NFL Week 1 injury report: Updates on Russell Wilson, Tee Higgins, more
NFL teams have worked all preseason to hit their stride in time for the kickoff of Week 1.
They'll all be looking to dethrone the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, who once again look like they'll be among the NFL's elite. However, there are still far too many unknowns before we can even think about what the playoff picture might look like. (Then again, that won't stop us from trying to predict how the 2024 season will unfold anyway.)
One of the greatest variables this season will be injuries, and not all of the NFL's 32 teams will go into their season-openers 100% healthy.
Here's a look at some of the most notable Week 1 injury concerns:
QB Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Wilson experienced tightness in his calf on Thursday and was limited in practice on Friday as Justin Fields took snaps with the first team offense. Wilson is trending toward being a true game-time decision for the Steelers' opener on Sunday against the Falcons.
WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins didn't practice on Friday and is now listed as doubtful to play against the New England Patriots on Sunday. Head coach Zac Taylor said Higgins "tweaked" his hamstring in practice on Thursday.
Higgins has a history of hamstring injuries in his career as a football player dating back to his days at Clemson. This injury comes after a full six weeks of training camp practice where Higgins was closely managed in hopes he could get to Week 1 fully healthy.
-- Kelsey Conway, Cincinnati Enquirer
QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert appears to be a full go for the Chargers' Week 1 AFC West clash against the Las Vegas Raiders. Herbert, who was diagnosed with a plantar fascia injury in his foot in late July and was in a walking boot for two weeks, was taken off the team's injury report. After missing much the preseason, Herbert had gradually been ramping up his activity.
TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Bowers, whom the Raiders drafted out of Georgia with the No. 13 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft, practiced in limited fashion with the team Wednesday. Bowers is nursing a foot injury but Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said he is "ready to go" for his NFL debut against the Los Angeles Chargers.
WR Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
The same heel injury that cost him the final month of the 2023 season has followed Allen to Chicago. Allen was, however, limited in practice Wednesday so his status seems positive for the moment. The Bears have D.J. Moore on the other side, but if Allen were to miss the Bears' Week 1 clash against the Tennessee Titans, it could be a good sign for rookie first-rounder Rome Odunze.
DB Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins
A hamstring injury has kept Ramsey sidelined from practice for the past couple of weeks and his status for the Dolphins' Week 1 game at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
RB Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Johnson, who is listed as the Bears' third-string running back, is nursing a toe injury that made him limited for Wednesday's practice. Johnson is behind offseason acquisition D'Andre Swift and Khalil Herbert.
TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
According to coach Raheem Morris, Pitts suffered a hamstring injury a couple weeks ago and was limited in practice Wednesday. Morris said he wasn't concerned, though, about Pitts' status. The Falcons, with new starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, open the season at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
McCaffrey tweaked his calf during camp in early August and didn't play in any of the Niners' preseason games. However, he's been practicing on a regular basis and should be good to go on Monday night vs. the Jets.
TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Andrews was involved in a car accident Aug. 14, but the Ravens said he was not injured. Still, he did not participate in practices for two weeks before returning to action last Friday. That will give him a full week of on-field work before Baltimore's opener against Kansas City on Thursday.
WR Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
"Hollywood" sustained an injury to his shoulder area Aug. 10 and the team officially ruled him out for the opener on Thursday. The Chiefs chose not to put him on injured reserve to start the season, an indication they expect him back by Week 4. In the meantime, Kansas City did sign veteran wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster for depth.
WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers placed Pearsall on the reserve/NFI list — meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the regular season — as the rookie recovers from a gunshot wound to his chest.
Pearsall already had been dealing with a shoulder injury that had limited his participation in training camp.
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