September 12, 2025
The Washington Commanders fear that running back
Austin Ekeler tore his Achilles during Thursday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He will undergo an MRI. Ekeler suffered the injury on a non-contact play late in the fourth quarter. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the veteran running back will be shut down for the remainder of his age-30 season. Such an outcome would shake up the depth chart in Washington, D.C.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt would remain the lead back while
Jeremy McNichols and
Chris Rodriguez Jr. handle larger roles behind him.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jeremy McNichols could be headed for an increased workload after teammate
Austin Ekeler suffered a serious Achilles injury on Thursday night. Ekeler suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter and was quickly ruled out, indicating that the severity is serious. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport echoed these concerns postgame, telling the Amazon Prime broadcasters that the Commanders' front office is concerned about Ekeler's status. If the veteran running back misses extended time, McNichols could step into a much larger role. He didn't register an offensive touch Thursday night but should enter Week 3 as the Commanders' No. 2 running back behind
Jacory Croskey-Merritt. With more snaps on the way, McNichols immediately becomes an intriguing waiver wire option in fantasy football.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
September 11, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Austin Ekeler (Achilles) suffered what appeared to be a serious injury in the fourth quarter of the Thursday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers, and had to be carried off the field. Due to the non-contact nature of the injury, and the fact that he immediately grabbed at his lower-leg area, there is speculation that he may have suffered a torn Achilles. He has officially been ruled out for the game, and we would expect him to miss significant time, if not the remainder of the season. Rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt should be elevated even further into a featured role, with
Jeremy McNichols and
Chris Rodriguez Jr. likely being involved as well. Look for further news updates as we hear more confirmation about the severity of Ekeler's injury after further medical testing.
--RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
September 11, 2025
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed (shoulder) has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's contest against the Washington Commanders. Reed suffered this injury in the opening quarter after making a catch along the sidelines. While Reed was able to find the back of the end zone on this play, the reception was reversed due to a holding penalty. In Week 1, Reed caught three of his five targets for 45 yards and a score. Leading up to the start of the regular season, Reed was recovering from a Jones fracture and now may have another significant injury. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status leading up to Week 3.
Romeo Doubs,
Dontayvion Wicks, and
Matthew Golden are expected to lead the WR room for the remainder of Thursday's game.
--Andy SmithSource: Adam Schefter
September 11, 2025
According to Browns insider Ken Carman, the NFL is expected to "come down hard" on a suspension regarding Browns running back
Quinshon Judkins. Another Browns insider, Tony Grossi, noted that he expects the league to place a two-to-four game suspension on the young running back. The former second-round pick was arrested for domestic assault charges in the offseason. While his prosecutors did eventually drop the charges, Judkins met with league officials earlier this week regarding the incident. The Ohio State product signed his rookie contract last Saturday but was unable to suit up in their Week 1 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was able to log a full practice on Thursday, but his status for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens remains in doubt. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status, as a potential suspension would pave the way for fellow rookie
Dylan Sampson to take the lead in the Cleveland backfield for an extended period.
--Andy SmithSource: Heavy.com
September 11, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed (shoulder) is questionable to return to Thursday's contest due to a shoulder injury. Reed suffered this injury when making a catch along the sidelines, which ultimately resulted in a touchdown. However, this play was called back for holding. After making the catch, Reed was holding his shoulder in pain and needed assistance to walk off the field. Entering this game, Reed was also dealing with a fracture in his foot. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status. In Week 1, Reed found the back of the end zone and tallied 45 yards on three receptions. While he remains sidelined,
Romeo Doubs,
Dontayvion Wicks, and rookie
Matthew Golden will lead the WR room.
--Andy SmithSource: Green Bay Packers
September 11, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings announced on Thursday that they placed running back
Ty Chandler (knee) on Injured Reserve, which means he will be forced to sit out beyond the team's Week 6 bye. Chandler was active for the Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears on Monday night but only played on special teams as a return man. With Chandler's injury, the Vikings are now pretty thin in the backfield behind their top two options,
Aaron Jones Sr. and
Jordan Mason.
Zavier Scott is currently listed as their No. 3.
Myles Price (knee) and
Tai Felton are the candidates to replace Chandler on kickoff-return duties moving forward, starting in Week 2 on Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons. In three seasons with the Vikes, Chandler has 164 rushing attempts for 663 yards (4.0 yards per carry) and three rushing touchdowns in 38 games (four starts).
--Keith HernandezSource: Minnesota Vikings
September 11, 2025
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Hunter Renfrow (ribs) is on the Week 2 injury report and has had two limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday. If Renfrow is unable to upgrade to a full practice on Friday, he could be considered questionable for Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. In his Panthers debut in the team's Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Renfrow caught two of his six targets for 11 yards as the offense struggled to move the ball effectively. The 29-year-old has a clear path to starting slot duties in Carolina after the team traded
Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings, but at best, he's the WR3 behind rookie first-rounder
Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Leggette. Renfrow is currently rostered in only 1 percent of Yahoo leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Panthers.com
September 11, 2025
New York Jets wide receiver
Josh Reynolds (hamstring) popped up on the Week 2 injury report on Thursday and was listed as a non-participant in practice. Mid-week injuries are typically not a good sign, especially if a player doesn't practice at all a day after being a full-go. Reynolds has a shot to return to practice on Friday, but he's trending as questionable right now to play in Week 2 against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. The 30-year-old veteran played 97 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it amounted to only two catches on three targets for 18 yards in a game in which the Jets' offense was humming against a strong defense.
Allen Lazard was a surprise inactive last weekend in the season opener, but if Reynolds cannot play, he should be active for the first time as the potential WR2 behind
Garrett Wilson.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
September 11, 2025
Green Bay Packers All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons (back) is officially active for Thursday night against the Washington Commanders to kick off Week 2 after he was listed as questionable on Wednesday's final injury report. Parsons was also questionable for Week 1 before making his Packers debut last Sunday at Lambeau Field in the convincing win over the Detroit Lions. The former Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher played 30 of the team's 67 defensive snaps against Detroit and had a sack in his first game with the team. Parsons was limited in all three practices this week and could continue to have his snaps curtailed on Thursday night, which makes him more boom/bust in IDP fantasy leagues, but he should be started in most formats if you have him. In two games against the Commanders last year with Dallas, he notched 4.5 sacks.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
September 11, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a healthy inactive for the second straight week to open the season in 2025 on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers. There were rumblings at the end of training camp that Rodriguez could have a significant early-down role alongside rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt after the team traded
Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, but that has not been the case. The 24-year-old RB has opened the year as the No. 4 behind Croskey-Merritt, veteran
Austin Ekeler, and
Jeremy McNichols. JCR has the most upside of any back in Washington's offense as the favorite for most of the early down work, while Ekeler has flex appeal in point-per-reception leagues. At least for another week, Rodriguez belongs on the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: Washington Commanders PR
September 11, 2025
New York Giants wide receiver
Darius Slayton (groin) popped up on Thursday's injury report and was listed as a limited participant in practice despite not showing up on the initial Week 2 injury report on Wednesday. If Slayton is unable to return to a full practice on Friday, he could be considered questionable for the Week 2 matchup against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys this Sunday. Even if the 28-year-old is cleared to play this weekend, fantasy managers in most leagues should be avoiding Slayton in a Giants offense that struggled to move the ball in the season-opening loss to the Washington Commanders under new quarterback
Russell Wilson. At best, Slayton is a low-volume WR3 in New York's offense behind
Malik Nabers and
Wan'Dale Robinson. In Week 1, he failed to corral his only target from Wilson.
--Keith HernandezSource: Giants.com - Dan Salomne
September 11, 2025
After missing the Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams due to a hamstring injury, Houston Texans wide receiver
Christian Kirk (hamstring) was unable to practice on Wednesday as the team began preparations to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night in Week 2. Wideout
Braxton Berrios (hamstring) was also listed as a DNP. The Texans are saying both pass-catchers are making progress, but it doesn't mean they'll be active for Monday Night Football. With Kirk inactive in Week 1, none of Houston's receivers really stood out on a tough day for the offense, even WR1
Nico Collins, who had just three catches for 25 yards. If Kirk were to miss another game in Week 2, expect targets to be spread among rookies
Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Joel,
Xavier Hutchinson, and
Justin Watson, as well as tight end
Dalton Schultz. Kirk still has two more days to return to practice on Friday and Saturday, but as of now, it's not looking good for him to make his debut with the Texans on Monday night. When healthy, he's expected to operate as the team's primary slot receiver.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Texans PR
September 11, 2025
Denver Broncos tight end
Evan Engram (calf) improved to a full participant in practice on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday, according to Aric DiLalla of DenverBroncos.com. Engram was injured in the Week 1 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, but his return to a full practice on Thursday means he should be fine to play this Sunday on the road against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Before leaving early against the Titans last weekend, the 31-year-old had a pretty quiet debut with Denver, catching three of his four targets for 21 yards and no touchdowns. If active in Week 2, Engram will hope to be more involved in the passing game for a Denver offense that was stuck in the mud for all four quarters against Tennessee. If Engram is cleared to suit up on Friday, fantasy managers should consider him more of a TE2 with upside as he looks to cement a bigger role with his new team.
--Keith HernandezSource: DenverBroncos.com - Aric DiLalla
September 11, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (shoulder) was doing conditioning on a side field on Thursday and did not practice with the rest of the team, according to the Bay Area News Group's Cam Inman. Jennings injured his shoulder late in the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks and never returned. The Niners sent Jennings for tests earlier this week, and it's not believed that he's dealing with anything serious. However, with two straight DNPs to begin the week, he's trending in the wrong direction to play in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints unless he's able to practice on Friday. The 28-year-old should have a bigger role going forward with tight end
George Kittle (hamstring) out three to five weeks, but he'll be a fade candidate in fantasy if he plays in Week 2 with backup quarterback
Mac Jones expected to make the start. Jennings caught only two passes for 16 yards in the season opener.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bay Area News Group - Cam Inman
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