Allen entered the weekend questionable with a hip injury. With some limited practices leading up to gameday, Allen is declared active and should be involved on passing downs for the Jaguars. His potential receiving role dampens Bhayshul Tuten’s upside against the Browns. Jaguars declared QB Quinn Ewers, OL Daniel Faalele, S Jalen Huskey, TE Tanner Koziol, DE Bryan Thomas Jr., and DE Wesley Williams inactive for Week 1 against the Browns.
It was trending this way after Porter Jr. missed all of training camp with a back injury; however, the Steelers had held out hope that the 26-year-old would be able to return to the field for Week 1. Unfortunately, it sounds like the issue preventing him from being on the field may be more about a new contract than his back. The Steelers will likely turn to Asante Samuel Jr. to take Porter Jr.'s role, and it might matter more if the Falcons weren’t starting Cooper Rush at quarterback. The Steelers’ other inactives are QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, OG Gennings Dunker, DL Kevin Jobity Jr., and DL Gabriel Rubio.
We knew earlier this week that both Penix (knee) and Tagovailoa (back) would be sidelined, and that Cooper Rush would start. EDGE Za’Darius Smith was listed as questionable with a shoulder injury, but he will suit up for this one. Christian Harris, who had been a favorite to start at inside linebacker, is a healthy inactive, which means rookies Kendal Daniels or Harold Perkins Jr. will see extended run.
Tua Tagovailoa is out with a back issue for Week 1, and Cooper Rush is dealing with back problems of his own, though he will attempt to play through them. Tua’s timeline to return is unknown. Already down to their third-string quarterback, the Falcons desperately need Penix back. He practiced in full this week, meaning that a return in Week 2 looks likely. All Atlanta pass-catchers will get a boost once Penix takes over.
According to Rapoport, the league is “trying all sorts of legal maneuvers” to get the video of the incident. The court has already barred the video from being released, so it’s unclear whether the league will be able to get it from Jacobs at all. For now, Jacobs remains on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. MarShawn Lloyd will start at running back until he is removed from the list and serves an impending suspension.
Stribling suffered a deltoid sprain in his ankle. He is not expected to undergo surgery at this time, though Rapoport notes it is still a possibility. The fact that Rapoport noted that Stribling is “still seeking opinions” suggests surgery is very much on the table. With the rookie sidelined, Demarcus Robinson will slide into the three-receiver rotation. He scored a long touchdown versus the Rams in Week 1, though he profiles as a boom/bust WR6 going forward. Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel will see the majority of targets in most weeks.
Per Wolfe, the Jags explored a deal similar to that of Michael Wilson, who just landed a three-year, $75 million extension. The two sides couldn’t agree to terms, and Washington will now start his contract year. It’s a highly risky move for a largely unheralded player who caught lightning in a bottle at the end of last year. Washington caught 29 passes for 507 yards and three touchdowns in his final five games, including one postseason appearance. If he repeats anything close to those numbers over a full season this year, Washington will make far more than Wilson as a free agent next offseason.
Jackson and the Ravens engaged in contract talks throughout the offseason but never got the deal across the finish line. Jackson doesn’t have an agent, meaning he represents himself in contract negotiations. The added time and stress of that likely means neither side wants to continue contract discussions in the midst of the regular season. Jackson is under contract through the 2027 season, giving the team one more offseason to get him locked down long-term.
Porter Jr. missed all of training camp with the back issue, but, as Schefter notes, he has also been engaged in unsuccessful contract talks with the Steelers all offseason. Schefter immediately added, “The possibility of a trade remains in play.” It sounds like his Week 1 absence is almost entirely based on the lack of a new contract, meaning he could continue to miss games until that changes.
Odunze was limited by the calf issue throughout the week before being listed as questionable on Friday. He will suit up today but might not be at full strength. Odunze will be a high-risk WR3 for his 2026 opener. To no one’s surprise, Colston Loveland trails only Trey McBride in the tight end rankings, while Luther Burden is a speculative WR2.
Kamara practiced in full on Friday but was still listed as questionable for Week 1. It doesn’t sound like there are any immediate concerns with the knee issue, but rather the team wants to ease him back into action with another week of practice. Kendre Miller will serve as the team’s RB2 for this game.
Love was limited in practice throughout the week. Head coach Mike LaFleur, however, said he would have no limitations in practice as early as Wednesday, so the limited designation is likely a technicality. He was listed as questionable at the end of the week and LaFleur called him a game-time decision. Love has been trending in the right direction for a while and should be good to go when the Cardinals release their inactives. He will likely split work with Tyler Allgeier, keeping him in the RB2 ranks for his NFL debut.
Stowers entered his rookie season unlikely to contribute in a meaningful way but will not be forced to miss the next four games, at minimum, while on injured reserve, something that could stunt his growth at the professional level further. Dallas Goedert remains a locked-in TE1 in fantasy circles moving forward.
Rush, the team’s third quarterback that is set to start in relief of both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr, reportedly experienced discomfort in his back on Saturday, with Schefter adding that he is still expected to start against the Steelers. We don’t know what kind of voodoo is working against the Falcons at present, but the team enters Week 1 with all kinds of uncertainty under center. Penix is presumed to be the starter once healthy, with no telling when that could be as he works his way back from a torn ACL.
The two sides worked diligently to get a deal done before the start of the regular season but will now pause discussions until after the year. Stroud was reportedly offered a substantial deal earlier in the offseason but turned it down, now forced to “bet on himself” as he plays out the final year of his rookie deal, minus the fifth-year option. Stroud has been unable to rekindle his rookie year magic while playing under two different offensive coordinators, something he’s looking to remedy in his second season under Nick Caley.
Both players could see situational roles in the team’s opening game. They should not be counted on in IDP leagues.
This wouldn’t be news under normal circumstances but takes on additional meaning with Rome Odunze listed questionable for Week 1. It is of particular note that the Bears already have five wide receivers on the active roster and still chose to elevate another. While recent reports seemed to indicate a sense of optimism regarding Odunze’s potential availability, he could be on the wrong side of questionable given the recent transaction. Fantasy managers will want to confirm his status when the team released its inactives 90-minutes prior to first kick. Luther Burden and Colston Loveland would be in line to benefit greatly should Odunze be unable to go.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Kraft’s deal, which runs through the 2030 season, has a maximum value of $92 million and includes a $26.5 million signing bonus. He’s now the NFL’s highest-paid tight end. Kraft had 32 receptions, 489 yards and six touchdowns before tearing his ACL in Week 9 last year. Not on the injury report for Week 1, Kraft is a surefire TE1 even in a tough matchup against the Vikings defense.
According to Over the Cap, the Lions created $35.68 million in cap space. Detroit is now second in the NFL in cap space with around $38 million, which can either be used this year or carry over to 2027. While a big in-season move could come closer to the trade deadline, Lions GM Brad Holmes recently reiterated the organization’s interest in giving contract extensions, which would begin in 2027, to TE Sam LaPorta and S Brian Branch.
It is unclear whether this is a season-ending injury or if Davis has a chance to return later in the year. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported earlier that the Cowboys were “bracing for an extended absence” and that a source told him, “it’s bad.” It sounds like Davis’ 2026 season may be over. Cowboys RB Emari Demercado now sits behind starting RB Javonte Williams, and RB Israel Abanikanda is on the practice squad.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the restructure converts playtime incentives, up to $1.5 million, into a signing bonus “as a nod to his status as a proven starter.” Prior to the new deal, the Vikings also had only $6.39 million in salary cap space, the eighth-lowest amount in the NFL.
This one is for the practice squad transactions grinders. Nabers is questionable to play in Week 1 against the Cowboys and has made it clear that he is weighing his long-term health heavily as he decides whether to play. Per Duggan, if the Giants elevate a second wide receiver, that “would be a very discouraging sign.” Stay tuned.
Young has two years remaining on his contract, but is currently eligible for an extension. According to Wolfe, Young needs to improve in three areas. First, Young must check down when it’s the responsible thing to do, in turn elevating his completion rate to the “high 60s, low 70s” range. Second, Young must be comfortable playing with tempo and diverse personnel formations, including WR Tetairoa McMillan lining up in the slot more often. Third, Young must play quickly and decisively. Whether he can accomplish these feats is up in the air. He’s a mid-to-low QB2 for fantasy purposes.
Mafi entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft with the Patriots. He made his way to Las Vegas last year, but was unable to secure a long-term role. He could end up on the practice squad in Tennessee.