled out with a hamstring injury, while safety Nick Emmanwori and wide receiver Tory Horton remain questionable after limited practice sessions. 13
- Atlanta confirmed its starting quarterback. Head coach Raheem Morris announced Tua Tagovailoa will start Sunday against the Steelers, while Michael Penix Jr. sits inactive as he concludes his ACL recovery progression. 4
- San Francisco and the Rams filed Thursday practice reports. George Kittle and Nick Bosa logged limited sessions for the 49ers ahead of their flight to Melbourne. Aaron Donald was ruled inactive and stayed behind in Los Angeles, while Sean McVay expects Puka Nacua to play through core soreness. 156
- Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins practiced Monday. Both Cincinnati receivers took the field following late-August soft-tissue maintenance, positioning them for full starting roles against Tampa Bay. 4
Official kickoff and Thursday game statuses
The table below details players on the official NFL game status reports released ahead of Wednesday and Thursday action.
| Player & team | Injury | Official practice status | Game designation | Fantasy and lineup read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TreVeyon Henderson, NE RB | Ankle | Did Not Participate (DNP) | Out | Remove Henderson from active lineups. Rhamondre Stevenson absorbs early-down carries and pass-protection snaps as a stable RB2. 17 |
| Ben Brown, NE C | Knee | Did Not Participate (DNP) | Out | Backup interior line depth is depleted; starting center protection remains anchored by the primary unit. 13 |
| Christian Barmore, NE DT | Knee | Full Participation (FP) | Cleared (No Tag) | Starts along the interior defensive line, providing pass rush against Seattle's remodeled interior front. 13 |
| Ty Okada, SEA S | Hamstring | Did Not Participate (DNP) | Out | Depletes Seattle's starting safety rotation; reserves Julian Love and practice-squad call-ups must absorb primary coverage against Drake Maye. 12 |
| Nick Emmanwori, SEA S | Ankle | Limited Participation (LP) | Questionable | A game-time test determines his availability; backup safeties remain on standby. 12 |
| Tory Horton, SEA WR | Hamstring | Limited Participation (LP) | Questionable | Limited participation keeps him on the fringe of 3-receiver sets; Jaxon Smith-Njigba commands the dominant target share. 13 |
| Emanuel Wilson, SEA RB | Hamstring | Full Participation (FP) | Cleared (No Tag) | Available as rotational depth behind Jadarian Price and George Holani. 13 |
| George Kittle, SF TE | Achilles rehab | Limited Participation (LP) | Pending Thursday Final | Logged limited reps and traveled to Melbourne; fantasy managers should prepare a viable backup in case of snap caps. 18 |
| Nick Bosa, SF DE | Knee tendinitis | Limited Participation (LP) | Pending Thursday Final | Completed team drills before travel; expected to generate rotational pass rush off the edge. 18 |
| Alfred Collins, SF DT | Knee | Limited Participation (LP) | Season-ending IR | Suffered a torn patellar tendon during practice; San Francisco places him on injured reserve. 5 |
| Aaron Donald, LAR DE | Knee | Limited Participation (LP) | Out (Did Not Travel) | Ruled out for the Australia opener; Los Angeles relies on interior depth against San Francisco's rushing attack. 5 |
| Myles Garrett, LAR DE | Knee | Did Not Participate (DNP) | Expected to Play | Sean McVay confirmed Garrett will suit up Thursday despite resting in Tuesday's practice session. 5 |
Confirmed depth chart shifts and starting roles
New England consolidates backfield touches in Rhamondre Stevenson. Henderson's ankle injury leaves Stevenson as the experienced runner on the 53-man roster. Corey Kiner, acquired late in August, holds four career regular-season appearances and 30 offensive snaps. Head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels lean heavily on Stevenson for blitz pickup and early downs. Practice-squad running backs Lan Larison and Hassan Haskins provide emergency cover. Stevenson projects for an 18-to-22 touch floor against Seattle's front seven. 7
Seattle reconfigures its backfield after off-season departures. Kenneth Walker III joined the Chiefs in free agency, while Zach Charbonnet remains on the reserve physically unable to perform list while rehabilitating his January ACL tear. Rookie Jadarian Price takes early-down carries behind starter Sam Darnold, while George Holani handles third-down and short-yardage snaps. Price enters Week 1 as an aggressive FLEX play with goal-line upside. 9
Atlanta settles its quarterback depth chart. The Falcons declared Tua Tagovailoa the Week 1 starter against Pittsburgh. Michael Penix Jr. continues throwing in practice following knee surgery, but the coaching staff ruled him inactive for the opener, elevating Cooper Rush to primary backup. Fantasy managers holding Penix in Superflex formats must keep him benched until Atlanta clears him for game-day active status. 4
Dallas loses an anchor along the offensive line. Left guard Tyler Smith underwent thumb surgery and faces a four-to-six-week recovery window. His absence forces adjustments across Dallas's interior pass protection, creating added pressure on Dak Prescott ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Giants. 4
Sunday and Monday practice watchlist
Official Wednesday practice participation reports for Sunday and Monday games arrive Wednesday afternoon. The NFL injury portal lists zero official designations across those games as of Wednesday morning. The players below represent key situations monitored during early-week team sessions:
- Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (CIN WR): Both receivers participated in practice Monday. Head coach Zac Taylor expressed confidence in Chase's recovery from a hyperextended knee and Higgins's recovery from a heel contusion. Keep both in starting lineups as WR1 and WR2 options against Tampa Bay. 45
- Rome Odunze (CHI WR): Odunze missed practice Tuesday with a leg issue. Coach Ben Johnson termed him day-to-day, with optimism for Sunday's game against Carolina. Wednesday and Thursday practice reports determine whether Luther Burden III assumes higher target volume. 5
- Puka Nacua (LAR WR): Nacua participated in practice throughout early September while managing psoas tightness. Sean McVay expects Nacua to start Thursday in Melbourne. Start him as an elite WR1. 6
- Jeremiyah Love (ARI RB) and Chuba Hubbard (CAR RB): Love logged work following a preseason high-ankle sprain, and head coach Mike LaFleur expects him available Sunday against the Chargers. Hubbard returned to full participation from a hamstring issue, positioning him ahead of Jonathon Brooks, who missed early-week drills with general soreness. 4
- Ashton Jeanty (LV RB): Progress reports from Las Vegas indicate Jeanty is moving well following a low-ankle sprain. The Raiders host the Dolphins on Sunday, with rookie Mike Washington Jr. prepared for complementary carries if Jeanty's workload requires management. 9
- Patrick Mahomes (KC QB): Andy Reid stated Mahomes has a strong path to start Monday night against Denver following his 2025 ligament repair, while starting tackle Josh Simmons remains doubtful with back soreness. 5
Actionable Week 1 lineup decisions
Act now for Wednesday night:
- Start Rhamondre Stevenson with confidence in all formats as New England's featured back.
- Move TreVeyon Henderson directly to the bench or injured reserve slot.
- Deploy Jaxon Smith-Njigba as an everyday WR1 against a Patriots secondary playing without top safeties.
- Treat Jadarian Price as an upside RB3 or FLEX option in standard and half-PPR setups.
Prepare weekend contingencies:
- Check George Kittle's final status Thursday morning before locking in Thursday tight end plays.
- Track Rome Odunze's Wednesday practice level; keep DJ Moore or Keenan Allen ready on rosters.
- Retain Tua Tagovailoa as a streaming QB2 against Pittsburgh while keeping Michael Penix Jr. on reserve.
Avoid premature moves:
- Retain Sunday players who logged limited early-week reps; wait for Wednesday afternoon practice logs before making bench swaps.
- Keep Chuba Hubbard active while monitoring Jonathon Brooks's practice involvement.
Next checkpoints
- Wednesday 4:00 PM ET: NFL teams submit the first official regular-season practice participation reports for Sunday and Monday matchups.
- Thursday 8:35 PM ET: Final inactives and kickoff for the 49ers and Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
- Friday 4:00 PM ET: Official game status designations (Out, Doubtful, Questionable) posted across the entire Sunday slate.
References
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4NFL: Sep. 7 news roundup
nfl.com
- 5NFL: Sep. 8 news roundup
nfl.com
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9FantasyPros: Fantasy Football Injury Report & Updates (2026)
fantasypros.com
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