NFL Week 1 Fantasy Football Injury Report Wednesday RB

Johnnie Crow — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 02:04:10 +0000

Running back took the most damage in Week 1 prep, and Wednesday’s official reports sorted the real problems from the noise. Several backfields that looked settled in August now aren’t, and a handful of August scares quietly cleared.

What changed since the weekend

Clubs filed their first official injury reports of the season on Wednesday, which replaces the guesswork of the preseason with real practice participation. Across the 40 running backs on this board: 5 are new to the report, 8 improved, 3 got worse, and 11 cleared entirely and are no longer listed by their teams.

How to read this report

Week 1 spans six days, so teams are at different points in their reporting week and their designations do not mean the same thing:

Seattle–New England played Wednesday, September 9. Those teams have final designations and published inactives.
San Francisco–LA Rams play Thursday, September 10 in Melbourne — final or near-final.
Everyone else plays Sunday, September 13 or Monday, September 14. Their Wednesday filing is practice participation only. Final Out/Doubtful/Questionable tags land Friday, September 11. A Wednesday “Full” is a strong signal, not a guarantee.

Anything on the reserve list — IR, PUP, Commissioner’s Exempt List — is an official roster transaction and is settled regardless of the day.

Ruled out or unavailable (12)

Official reserve-list designations and confirmed absences. Plan around these.

Josh Jacobs — GB (Would be the unquestioned RB1; currently NOT on the active depth chart at all – carried on the roster with status code EXE and unavailable to practice or play.)

Wednesday practice: Not applicable – players on the Commissioner’s Exempt List are prohibited from practicing or attending games. He may attend meetings, workouts and rehab at the facility only with team permission.
Official status: (c) OFFICIAL RESERVE-LIST DESIGNATION – Commissioner’s Exempt List, verified today as status code ‘EXE’ on nfl.com/teams/green-bay-packers/roster/. This is a league action by the Commissioner’s office, NOT a team injury designation, so it does not appear on the Week 1 injury report and is not subject to Friday’s Out/Doubtful/Questionable process. UNCHANGED since Sept 6.
Injury: NOT AN INJURY. Jacobs is on the Commissioner’s Exempt List under the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. He faces two misdemeanor charges – battery and criminal damage to property – arising from a May 2026 altercation with his girlfriend; he was initially booked on five counts including felony strangulation, which were not all carried forward. He remains on paid status while exempt. His initial court appearance was MOVED UP to Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, from an original Nov. 17 date – three days before kickoff. GM Brian Gutekunst: ‘we’re going to let this process play out, and we’ll be prepared either way,’ adding the team had not yet viewed the surveillance footage. His legal team stresses the placement ‘is not a final determination.’ Any games missed on the exempt list would count toward a subsequent suspension, but he would have to repay earnings for that stretch.
When it happened: Placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List Aug. 30-31, 2026 (announced by the NFL). Underlying incident: May 2026.
Typical recovery for this injury: No medical recovery window applies. Comparable Personal Conduct Policy exempt-list stays have ranged from roughly 1-2 weeks (charges resolved or dropped quickly) to a full season (cases that proceed to trial), with a 6-game baseline suspension typical for a substantiated violence finding.
Expected back to full health: Physically healthy right now. Football availability depends entirely on the legal process and the NFL investigation, with the Sept. 10 initial appearance the first real checkpoint. No return date has been set by the league or the team.
Week 1: OUT for Sunday, Sept. 13 at Minnesota – not by injury designation but because exempt-list players cannot play. This is effectively final regardless of Friday’s injury report.
Weeks 1-4: Treat as out for the foreseeable run of games. A fast, favorable resolution at the Sept. 10 hearing is the only realistic path to a return inside the next four weeks, and even then reinstatement requires the league to conclude its review. If the league instead moves to discipline, a multi-game suspension would push him well past Week 4.
Who benefits if he sits: MarShawn Lloyd is the listed RB1 in his absence (Ourlads 09/08, No. 32), with Chris Brooks second and Kaleb Johnson third – an explicit committee rather than a single replacement.
Change since the weekend: unchanged – still EXE on the official roster; the one NEW development is that his initial court appearance was moved up to Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026.

Fantasy takeaway: Do not roster him in any lineup you need production from this week, but if you can afford a stash spot he is the single highest-upside held-out asset in the league given a Sept. 10 hearing that could change everything in one day.

Zach Charbonnet — SEA (Not on the active roster — would be the co-lead or RB1 when healthy)

Wednesday practice: DNP
Official status: (c) Official reserve-list designation — Reserve/PUP. Placed on the active/PUP list July 22, 2026 and carried over to the reserve/PUP list at the Aug 26 cutdown. Confirmed as PUP on nfl.com’s official roster today.
Injury: Torn ACL
When it happened: 2025-12-01 (approximate — late 2025 season)
Typical recovery for this injury: ACL reconstruction typically requires 9-12 months before game action, with running backs frequently needing the full 12 months to regain cutting confidence.
Expected back to full health: Late October to December 2026
Week 1: OUT for tonight’s kickoff (Wednesday, Sept 9). On reserve/PUP he must miss at least the first four games and cannot be activated before Week 5.
Weeks 1-4: Ineligible to play in any of the next four games by rule. Watch for a designated-to-return practice window opening around early-to-mid October.
Who benefits if he sits: Jadarian Price is already the starter in his absence; George Holani is the No. 2
Change since the weekend: unchanged

Fantasy takeaway: A stash-only IR/bench hold — he cannot help you until Week 5 at the earliest, and Price may have seized the job by then.

TreVeyon Henderson — NE (RB2 / co-lead back and the explosive-play back behind Rhamondre Stevenson; had been trending toward a near-even committee before the injury)

Wednesday practice: DNP — did not participate Sunday 9/6, Monday 9/7 or Tuesday 9/8. He has not practiced in over two weeks.
Official status: (a) FINAL official game-status designation — OUT. Filed by the Patriots on the official Week 1 injury report ahead of tonight’s Wednesday Sept 9 kickoff game at Seattle. This is the only FINAL designation among all four teams’ skill players.
Injury: Ankle sprain (lingering from preseason; team has not specified high vs. low, but the duration of the absence and the non-contact rehab pattern point toward a high ankle sprain)
When it happened: Sustained in preseason, mid-to-late August 2026; he has been out of practice since roughly Aug 24, 2026
Typical recovery for this injury: Low ankle sprain: 1-3 weeks. High ankle sprain (syndesmotic): 4-8 weeks to return to play for a running back, and often 8-12 weeks before true explosiveness and cutting confidence return. A three-week practice absence with no contact work is far more consistent with the high-ankle range.
Expected back to full health: Best estimate for 100%: early-to-mid October 2026 (Weeks 5-6). A Week 2-3 return at reduced snaps is plausible, but ankle sprains in RBs classically suppress burst and lateral cutting for several weeks past the return date.
Week 1: OUT — officially ruled out for tonight’s Wednesday Sept 9 kickoff at Seattle. Confirmed, no ambiguity.
Weeks 1-4: Week 1: OUT (confirmed). Week 2: genuinely uncertain — he needs to string together practices first; a limited/rotational return is the optimistic case. Week 3: likely back but probably capped in snaps. Week 4: expected to be the full co-lead back again, assuming no setback. Treat Weeks 2-3 as a ramp, not a return to full workload.
Who benefits if he sits: Rhamondre Stevenson takes over as the clear lead back and gets the goal-line and early-down work. Corey Kiner is the No. 2 and should see change-of-pace and passing-down snaps. Lan Larison was elevated from the practice squad on Sept 9 specifically to fill the RB3/special-teams spot tonight.
Change since the weekend: DOWNGRADED — on Sept 6 this was an unofficial preseason ankle concern with no filing; it is now an official, FINAL ‘Out’ designation.

Fantasy takeaway: START Rhamondre Stevenson tonight as a volume-driven RB2/flex — he inherits a near-bellcow workload against a stout Seattle run defense — and if Henderson’s manager panics, this is the cheapest buy-low window you will ever get on him.

Isaac Guerendo — SF (Not on the active roster — would be the RB2 or RB3 when healthy)

Wednesday practice: DNP
Official status: (c) Official reserve-list designation — Reserve/PUP. Official team filing made at the Aug 26, 2026 cutdown to 53; nfl.com’s official roster confirms PUP today.
Injury: Torn pectoral
When it happened: 2026-07-28 (approximate — early training camp)
Typical recovery for this injury: Surgically repaired pectoral tears typically sideline an NFL player 4-6 months; running backs can sometimes return at the shorter end since the injury is not load-bearing for running.
Expected back to full health: November to December 2026
Week 1: OUT for Thursday, Sept 10 in Melbourne. On reserve/PUP he must miss at least the first four games and cannot be activated before Week 5.
Weeks 1-4: Ineligible for all four games by rule, and the realistic recovery timeline extends well past Week 5.
Who benefits if he sits: Jordan James is the RB2 behind Christian McCaffrey; Kaelon Black is the No. 3
Change since the weekend: unchanged

Fantasy takeaway: Not worth a roster spot — he is ineligible until Week 5 and his pectoral timeline likely runs into November.

Trey Sermon — ATL (Was the RB3/depth back; currently off the active roster.)

Wednesday practice: not yet reported – on the reserve list, not on the weekly practice report.
Official status: (c) Official reserve-list designation – NFL.com lists him RES (Reserve/Injured), with no designated-to-return tag, so he is out for the season.
Injury: Undisclosed preseason injury; no public diagnosis from the club.
When it happened: Placed on Reserve/Injured at the Aug 2026 cutdown.
Typical recovery for this injury: N/A – a straight Reserve/Injured placement without a return designation ends the player’s season regardless of the injury class.
Expected back to full health: Not applicable for 2026; he would be aiming at the 2027 offseason.
Week 1: Out for Sunday, Sept 13 at Pittsburgh – and for the season.
Weeks 1-4: Out for all of Weeks 1-4 and the rest of 2026.
Who benefits if he sits: Brian Robinson Jr. is the RB2 behind Bijan Robinson; Tyler Goodson is the practice-squad emergency option.
Change since the weekend: unchanged – already on IR as of Sept 6.

Fantasy takeaway: Ignore entirely – he is on season-ending reserve.

Adam Randall — BAL (RB4 (on reserve; not on the active depth chart))

Wednesday practice: not applicable – ineligible to practice with the team until his 21-day practice window opens
Official status: (a) FINAL OFFICIAL ROSTER-STATUS DESIGNATION: Reserve/Injured, designated to return. This is a filed, official league status – not a weekly game-status tag – and it definitively rules him out through Week 4. Confirmed on the nfl.com roster page as RES.
Injury: Undisclosed injury sustained in the preseason; the club did not specify the body part.
When it happened: August 2026, prior to the Aug 30 roster cutdown.
Typical recovery for this injury: The IR-designated-to-return mechanism enforces a minimum four-game absence regardless of the injury. The designation itself signals the club expects a mid-season return rather than a season-ending one.
Expected back to full health: Eligible to return to practice ahead of Week 5 (early-to-mid October 2026); realistic game return Week 5-7 depending on how the 21-day window is used.
Week 1: OUT – ineligible for Week 1 at Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept 13, 2026, 1:00 p.m. ET.
Weeks 1-4: Weeks 1-4: OUT for all four, by rule. First possible game action is Week 5.
Who benefits if he sits: Already covered – Derrick Henry is the workhorse, Justice Hill is the passing-down back, Rasheen Ali is RB3.
Change since the weekend: unchanged

Fantasy takeaway: Droppable in all but the deepest dynasty formats; there is no path to Weeks 1-4 value.

Trevor Etienne — CAR (Was the RB4/depth back; currently off the active roster.)

Wednesday practice: not yet reported – on the reserve list, not on the weekly practice report.
Official status: (c) Official reserve-list designation – NFL.com lists him RSR (Reserve/Injured, Designated to Return), a mandatory four-game minimum absence.
Injury: Ankle.
When it happened: Placed on reserve at the Aug 2026 cutdown.
Typical recovery for this injury: Severe ankle sprains and ankle fractures put NFL backs out 4-8 weeks; the designated-to-return rule enforces a four-game floor on top of that.
Expected back to full health: Reporting points to a return around Week 6 (mid-October).
Week 1: Out for Sunday, Sept 13 vs. Chicago – ineligible, he is on the reserve list.
Weeks 1-4: Ineligible for all of Weeks 1-4 by rule. Week 5 is Carolina’s bye, so a Week 6 return is the realistic target.
Who benefits if he sits: AJ Dillon is the active RB3 behind Hubbard and Brooks.
Change since the weekend: unchanged – same reserve designation and same ~Week 6 return window.

Fantasy takeaway: Deep dynasty hold only – he cannot help a redraft roster until at least Week 6.

Ty Chandler — NO (Was a depth back competing for the RB4 spot; currently off the active roster.)

Wednesday practice: not yet reported – on the reserve list.
Official status: (c) Official reserve-list designation – NFL.com lists him RES (Reserve/Injured) with no return designation, so he is out for the season.
Injury: Knee.
When it happened: Logged Aug 25, 2026.
Typical recovery for this injury: N/A for 2026 – a straight Reserve/Injured placement ends the season; a season-ending knee injury generally implies 6-12 months.
Expected back to full health: Targeting the 2027 offseason.
Week 1: Out for Sunday, Sept 13 at Detroit – and for the season.
Weeks 1-4: Out for all of Weeks 1-4 and the balance of 2026.
Who benefits if he sits: Audric Estime holds the RB4 role in his place.
Change since the weekend: unchanged – already on IR as of Sept 6.

Fantasy takeaway: Ignore in all formats – he is on season-ending reserve.

Jeremy McNichols — WAS (Reserve/Injured (designated to return) – occupies no active depth-chart position. Would slot behind Kaytron Allen as RB4 on return. Verified reserve status on nfl.com roster.)

Wednesday practice: DNP (on Reserve/Injured – not eligible to practice with the team until his return window opens)
Official status: (c) OFFICIAL RESERVE-LIST DESIGNATION – Reserve/Injured, DESIGNATED TO RETURN. Official club transaction made at the Aug 25-26 cutdown. He must miss a MINIMUM OF FOUR GAMES (through Week 4) before he is eligible to be activated, and does not appear on the weekly practice report while on reserve.
Injury: Quadriceps strain suffered in training camp
When it happened: August 2026 (training camp)
Typical recovery for this injury: Quadriceps strain in a running back: Grade 1, 1-3 weeks; Grade 2, 3-6 weeks; Grade 3, 6-10 weeks. He would likely be medically ready well before his four-game administrative window expires, so the IR designation here is as much roster management as medicine.
Expected back to full health: Likely medically ready in September 2026, but ADMINISTRATIVELY ineligible until after Week 4 – earliest possible return is Week 5 (early October 2026)
Week 1: OUT for Sunday, Sept 13 (4:25 PM ET vs. Philadelphia) – ineligible on Reserve/Injured
Weeks 1-4: Weeks 1-4: OUT for all four, mandatory. Earliest return is Week 5, and even then he projects as a fourth back with no clear path to touches unless the Croskey-Merritt groin or White hamstring resurfaces.
Who benefits if he sits: Already replaced – Kaytron Allen (RB, ACT) holds the RB3 role; Craig Reynolds and Robert Henry Jr. are practice-squad depth
Change since the weekend: unchanged

Fantasy takeaway: Not rosterable – mandatory four-game absence and no path to touches on return in a healthy backfield.

James Conner — ARI (Not on the active roster — would be the lead or co-lead back when healthy)

Wednesday practice: DNP
Official status: (c) Official reserve-list designation — Reserve/Injured WITH a designation to return. Official team filing made at the Aug 26, 2026 cutdown to 53; nfl.com’s official roster shows RSR today. CONFIRMED STILL ON IR as of Sept 9, 2026.
Injury: Lower leg — reported as a season-ending foot injury by Arizona beat reporting, described elsewhere as an ankle injury; originally suffered early in the 2025 season
When it happened: 2025-09-21 (approximate — Week 3 of the 2025 season)
Typical recovery for this injury: Severe foot/ankle fractures and Lisfranc-class injuries typically require 6-12 months, and running backs over 30 often need the full window plus a conditioning ramp. Conner has not taken part in team drills at any point this camp.
Expected back to full health: October 2026 at the earliest, and his lack of any team-drill work makes a later return plausible
Week 1: OUT for Sunday, Sept 13 at the Chargers. On IR with a designation to return he must miss the first four games and is not eligible to be activated before Week 5 (Oct 11 vs. Detroit).
Weeks 1-4: Ineligible for all four games by rule. Watch for a 21-day practice window to open in early October. Even on return he faces an uphill climb for touches against a healthy Jeremiyah Love.
Who benefits if he sits: Jeremiyah Love is the starter in his absence, with Tyler Allgeier as the No. 2 and Bam Knight the No. 3
Change since the weekend: unchanged

Fantasy takeaway: Stash only in deep leagues with IR slots — he is locked out until Week 5 and has not practiced with the team at all, so do not hold him on an active bench.

Trey Benson — ARI (Not on the active roster)

Wednesday practice: DNP
Official status: (c) Official reserve-list designation — Reserve/Injured, season-ending with NO designation to return. He was waived-injured and reverted to Arizona’s injured reserve; nfl.com’s official roster shows RES today.
Injury: Knee — torn meniscus, originally torn in Week 4 of the 2025 season
When it happened: 2025-09-28 (approximate — Week 4 of the 2025 season)
Typical recovery for this injury: Meniscus repair (as opposed to a trim) typically requires 4-6 months; repeat procedures and complications can extend the timeline well beyond that, which is consistent with a season-ending placement a full year later.
Expected back to full health: 2027 offseason
Week 1: OUT for Sunday, Sept 13 at the Chargers and for the entire 2026 season
Weeks 1-4: Will not play in 2026. With no designation to return there is no in-season activation pathway.
Who benefits if he sits: Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier hold the roles his injury vacated; Bam Knight is the No. 3
Change since the weekend: unchanged

Fantasy takeaway: Drop him in every redraft format — season-ending IR with no return designation.

Isiah Pacheco — DET (Would have been the primary complement to Jahmyr Gibbs; currently off the active depth chart entirely.)

Wednesday practice: Not applicable – players on Reserve/Injured cannot practice.
Official status: (c) OFFICIAL RESERVE-LIST DESIGNATION – Reserve/Injured. Verified as status code ‘RES’ on nfl.com/teams/detroit-lions/roster/ and confirmed by the Ourlads 09/08 chart, which lists him among Detroit’s IR players. Placed Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 (first reported by Adam Schefter). Not part of the weekly Out/Doubtful/Questionable process.
Injury: Back injury. Detroit has not publicly specified the pathology, and Pacheco was not mentioned in any of the Sept 9 Week 1 injury-report coverage – consistent with a player parked on IR rather than one being week-to-week.
When it happened: Placed on Reserve/Injured Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.
Typical recovery for this injury: Undisclosed back injury in an NFL player: a muscular strain runs 2-4 weeks, a disc herniation managed conservatively runs 6-10 weeks, and a surgical lumbar case runs 3-6 months. Detroit’s decision to use a full IR placement rather than week-to-week management points toward the longer end.
Expected back to full health: Unknown – no timeline has been published. A standard IR placement without the designated-to-return tag means he must be activated from IR to play again this season, and no return window has been reported.
Week 1: OUT for Sunday, Sept. 13 vs. New Orleans – he is on Reserve/Injured and ineligible.
Weeks 1-4: Out for all four with no reported path back inside that window. Treat him as a season-long question mark until Detroit discloses a timeline.
Who benefits if he sits: Sione Vaki (No. 33) is the back behind Jahmyr Gibbs on the Ourlads 09/08 chart, with Jacob Saylors third – note this reverses the Sept 6 baseline order.
Change since the weekend: unchanged – still on Reserve/Injured with the same undisclosed back injury and no timeline.

Fantasy takeaway: Drop him in redraft – he is on IR with no timeline, and his absence concentrates Detroit’s backfield squarely on Jahmyr Gibbs, which is the actionable read.

Did not practice Wednesday (4)

A Wednesday DNP four days out is the clearest warning sign on the report. Have a replacement ready and check Friday.

Ty Johnson — BUF (RB3 — the designated third-down/passing-down back and a core special-teamer, behind James Cook and Ray Davis)

Wednesday practice: DNP (Wednesday Sept 9)
Official status: (b) Official practice-report entry, no final game status yet. Buffalo plays Sunday Sept 13, so their Out/Doubtful/Questionable tags are not due until Friday Sept 11.
Injury: Hamstring. Note: this is reported as a hamstring issue on the Sept 9 report, whereas early-September beat reporting described a right knee injury sustained Aug 8. It is unclear whether this is a second, separate soft-tissue injury or a re-labeling of the same lower-body problem — treat it as an unresolved lower-body injury either way.
When it happened: Original lower-body injury Aug 8, 2026 (preseason). He has not practiced in full equipment since, and missed all three preseason games — roughly a month out.
Typical recovery for this injury: Grade 1 hamstring strain: 1-3 weeks. Grade 2: 4-8 weeks, with a high re-injury rate if rushed. An MCL/knee sprain of the sort that costs a month is typically a Grade 2, 4-6 weeks. A month-plus absence with a Wednesday DNP in Week 1 sits at the pessimistic end of both.
Expected back to full health: Best estimate for 100%: late September 2026 (Weeks 3-4). Soft-tissue injuries this stubborn rarely resolve cleanly in the same week they first produce a DNP.
Week 1: Trending toward OUT or Questionable for Sunday Sept 13 at Houston. A Wednesday DNP after a month off makes Week 1 availability unlikely; watch Thursday/Friday for a bump to Limited.
Weeks 1-4: Week 1: doubtful to play. Week 2: possible return in the third-down role. Weeks 3-4: expected back, but his ceiling is a low-volume passing-down back regardless of health.
Who benefits if he sits: Ray Davis absorbs the third-down and change-of-pace snaps behind James Cook; Frank Gore Jr. is the practice-squad body if Buffalo needs a fourth back.
Change since the weekend: DOWNGRADED — went from an unofficial ‘working on the side’ rehab note to an official Wednesday DNP with a newly specified hamstring.

Fantasy takeaway: Not rosterable in redraft — the only actionable read is that his absence nudges Ray Davis into a slightly larger role, making Davis the priority Cook handcuff.

LeQuint Allen Jr. — JAX (RB3 / passing-down and third-down back, behind co-starters Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (verified on the Jaguars’ official Sept 8 depth chart))

Wednesday practice: DNP (present at practice but did not participate)
Official status: (b) OFFICIAL PRACTICE-REPORT ENTRY, no final game status yet. Listed as DNP on the official NFL Week 1 injury report. HC Liam Coen has publicly framed him as a GAME-TIME DECISION, which is a coach’s characterization, not a filed designation. The formal Out/Doubtful/Questionable tag comes Friday, Sept 11.
Injury: Lower-body soft-tissue injury; the official report lists it as ‘hip.’ The team has not specified hamstring vs. quad vs. hip flexor.
When it happened: Suffered in the second half of training camp — he missed roughly the last two weeks of camp, placing onset in mid-to-late August 2026.
Typical recovery for this injury: Grade 1 lower-body soft-tissue strains typically cost 1-3 weeks; grade 2 runs 3-6 weeks. Re-injury risk stays elevated for 2-4 weeks after return, which is why teams throttle these backs on a snap count initially.
Expected back to full health: He is already ~3-4 weeks from onset and still not practicing, which points toward the longer end. Best estimate for a genuinely unrestricted 100%: late September (Weeks 3-4).
Week 1: Genuinely in doubt for Sunday, Sept 13 vs. Cleveland. Coen: ‘We’ll get a game-time decision from him. It’s been a while.’ A Wednesday DNP for a Sunday game leaves room to recover, but he must practice Thursday or Friday to have a real chance. Treat as 50/50 at best.
Weeks 1-4: W1 vs CLE — coin flip, and capped even if active. W2 @ DEN and W3 vs NE — should be back but on a managed third-down role. W4 @ CIN — normal role. His ceiling is bounded by the committee regardless: he projects as a third-down/pass-catching specialist, not a volume back.
Who benefits if he sits: Ameer Abdullah is the direct beneficiary and would take the third-down/passing-game snaps. Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. remain the early-down co-starters and would each pick up a few extra touches.
Change since the weekend: UPGRADED (modestly) — and now OFFICIAL. On Sept 6 this was an unofficial aggregator ‘Questionable trending Doubtful’ with Coen saying on Sept 2 he’d be ‘pleasantly surprised if he was ready to go.’ As of Sept 9 it is a filed official practice-report entry and Coen’s language has moved to a real game-time decision, which is a meaningfully warmer tone — though the Wednesday DNP keeps the actual availability in doubt.

Fantasy takeaway: Do not start him in Week 1 — a Wednesday DNP plus a public game-time-decision label is not a lineup you can trust, and even active he is the third man in a committee; if you need the Jaguars backfield, Tuten is the play.

Sean Tucker — TB (RB3 behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell.)

Wednesday practice: DNP
Official status: (b) Official practice-report entry without a final game status – Did Not Participate on Tampa Bay’s Wednesday, Sept 9 report. Final designation comes Friday, Sept 11.
Injury: Hamstring – now officially named by the club, having previously been undisclosed.
When it happened: Surfaced around Sept 2, 2026 when he missed practice; still rehabbing as of Sept 9.
Typical recovery for this injury: 1-2 weeks for a Grade 1 hamstring strain, 3-6 weeks for Grade 2. A DNP a week into the injury leaves both in play.
Expected back to full health: Likely 1-3 weeks; reporting has him as a game-time decision for Sunday.
Week 1: Not yet determined, trending toward a game-time decision. Sunday, Sept 13 at Cincinnati – Wednesday’s DNP is practice participation only; the official designation arrives Friday, Sept 11.
Weeks 1-4: Wk1 at CIN, Wk2 vs CLE, Wk3 vs MIN, Wk4 vs GB. As the RB3 he needs an injury ahead of him to matter; a lingering hamstring also risks him being the odd man out on gameday.
Who benefits if he sits: Kenny Gainwell is the RB2 ahead of him and would absorb the change-of-pace work; Josh Williams is the practice-squad option.
Change since the weekend: DOWNGRADED – the previously undisclosed issue is now confirmed as a hamstring and he did not practice at all Wednesday.

Fantasy takeaway: Not startable – he is an RB3 who did not practice, and his only value is as a handcuff-of-a-handcuff behind Bucky Irving and Gainwell.

Audric Estime — NO (RB4 behind Travis Etienne Jr., Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller.)

Wednesday practice: DNP
Official status: (b) Official practice-report entry without a final game status – Did Not Participate on the Saints’ Wednesday, Sept 9 report. Final designation Friday, Sept 11.
Injury: Thigh (quadriceps/thigh contusion or strain).
When it happened: First appears on the official report Wednesday, Sept 9, 2026 – new since the Sept 6 checkpoint.
Typical recovery for this injury: Thigh contusions cost NFL players about 1-2 weeks; a quad strain runs 2-4 weeks. A brand-new DNP is not yet diagnostic of which.
Expected back to full health: Likely 1-3 weeks depending on whether it is a bruise or a strain.
Week 1: Not yet determined. Sunday, Sept 13 at Detroit – Wednesday’s DNP is practice participation only, official status arrives Friday, Sept 11.
Weeks 1-4: Wk1 at DET, Wk2 at BAL, Wk3 vs LV, Wk4 vs ATL. His only route to relevance is Kamara sitting AND Kendre Miller being unavailable – a narrow path.
Who benefits if he sits: Kendre Miller sits ahead of him; CJ Donaldson and Zamir White are the practice-squad depth.
Change since the weekend: NEW – he carried no injury entry on Sept 6.

Fantasy takeaway: Waiver-wire irrelevant right now – his injury actually matters more for Kendre Miller’s contingency value than for his own.

Limited Wednesday (5)

Limited on Wednesday usually means trending toward playing, but it is exactly the group whose Friday designation decides your lineup.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt — WAS (RB1 / lead back, verified ACT on nfl.com roster, Ourlads 09/09/2026 and Yahoo’s Week 1 Commanders depth chart (09/09). Rushed for 805 yards and 8 TDs as a 2025 rookie.)

Wednesday practice: Limited
Official status: (b) OFFICIAL PRACTICE-REPORT ENTRY WITHOUT FINAL GAME STATUS. Filed on the Commanders’ Wednesday, Sept 9 report as ‘groin – Limited Participation’. No Out/Doubtful/Questionable tag yet; Friday, Sept 11 brings the official designation. This is the only fantasy skill player LIMITED or worse across all four teams.
Injury: Groin strain (adductor). The Sept 6 baseline’s vaguer ‘lower-body injury’ is now officially specified by the club as a groin issue.
When it happened: Late August 2026 (training camp / preseason; first reported in the Sept 6 reporting cycle, specified as groin on the Sept 9 official report)
Typical recovery for this injury: Grade 1 adductor/groin strain in a running back: 1-2 weeks. Grade 2: 3-6 weeks. Grade 3: 8-12 weeks. A Limited Wednesday practice points to Grade 1, but groin strains carry a notably high re-aggravation rate in cutting and lateral-acceleration roles – roughly 1 in 5 recur within the same season – and NFL clubs habitually cap early-season carries for backs working through one.
Expected back to full health: Late September 2026 (Weeks 3-4) for a fully unrestricted workload; likely available but managed before then
Week 1: EXPECTED TO PLAY Sunday, Sept 13 (4:25 PM ET vs. Philadelphia) but genuinely uncertain in workload, and NOT yet official. Beat consensus (SI Commanders, PhillyVoice, The Philly Special Show) is that he plays. THURSDAY AND FRIDAY PARTICIPATION IS THE KEY TELL: an upgrade to Full by Friday means a normal workload; a second straight Limited very likely produces a ‘Questionable’ tag and a reduced carry share.
Weeks 1-4: Weeks 1-4: expected to play all four, with the main risk being a snap-share split rather than absence. Groin recurrence is the live danger – if he tweaks it, expect a one-to-two-game absence and a near-even split with Rachaad White. Highest-variance skill player on these four rosters.
Who benefits if he sits: Rachaad White (RB, ACT) – and note White is himself off the Wednesday injury report after a hamstring issue, so he is a fully healthy fallback; Kaytron Allen (RB, ACT) is RB3. Jeremy McNichols (RB) is on IR-designated-to-return and unavailable for at least four games.
Change since the weekend: unchanged

Fantasy takeaway: Start him but line up a plan B, and check Friday’s designation before locking him – a second straight Limited would signal a split backfield with Rachaad White.

Jonathon Brooks — CAR (RB2 / 1B in a committee with Chuba Hubbard; still working back from a second ACL tear.)

Wednesday practice: Limited
Official status: (b) Official practice-report entry without a final game status – Limited on Carolina’s club-published Wednesday, Sept 9 report. Final Out/Doubtful/Questionable comes Friday, Sept 11.
Injury: Groin – now specified by the club, having been described earlier as general soreness. It sits on top of a long rehab from his second ACL tear.
When it happened: Groin issue surfaced in early September 2026; the underlying ACL reconstruction dates to late 2024.
Typical recovery for this injury: Groin strains sideline NFL players roughly 1-3 weeks for a mild strain and 4-6 weeks for a significant one. Limited participation with a full week of runway points to the mild end.
Expected back to full health: Likely within 1-2 weeks; HC Dave Canales said he is optimistic Brooks is available for Week 1.
Week 1: Not yet determined – trending toward playing. Sunday, Sept 13 vs. Chicago; Wednesday was practice participation only and the official designation lands Friday, Sept 11.
Weeks 1-4: Wk1 vs CHI, Wk2 at ATL, Wk3 at CLE, Wk4 vs DET, Week 5 bye. Expect a managed snap count early as the club protects the knee, with his share growing if the groin quiets down.
Who benefits if he sits: Chuba Hubbard absorbs the full workload, with AJ Dillon as the change-of-pace.
Change since the weekend: unchanged – still limited and still expected to play, though the injury is now officially named as a groin rather than generic soreness.

Fantasy takeaway: Flex-only in Week 1 – he should play, but a groin plus knee-management means a capped touch count behind Hubbard.

Keaton Mitchell — LAC (RB2 — chargers.com Week 1 chart lists ‘Keaton Mitchell OR Kimani Vidal’ behind Omarion Hampton; Ourlads and nfl.com (Active) both place Mitchell second)

Wednesday practice: Limited
Official status: (b) OFFICIAL PRACTICE-REPORT ENTRY, NO FINAL GAME STATUS YET. Mitchell is on the Chargers’ official Wednesday Sept 9 injury report as LIMITED with a hamstring injury. Final game status due Friday Sept 11, 4:00 PM ET.
Injury: Hamstring. The Wednesday filing is the first time the club has specified the body part — through camp it was described only as ‘working through something.’ He missed six consecutive practices before returning Monday Sept 7. GM Joe Hortiz declined to put him on injured reserve, which signals the team expected a short absence.
When it happened: Setback first reported around Aug 24, 2026 (after missing two training-camp practices); the extended absence ran through the first week of September
Typical recovery for this injury: Grade 1 hamstring strain: 1–3 weeks. Grade 2: 3–6 weeks. Mitchell’s ability to practice in a limited capacity two-plus weeks in points to the low end — but hamstrings in a player with his injury history are the classic re-aggravation risk.
Expected back to full health: Mid-to-late September 2026 — Week 2–3 for a clean full practice week, assuming no re-aggravation
Week 1: Trending toward PLAYING vs Arizona, Sunday Sept 13, 4:25 PM ET, most likely with a Questionable tag on Friday. A second straight Limited day Thursday would be normal; a DNP Thursday would flip this to a real risk.
Weeks 1-4: Even at full health he is the change-of-pace back behind Hampton. Expect a capped Week 1 role, gradual growth Weeks 2–4, and meaningful volume only if Hampton misses time. Hamstrings recur, so bake in a missed-game risk somewhere in this window.
Who benefits if he sits: Kimani Vidal (verified RB3, co-listed with Mitchell on the team chart) absorbs the backup snaps behind Omarion Hampton
Change since the weekend: NEW

Fantasy takeaway: Mitchell is a bench stash only — he’s likely to suit up but the hamstring plus Hampton’s workload caps him below flex viability in Week 1.

Alvin Kamara — NO (RB2 behind Travis Etienne Jr. on Ourlads’ Sept 8 chart – a committee and passing-down role, no longer the lead back.)

Wednesday practice: Limited
Official status: (b) Official practice-report entry without a final game status – Limited on the Saints’ first official Week 1 report, Wednesday, Sept 9. Final Out/Doubtful/Questionable is due Friday, Sept 11.
Injury: Sprained MCL, knee.
When it happened: Aug 18, 2026, during a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys. He missed the entire preseason.
Typical recovery for this injury: An isolated MCL sprain sidelines an NFL running back roughly 2-4 weeks at Grade 1 and 4-8 weeks at Grade 2. Initial reporting had Kamara at 4-6 weeks, which lands his window right around Week 1-3.
Expected back to full health: Wednesday, Sept 9 was his first practice back, at three weeks and change post-injury. Full health is realistically Weeks 2-4; expect a snap-count restriction even if he suits up Sunday.
Week 1: Not yet determined – genuinely in doubt. Sunday, Sept 13 at Detroit; Wednesday’s limited tag is practice participation only, and the real answer comes with Friday’s Sept 11 designation.
Weeks 1-4: Wk1 at DET, Wk2 at BAL, Wk3 vs LV, Wk4 vs ATL (Mon, Oct 5). Even once healthy he is behind Etienne; his value is receiving work and goal-line touches rather than volume.
Who benefits if he sits: Travis Etienne Jr. is already the RB1 and would simply absorb more; Kendre Miller is the next man up for the complementary snaps, with Audric Estime (also hurt) behind him.
Change since the weekend: UPGRADED – he practiced for the first time since Aug 18, moving from not practicing at all to a limited participant on the official report.

Fantasy takeaway: Do not start him Week 1 until Friday’s designation clears – and even a healthy Kamara is now a touch-limited RB3 behind Travis Etienne.

Kyle Juszczyk — SF (Starting fullback (grouped with the tight ends on nfl.com’s official roster))

Wednesday practice: Limited
Official status: (b) Official practice-report entry with no final game status — listed as LIMITED with a finger injury on San Francisco’s official Week 1 reports (Sept 8 and Sept 9). No game-status designation issued.
Injury: Finger
When it happened: 2026-09-06 (approximate — Week 1 practice week)
Typical recovery for this injury: Finger injuries rarely cost an NFL player a game unless surgery is required; typical impact is 0-2 weeks and players routinely play through them taped or splinted.
Expected back to full health: Mid-September 2026
Week 1: Expected to PLAY Thursday, Sept 10 in Melbourne — a finger injury with limited practice is not an availability threat
Weeks 1-4: Should play all four games. A fullback with a finger issue is a blocking-first player whose fantasy footprint is negligible either way.
Who benefits if he sits: Luke Farrell would absorb the lead-blocking role from an in-line TE alignment
Change since the weekend: NEW

Fantasy takeaway: Ignore for fantasy purposes — he has no standalone value and the finger will not keep him off the field.

Practiced in full (on the report, trending to play) (5)

On the report but practicing fully — typically maintenance or the tail of something that has resolved. Start them, but note the injury is on file.

Jeremiyah Love — ARI (RB1 — lead back and the Cardinals’ top draft pick)

Wednesday practice: Full
Official status: (b) Official practice-report entry without final status — today, Wednesday Sept 9, is Arizona’s FIRST Week 1 practice filing, so no game-status designation exists yet and none is due until Friday. Head coach Mike LaFleur on Wednesday: ‘I don’t exactly know what his listing is but there’s no limit on our end,’ and Love ‘will be ready to roll today.’ Treat the filed participation level as unconfirmed pending the report itself.
Injury: High ankle sprain
When it happened: 2026-08-13
Typical recovery for this injury: High ankle sprains typically sideline an NFL player 4-6 weeks, with mild cases at 2-3 weeks and severe cases requiring tightrope surgery and 8+ weeks. Love is now roughly four weeks post-injury, right at the standard return window.
Expected back to full health: Mid-to-late September 2026 — functional now, but true full-health cutting ability for a high ankle sprain often lags another 2-3 weeks past return
Week 1: Trending toward PLAYING on Sunday, Sept 13 at the Chargers. He is practicing without a team-imposed limitation, but Arizona has not yet filed a game-status designation and an earlier report had him ’50-50′ for Week 1 — expect a Questionable tag on Friday at worst.
Weeks 1-4: Likely available for all four, but expect a shared or capped workload in Weeks 1-2 as he eases in from a four-week absence, with a fuller role by Weeks 3-4. High ankle sprains re-aggravate more often than any other ankle injury, so a one-game setback inside this window is a genuine risk.
Who benefits if he sits: Tyler Allgeier (Bam Knight is the No. 3; Evan Hull is the practice-squad depth). James Conner is NOT available — he is on IR until Week 5.
Change since the weekend: UPGRADED

Fantasy takeaway: Start him if you have the depth to absorb a capped Week 1 workload, but hold Tyler Allgeier as the handcuff — Arizona files its first game-status designation Friday.

Ashton Jeanty — LV (RB1 — verified as the clear lead back on nfl.com (ACT) and Ourlads (Sept 8); no committee listed above him)

Wednesday practice: Full
Official status: (b) OFFICIAL PRACTICE-REPORT ENTRY, NO FINAL GAME STATUS YET. Jeanty is listed on the Raiders’ Wednesday Sept 9 official report as a FULL participant with an ankle injury. Head coach Klint Kubiak said before practice, ‘we will give the designation after practice. But he’s going to practice.’ Final status due Friday Sept 11.
Injury: Ankle sprain suffered in the final week of training camp; kept him out of the remaining preseason work and limited him to individual workouts through the first week of September
When it happened: August 23, 2026
Typical recovery for this injury: Low ankle sprain: 1–4 weeks. High ankle sprain: 4–6 weeks. Jeanty’s 17-day gap from injury to full practice is consistent with a moderate low sprain.
Expected back to full health: Effectively now — full practice participation on Sept 9 is the clearest possible signal. Assume 100% by Week 2 even if Week 1 carries a soft snap cap.
Week 1: Expected to PLAY vs Miami, Sunday Sept 13, 4:25 PM ET. A Questionable tag Friday would be procedural, not predictive.
Weeks 1-4: Full workhorse usage from Week 1 forward, with the only realistic wrinkle being a modest Week 1 snap count as the staff eases the ankle back. No lingering restriction expected across Weeks 2–4.
Who benefits if he sits: Mike Washington Jr. (verified RB2, 2026 fourth-round pick who impressed in camp and preseason), then Dylan Laube (RB3)
Change since the weekend: UPGRADED

Fantasy takeaway: Start Jeanty with confidence — a full Wednesday practice 17 days after the sprain removes the last real doubt, though don’t be shocked by a light early-game touch count.

Breece Hall — NYJ (RB1 — clear lead back and primary receiving back)

Wednesday practice: Full (Wednesday Sept 9, estimated)
Official status: (b) Official practice-report entry, no final game status yet. New York plays Sunday Sept 13, so designations are not due until Friday Sept 11. Note that the Jets did not hold a true practice Wednesday; the Full participation level filed is an estimate, which is standard and official.
Injury: Groin strain
When it happened: Mid-to-late August 2026 (preseason); it limited him through the back half of camp
Typical recovery for this injury: Grade 1 groin/adductor strain: 1-2 weeks. Grade 2: 3-6 weeks. Groin strains are notorious for lingering in cutting-heavy positions, but Hall’s progression — positional drills Sept 8, full estimated participation Sept 9 — is squarely a Grade 1 pattern.
Expected back to full health: Already at or very near 100%. Head coach Aaron Glenn said Sept 8 that Hall was trending toward playing Week 1, and he backed it up with a Full Wednesday.
Week 1: Expected to play Sunday Sept 13 at Tennessee, almost certainly with no designation. This is the single most reassuring signal on the Jets’ report.
Weeks 1-4: Weeks 1-4: expected to handle a full lead-back workload. The only risk is the classic groin-strain recurrence pattern if the Jets ride him for 20+ touches immediately.
Who benefits if he sits: Braelon Allen is the direct handcuff and would take the early-down and short-yardage work; Isaiah Davis would absorb passing-down snaps.
Change since the weekend: UPGRADED — on Sept 6 the groin was an open Week 1 question; he is now a Full participant on the official report and expected to play.

Fantasy takeaway: START him with confidence as a locked-in RB1 — the groin scare is over and any lingering discount in your league is now a buy signal.

Isaiah Davis — NYJ (RB3 — passing-down and depth back behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen)

Wednesday practice: Full (Wednesday Sept 9, estimated)
Official status: (b) Official practice-report entry, no final game status yet. Jets play Sunday Sept 13; Wednesday levels are estimated.
Injury: Knee
When it happened: August 2026 (preseason)
Typical recovery for this injury: A minor knee sprain or contusion that allows a Full Week 1 practice estimate typically runs 1-3 weeks. Nothing about the timeline suggests ligament involvement.
Expected back to full health: Already effectively at 100% based on the Full participation level.
Week 1: Expected to play Sunday Sept 13 at Tennessee with no designation.
Weeks 1-4: Healthy and available Weeks 1-4; his fantasy ceiling is capped by being third in line, not by the knee.
Who benefits if he sits: Kene Nwangwu is the next back up and is primarily a returner.
Change since the weekend: UPGRADED — carried a knee question on Sept 6, now filed as a Full participant.

Fantasy takeaway: Not startable — he is a contingency stash only, and Braelon Allen is the better Hall handcuff.

Emanuel Wilson — SEA (RB3 — third back behind Jadarian Price and George Holani)

Wednesday practice: Full
Official status: (b) Official practice-report entry with no final game status — appeared on Seattle’s official Week 1 report (hamstring) but practiced FULL and was NOT given a game-status designation, meaning he is cleared and available tonight.
Injury: Hamstring strain
When it happened: 2026-08-25 (approximate — training-camp/preseason strain)
Typical recovery for this injury: Mild (grade 1) hamstring strains sideline an NFL player roughly 1-2 weeks; he has cleared that window and practiced in full.
Expected back to full health: Already effectively full health as of Sept 8, 2026
Week 1: ACTIVE and available for tonight’s kickoff (Wednesday, Sept 9)
Weeks 1-4: Healthy but buried. He is the No. 3 back and becomes fantasy-relevant only if Price or Holani goes down, or once Zach Charbonnet returns from PUP and reshuffles the room against him.
Who benefits if he sits: George Holani would absorb the No. 2 role; Jacardia Wright is the practice-squad depth
Change since the weekend: UPGRADED

Fantasy takeaway: Cleared but irrelevant — leave him on the wire unless Jadarian Price gets hurt tonight.

No official designation yet (unconfirmed) (3)

Either the team’s reporting week is shifted (the Monday-night clubs file a day later) or the situation is beat-reported without an official entry. Real, but unconfirmed — verify before you rely on it.

J.K. Dobbins — DEN (RB1 — verified ACT on nfl.com, listed first on Denver’s Week 1 unofficial depth chart (Sept 9) and on Ourlads (Sept 8))

Wednesday practice: not yet reported
Official status: (c) STILL UNOFFICIAL — no filing exists; Denver’s first official report is due Thursday Sept 10. Sean Payton said on Sept 3 that Dobbins is ‘moving well’ and expected to play Week 1, and Denver reported full practice attendance on Sept 7.
Injury: Soft-tissue injury (undisclosed muscle group) sustained during training camp in August; he was held out of preseason action as a precaution rather than because of a hard restriction. Relevant history: a long injury record including a torn Achilles and prior knee surgery, plus a foot injury that cost him time in 2025.
When it happened: Approximately Aug 10, 2026 (first reported during training camp); held out of preseason games Aug 22–29
Typical recovery for this injury: Minor soft-tissue strain (hamstring/calf/quad): 1–3 weeks, with re-aggravation the chief risk on a heavy early-season workload
Expected back to full health: Already there for Week 1 — roughly a month has passed since the camp injury with no reported setbacks
Week 1: Expected to PLAY at Kansas City, Monday Sept 14, 8:15 PM ET. Verify against Denver’s Thursday Sept 10 filing.
Weeks 1-4: Lead-back usage in Weeks 1–4 with RJ Harvey mixed in. His injury history, not any current ailment, is the reason to hold a contingency — soft-tissue issues in camp have historically preceded in-season absences for him.
Who benefits if he sits: RJ Harvey (verified RB2), then Jonah Coleman (RB3) and Tyler Badie (RB4)
Change since the weekend: UPGRADED

Fantasy takeaway: Start Dobbins as an RB2 — he is healthy and holds the lead role, but RJ Harvey is the single best handcuff in this division to own alongside him.

Cam Skattebo — NYG (RB1 / lead back, verified ACT on nfl.com roster and Ourlads 09/08/2026)

Wednesday practice: not yet reported (absent from the injury report, so no participation level is filed; the Giants stated all players practiced fully Wednesday in pads)
Official status: (d) UNOFFICIAL / TRACKED-STORY ENTRY ONLY – he carries NO official designation of any kind. He is NOT on the Giants’ Wednesday, Sept 9 injury report, NOT on IR, NOT on PUP, and has ACT status. Included here solely because he is returning from a catastrophic 2025 injury that fantasy managers are actively tracking.
Injury: Severe right ankle dislocation with open tibia/fibula fracture and a ruptured deltoid ligament, suffered on an illegal hip-drop tackle against Philadelphia. The injury ended his rookie season after 8-9 games. He has since been fully cleared and told reporters ‘I’ll be ready to go’ for Week 1.
When it happened: November 2025 (game vs. Philadelphia during the 2025 season)
Typical recovery for this injury: Ankle dislocation with open tib/fib fracture and deltoid ligament rupture in a running back: 6-12 months, with 8-10 months typical to full football activity given the open fracture and the hardware usually required. Return-to-form for a contact-heavy back often trails clearance by 2-4 months because of residual ankle stiffness and loss of push-off power. He is roughly 10 months out – inside the normal window, and his clean removal from the injury report is meaningful evidence.
Expected back to full health: Already cleared and off the report as of Sept 9, 2026 – roughly 10 months post-injury. Expect full pre-injury contact balance and burst by October 2026.
Week 1: WILL PLAY Sunday, Sept 13 (8:20 PM ET vs. Dallas) with no restriction reported. No Friday designation expected given his absence from the report.
Weeks 1-4: Weeks 1-4: expected to play all four as the lead back on a heavy workload – he has publicly said he is ready for a major role, and the Giants have framed the competition as being for carries BEHIND him. Given the injury severity, a soft-open Week 1 workload with Tracy and Singletary spelling him is plausible, ramping upward. Elevated soft-tissue risk in the surgically repaired ankle is the one thing to monitor.
Who benefits if he sits: Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB, ACT) would lead the backfield, with Devin Singletary (RB, ACT) in the change-of-pace role
Change since the weekend: NEW

Fantasy takeaway: Start him – clearing the injury report entirely at 10 months post-op is the confirmation you needed, though temper Week 1 expectations for a possible managed snap count.

Pierre Strong Jr. — GB (Practice-squad running back (nfl.com status DEV, No. 22) – the most NFL-experienced back in the building behind the active trio, and the emergency depth piece in a Jacobs-less backfield.)

Wednesday practice: not yet reported (officially) – beat reporting has him ABSENT from Wednesday’s practice; no practice designation exists for practice-squad players.
Official status: (d) UNOFFICIAL / BEAT REPORTING. Practice-squad players do not appear on the official NFL injury report, so there is no designation of any kind. This entry rests on Sept 9 beat reporting (SI Packers On SI) that he was absent from Wednesday’s practice, corroborated circumstantially by the club’s own Sept 9 transaction signing a replacement running back.
Injury: Unspecified – the nature of the absence has not been disclosed. The signal is the transaction: with Strong absent, Green Bay signed rookie RB Damon Bankston to fill its final practice-squad spot on Sept 8-9 and had also worked out RBs Phil Mafah and Ian Wheeler that Tuesday. Strong remains on the practice squad; he has NOT been released or placed on practice-squad IR.
When it happened: Absence first noted Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026.
Typical recovery for this injury: Cannot be estimated – no injury has been identified. Undisclosed one-day practice-squad absences most often resolve within days.
Expected back to full health: Unknown pending disclosure.
Week 1: Would not play Sunday, Sept. 13 at Minnesota regardless – he is a practice-squad player who would require a standard elevation, and none has been announced.
Weeks 1-4: Fantasy-irrelevant unless Green Bay’s active backfield suffers an injury AND he is elevated or signed to the 53. Worth tracking only as a barometer of how thin the Jacobs-less backfield really is.
Who benefits if he sits: Damon Bankston (rookie, New Mexico, No. 35) is the practice-squad back signed to cover this absence.
Change since the weekend: NEW – not on the Sept 6 baseline; absence and the corresponding Bankston signing both occurred Sept 8-9.

Fantasy takeaway: No action – but the fact that Green Bay burned its last practice-squad spot on a rookie back the day before Week 1 tells you how little margin the Jacobs-less committee has.

Cleared since the weekend — off the report entirely (11)

The good news. These players carried an injury question into the weekend and are no longer listed by their teams at all.

Chuba Hubbard — CAR (RB1 – listed first on Ourlads’ Sept 9 chart and the 1A in a 1A/1B with Jonathon Brooks.)

Wednesday practice: Full – he is not listed on the report, which by rule means full participation.
Official status: Resolved – off the injury report. He does not appear anywhere on Carolina’s club-published Week 1 Wednesday report (Sept 9, 2026), which listed only three players. No practice-report entry and no game-status designation.
Injury: Hamstring strain (resolved). It cost him time in camp and had him labeled week-to-week in August.
When it happened: Strained during training camp in August 2026; cleared before Week 1.
Typical recovery for this injury: Hamstring strains run 1-2 weeks for Grade 1 and 3-6 weeks for Grade 2. His absence spanned several weeks, consistent with a low Grade 2 that the club rehabbed conservatively.
Expected back to full health: Now – he practiced without limitation and the club has him as a full go.
Week 1: Expected to play, no designation. Sunday, Sept 13 vs. Chicago. He carries no entry on the Wednesday report, so barring a new injury he will not receive a Friday designation either.
Weeks 1-4: Wk1 vs CHI, Wk2 at ATL, Wk3 at CLE, Wk4 vs DET (Sun night, Oct 4), then a Week 5 bye. A soft opener against Chicago and a Week 2 division game set up well; the committee with Brooks is the real cap on his ceiling, not the hamstring.
Who benefits if he sits: Jonathon Brooks, with AJ Dillon third.
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED – now off the report. On Sept 6 he was an aggregator-projected Questionable with a hamstring.

Fantasy takeaway: Start him with confidence in Week 1 – the hamstring is fully behind him and he is the 1A, though Brooks will eat into the workload.

D’Andre Swift — CHI (RB1 – confirmed as the starter on both nfl.com (ACT, No. 4) and the Ourlads 09/08 chart, ahead of Kyle Monangai.)

Wednesday practice: Full – not listed on the Wednesday report; he returned to practice Monday, Sept. 7.
Official status: Resolved – off the injury report. Verified absent from Chicago’s Wednesday Sept 9, 2026 official Week 1 injury report on both nfl.com/injuries/league/2026/reg1 and in the club-sourced Sept 9 Sun-Times and SI write-ups, all of which list only Odunze, Trapilo and Bagent. He is ACT on the nfl.com roster. With no practice entry, there is nothing for Friday Sept 11 to turn into a designation.
Injury: Resolved. He left the Sept. 3 practice early, which briefly raised fears of a core or quad problem, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported it was CRAMPING only. He was back at practice Monday, Sept. 7 and cleared the first official injury report of the year without an entry.
When it happened: Sept. 3, 2026 (left practice early); resolved by Sept. 7-9, 2026.
Typical recovery for this injury: Exercise-associated muscle cramping: hours to 2-3 days, with no structural damage and no lingering re-injury risk once hydration and conditioning normalize.
Expected back to full health: Already fully healthy as of Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026.
Week 1: Expected to PLAY, no designation, Sunday, Sept. 13 at Carolina.
Weeks 1-4: Every-week starter with a clean bill of health across all four games. The only real threat to his volume is Kyle Monangai’s 1B role rather than his own body.
Who benefits if he sits: Kyle Monangai (No. 25) is the RB2 and would lead the backfield, with Roschon Johnson third.
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED – now off the injury report. The Sept 6 baseline carried an aggregator-projected ‘Questionable’; the club’s own filing lists him nowhere.

Fantasy takeaway: Start him without hesitation – the Sept 3 scare was a cramp, he practiced Monday, and he cleared the first official report with no entry.

De’Von Achane — MIA (RB1 — clear lead back and the focal point of the Dolphins offense in both the run and pass game)

Wednesday practice: Full — not listed on the Wednesday report
Official status: Resolved — off the injury report. He does NOT appear on Miami’s official Wednesday Sept 9 injury report (which lists Ronnie Harrison, Will Kacmarek and Seydou Traore only). All 53 active-roster Dolphins practiced Monday Sept 7.
Injury: Calf strain
When it happened: Mid-August 2026; Miami held him out for roughly two weeks as a precaution, and he returned to practice on or about Sept 1, 2026
Typical recovery for this injury: Grade 1 calf strain: 1-3 weeks. Grade 2: 4-6 weeks. Calf strains are a well-documented recurrence risk for speed backs, but Achane’s two-week precautionary absence and clean return fit a mild Grade 1.
Expected back to full health: At 100% now — he has been practicing without restriction for well over a week and cleared the official report entirely.
Week 1: Expected to play Sunday Sept 13 at Las Vegas with no designation.
Weeks 1-4: Weeks 1-4: full lead-back workload expected. The only monitorable is a calf recurrence in the first two weeks of live football, which is the classic window for it.
Who benefits if he sits: Jaylen Wright is the direct handcuff and would lead the committee; Ollie Gordon II would take the short-yardage and early-down work.
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED — now off the injury report. Be aware that search results for this player are heavily polluted with 2025-dated ‘Achane cleared for Week 1 vs. Colts’ stories; those are a different season.

Fantasy takeaway: START as a locked-in RB1 — the calf is fully behind him, and with a first-year starting QB in Malik Willis, Miami’s offense is likely to funnel even more volume through him.

Christian McCaffrey — SF (RB1 — lead back)

Wednesday practice: Full
Official status: Resolved — off the injury report. He did not practice Monday, Sept 7, returned to practice Tuesday, Sept 8, and is NOT listed on San Francisco’s official Week 1 injury report. No official designation.
Injury: Calf tightness, combined with deliberate veteran workload management
When it happened: 2026-09-06 (approximate — flared at the start of the Week 1 practice week)
Typical recovery for this injury: Calf tightness without a diagnosed strain resolves in days; a true grade 1 calf strain would run 2-3 weeks. Returning to practice inside 24 hours indicates precautionary rest, not a strain.
Expected back to full health: Already at full health as of Sept 8, 2026
Week 1: ACTIVE, no designation, expected to start Thursday, Sept 10 in Melbourne
Weeks 1-4: Expected to handle a full lead-back workload across all four games, though San Francisco has signalled it will manage his snaps situationally. Calf and Achilles history makes him a week-to-week monitor rather than a set-and-forget asset.
Who benefits if he sits: Jordan James (RB2); Kaelon Black is the No. 3 and Sincere McCormick the practice-squad depth
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED — now off the report

Fantasy takeaway: Full green light — he cleared the report entirely, so start him as your RB1 in Melbourne.

Kyle Monangai — CHI (RB2 / the ‘1B’ back behind D’Andre Swift – confirmed on both nfl.com (ACT, No. 25) and the Ourlads 09/08 chart, ahead of Roschon Johnson.)

Wednesday practice: Full – not listed on the Wednesday report; he returned to practice Monday, Sept. 7, his first session since the injury.
Official status: Resolved – off the injury report. Verified absent from Chicago’s official Wednesday Sept 9, 2026 Week 1 injury report (nfl.com league view plus the club-sourced Sept 9 reporting, which lists only Odunze, Trapilo and Bagent). He is ACT on nfl.com. This is a genuinely significant clearance: as recently as Sept 6 he was described as week-to-week.
Injury: Resolved. Hyperextended RIGHT knee suffered Aug. 16, 2026 in practice on contact with DT Grady Jarrett. HC Ben Johnson initially called him week-to-week. He was reported ‘running and looks good’ by D’Andre Swift after the Sept. 2 session, returned to full practice Monday Sept. 7, and then cleared the first official injury report without an entry.
When it happened: Aug. 16, 2026.
Typical recovery for this injury: Knee hyperextension without ligament tearing: 2-4 weeks typically, extending to 6+ weeks if a partial PCL or capsular injury is involved. Monangai is roughly 3.5 weeks out and clearing practice, which fits the benign end of the range.
Expected back to full health: Effectively fully healthy as of Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, though he has only had a few practice sessions back and may be eased in on early-season snap counts.
Week 1: Expected to PLAY, no designation, Sunday, Sept. 13 at Carolina.
Weeks 1-4: Should hold the 1B role behind Swift throughout, with his workload building as he shakes off three weeks of missed practice. He is the clear beneficiary of any Swift absence.
Who benefits if he sits: Roschon Johnson (No. 23) would move into the No. 2 role behind Swift.
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED – now off the injury report. This is the biggest quiet swing in the division: the Sept 6 picture had him week-to-week with a hyperextended knee, and the club’s Week 1 filing lists him nowhere.

Fantasy takeaway: A real upgrade worth acting on – going from ‘week-to-week’ on Sept 6 to off the injury report entirely restores his flex value and makes him the must-hold contingency on Swift.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. — NYG (RB2 behind Cam Skattebo, verified ACT on nfl.com roster and Ourlads 09/08/2026)

Wednesday practice: not yet reported (he is not listed on the injury report at all, so no participation level is filed for him – the Giants reported that all players practiced Wednesday)
Official status: Resolved – off the injury report. He does NOT appear on the Giants’ official Wednesday, Sept 9 injury report in any capacity (no DNP, no Limited, no Full entry), which means the club considers him carrying no reportable injury.
Injury: Concussion, sustained when he exited the preseason finale against the New York Jets. He cleared the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol on 2026-08-28. The Sept 6 baseline’s characterization as a ‘head/neck injury’ was imprecise – it was a diagnosed concussion, now resolved.
When it happened: 2026-08-28 (preseason finale vs. NYJ; cleared protocol the same reporting cycle)
Typical recovery for this injury: NFL concussion protocol: median 6-12 days from injury to full clearance; roughly 90% of cases clear within three weeks. Once the five-step protocol is completed and an independent neurological consultant signs off, there is no residual performance restriction and no elevated short-term re-injury designation. He is now 12 days past clearance.
Expected back to full health: Already at full health – cleared 2026-08-28, no lingering restriction
Week 1: WILL PLAY Sunday, Sept 13 (8:20 PM ET vs. Dallas) with no injury restriction. He is off the report entirely, so no Friday designation is expected.
Weeks 1-4: Weeks 1-4: available for all four as the clear RB2 in a rotation behind Skattebo. His value is leveraged almost entirely to Skattebo’s health rather than his own.
Who benefits if he sits: Devin Singletary (RB, ACT) is the next back up per Ourlads 09/08/2026, with Najee Harris (RB, ACT) as RB4 – note this reverses the Sept 6 baseline, which had Harris ahead of Singletary.
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED – now off the report

Fantasy takeaway: Fully cleared and off the report – hold him as a genuinely valuable Skattebo contingency rather than treating him as an injury risk.

Rachaad White — WAS (RB2 behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt, verified ACT on nfl.com roster, Ourlads 09/09/2026 and Yahoo’s Week 1 Commanders depth chart)

Wednesday practice: Full (practiced Wednesday; not listed on the injury report, so no participation level was formally filed for him)
Official status: Resolved – off the injury report. He does NOT appear anywhere on the Commanders’ official Wednesday, Sept 9 injury report (which listed eight players; he is not among them). IMPORTANT NUANCE: FantasyPros published a note at 1:15 PM ET on Sept 9 saying his Week 1 status was ‘still unclear’; that note predated the club’s official filing and is an aggregator lag, not a designation. The official report is authoritative and omits him.
Injury: Hamstring strain, originally reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. He progressed from individual-only work in August to full practice participation, and has now cleared the report entirely.
When it happened: August 2026 (training camp)
Typical recovery for this injury: Grade 1 hamstring strain in a running back: 1-3 weeks. Grade 2: 3-6 weeks. Grade 3: 8-12 weeks. Hamstrings carry the highest recurrence rate of any NFL soft-tissue injury (roughly 1 in 3 re-injure within the season), and the standard club protocol is a graduated return through individual work, then limited, then full – exactly the path he followed. Clearing the report is the meaningful endpoint.
Expected back to full health: Already at full health – cleared the injury report as of Wednesday, Sept 9, 2026
Week 1: WILL PLAY Sunday, Sept 13 (4:25 PM ET vs. Philadelphia) with no injury restriction reported. Off the report, so no Friday designation is expected.
Weeks 1-4: Weeks 1-4: expected to be available for all four as the RB2, with meaningful upside because the man in front of him (Croskey-Merritt) is working through a groin strain. Residual hamstring recurrence risk persists for 4-6 weeks after any strain, so monitor Wednesday reports through September.
Who benefits if he sits: Kaytron Allen (RB, ACT) would move up to RB2; Craig Reynolds and Robert Henry Jr. are practice-squad depth
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED – now off the report

Fantasy takeaway: The quietest significant upgrade in the division – he cleared the report while the starter ahead of him did not, making him a priority speculative add and a strong flex if Croskey-Merritt is capped Friday.

British Brooks — HOU (RB3 / fullback, behind David Montgomery and Woody Marks)

Wednesday practice: Full (not listed on the Texans’ Wednesday Sept 9 report)
Official status: Resolved — off the injury report
Injury: Hand — cleared
When it happened: August 2026
Typical recovery for this injury: Hand sprains/contusions without fracture: 1-2 weeks, frequently played through.
Expected back to full health: Now — no designation entering Week 1.
Week 1: Available, no designation, Sunday Sept 13 vs. Buffalo.
Weeks 1-4: Healthy for Weeks 1-4, but his role is fullback/special teams; touches will be scarce behind Montgomery and Marks.
Who benefits if he sits: Not applicable — he is healthy.
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED — now off the report. Was an unofficial ‘Questionable’ (hand) on Sept 6.

Fantasy takeaway: Not rosterable; the Texans backfield to own is David Montgomery, with Woody Marks the handcuff.

Ollie Gordon II — MIA (RB3 — short-yardage and early-down committee back behind De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright)

Wednesday practice: Full — not listed on the Wednesday report
Official status: Resolved — off the injury report. He does NOT appear on Miami’s official Wednesday Sept 9 injury report. He shed his red non-contact jersey at practice on Sept 7. Aggregators including CBS and RotoWire still carry an unofficial ‘Questionable for Week 1’ tag dating to Aug 31 — that is stale and is contradicted by the official filing.
Injury: Rib injury (contusion/strain)
When it happened: Aug 22, 2026, preseason game vs. the New York Giants. Head coach Jeff Hafley said at the time that Gordon would have been cleared to return had it been a regular-season game.
Typical recovery for this injury: Rib contusion: 1-3 weeks. Rib fracture: 4-6 weeks. The coach’s same-day comment that he was game-clearable points firmly to a contusion, and the three-week timeline since has borne that out.
Expected back to full health: At 100% now — out of the non-contact jersey and off the report.
Week 1: Expected to play Sunday Sept 13 at Las Vegas with no designation.
Weeks 1-4: Weeks 1-4: healthy and available, splitting backup carries with Jaylen Wright. His role, not his ribs, is the limiter.
Who benefits if he sits: Jaylen Wright is ahead of him; DJ Herman is the RB4.
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED — now off the injury report.

Fantasy takeaway: Deep-league stash only — but he is now the healthy short-yardage option, so he is the better bet than Wright for goal-line work if Achane ever misses time.

Kendre Miller — NO (RB3 behind Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara.)

Wednesday practice: Full – not listed on the report, which means full participation.
Official status: Resolved – off the injury report. He does not appear on the Saints’ first official Week 1 report (Wednesday, Sept 9).
Injury: Undisclosed (resolved) – he had missed practices on Sept 1 and Sept 2 without a published diagnosis.
When it happened: Early September 2026 absences; cleared before the Week 1 report.
Typical recovery for this injury: N/A – the club never published a diagnosis and he returned within about a week, consistent with routine maintenance.
Expected back to full health: Now – practicing without limitation.
Week 1: Expected to play, no designation. Sunday, Sept 13 at Detroit.
Weeks 1-4: Wk1 at DET, Wk2 at BAL, Wk3 vs LV, Wk4 vs ATL. With Kamara limited and Estime not practicing, he is the healthiest complement to Travis Etienne heading into the opener.
Who benefits if he sits: Audric Estime is the RB4 behind him, though Estime is himself a DNP.
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED – now off the report. He was an aggregator-projected Questionable on Sept 6.

Fantasy takeaway: A worthwhile contingency add – he is the only fully healthy Saints back behind Travis Etienne and would benefit directly if Kamara is ruled out Friday.

Bhayshul Tuten — JAX (Co-starting running back with Chris Rodriguez Jr., and the lead fantasy back in the committee (verified on the Jaguars’ official Sept 8 depth chart))

Wednesday practice: Full (not listed on the Jaguars’ Wednesday Sept 9 report, which named only LeQuint Allen Jr., Jakobi Meyers and OL Cole Van Lanen)
Official status: Resolved — off the injury report
Injury: Illness (non-orthopedic) — resolved
When it happened: Early September 2026
Typical recovery for this injury: Common viral illness: 3-7 days, with no lingering structural risk.
Expected back to full health: Now — no designation entering Week 1.
Week 1: Available, no designation, Sunday Sept 13 vs. Cleveland.
Weeks 1-4: Healthy for Weeks 1-4 (vs CLE, @ DEN, vs NE, @ CIN). With LeQuint Allen Jr. a DNP and in real doubt, Tuten’s Week 1 workload projects at the higher end of his committee range.
Who benefits if he sits: Chris Rodriguez Jr. is the co-starter, with Ameer Abdullah on passing downs — not applicable, Tuten is healthy.
Change since the weekend: RESOLVED — now off the report. Was an unofficial ‘Questionable’ (illness) on Sept 6.

Fantasy takeaway: Start him with confidence — the illness is gone and Allen’s DNP means fewer mouths in the backfield for Week 1.

Waiver wire: who gains if these names sit

MarShawn Lloyd is the listed RB1 in his absence (Ourlads 09/08, No. 32), with Chris Brooks second and Kaleb Johnson third – an explicit committee rather than a single replacement. — if Josh Jacobs (GB) can’t go.
Jadarian Price is already the starter in his absence; George Holani is the No. 2 — if Zach Charbonnet (SEA) can’t go.
Rhamondre Stevenson takes over as the clear lead back and gets the goal-line and early-down work. Corey Kiner is the No. 2 and should see change-of-pace and passing-down snaps. Lan Larison was elevated from the practice squad on Sept 9 specifically to fill the RB3/special-teams spot tonight. — if TreVeyon Henderson (NE) can’t go.
Jordan James is the RB2 behind Christian McCaffrey; Kaelon Black is the No. 3 — if Isaac Guerendo (SF) can’t go.
Brian Robinson Jr. is the RB2 behind Bijan Robinson; Tyler Goodson is the practice-squad emergency option. — if Trey Sermon (ATL) can’t go.
Already covered – Derrick Henry is the workhorse, Justice Hill is the passing-down back, Rasheen Ali is RB3. — if Adam Randall (BAL) can’t go.
AJ Dillon is the active RB3 behind Hubbard and Brooks. — if Trevor Etienne (CAR) can’t go.
Audric Estime holds the RB4 role in his place. — if Ty Chandler (NO) can’t go.
Already replaced – Kaytron Allen (RB, ACT) holds the RB3 role; Craig Reynolds and Robert Henry Jr. are practice-squad depth — if Jeremy McNichols (WAS) can’t go.
Jeremiyah Love is the starter in his absence, with Tyler Allgeier as the No. 2 and Bam Knight the No. 3 — if James Conner (ARI) can’t go.
Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier hold the roles his injury vacated; Bam Knight is the No. 3 — if Trey Benson (ARI) can’t go.
Sione Vaki (No. 33) is the back behind Jahmyr Gibbs on the Ourlads 09/08 chart, with Jacob Saylors third – note this reverses the Sept 6 baseline order. — if Isiah Pacheco (DET) can’t go.
Ray Davis absorbs the third-down and change-of-pace snaps behind James Cook; Frank Gore Jr. is the practice-squad body if Buffalo needs a fourth back. — if Ty Johnson (BUF) can’t go.
Ameer Abdullah is the direct beneficiary and would take the third-down/passing-game snaps. Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. remain the early-down co-starters and would each pick up a few extra touches. — if LeQuint Allen Jr. (JAX) can’t go.
Kenny Gainwell is the RB2 ahead of him and would absorb the change-of-pace work; Josh Williams is the practice-squad option. — if Sean Tucker (TB) can’t go.
Kendre Miller sits ahead of him; CJ Donaldson and Zamir White are the practice-squad depth. — if Audric Estime (NO) can’t go.
Rachaad White (RB, ACT) – and note White is himself off the Wednesday injury report after a hamstring issue, so he is a fully healthy fallback; Kaytron Allen (RB, ACT) is RB3. Jeremy McNichols (RB) is on IR-designated-to-return and unavailable for at least four games. — if Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) can’t go.
Chuba Hubbard absorbs the full workload, with AJ Dillon as the change-of-pace. — if Jonathon Brooks (CAR) can’t go.
Kimani Vidal (verified RB3, co-listed with Mitchell on the team chart) absorbs the backup snaps behind Omarion Hampton — if Keaton Mitchell (LAC) can’t go.
Travis Etienne Jr. is already the RB1 and would simply absorb more; Kendre Miller is the next man up for the complementary snaps, with Audric Estime (also hurt) behind him. — if Alvin Kamara (NO) can’t go.
Luke Farrell would absorb the lead-blocking role from an in-line TE alignment — if Kyle Juszczyk (SF) can’t go.

Bottom line at running back

12 of the 40 running backs here are unavailable, 4 did not practice Wednesday, and 5 were limited. 11 cleared since the weekend. The Friday reports settle the middle two groups — that is where Week 1 lineups get decided.

Rosters and depth charts for all 32 teams were verified against official league roster pages before this report was compiled, and every player listed was confirmed to be on the roster shown. Designations come from official club and league injury reports filed Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Recovery timelines describe how long a class of injury typically sidelines an NFL player and are not a prediction for any individual.

NFL Week 1 Fantasy Football Injury Report Wednesday RB first appeared on Game On Media.

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