Tracking NFL's Biggest Week 1 Injuries After Brock Bowers' Surgery, Cowboys' Tyler Smith Lands on IR

The NFL regular season is an endurance race often decided by attrition. By the end of it, the healthiest teams often have the best chance of going on a deep playoff run.

The 2026 regular season got underway on Wednesday night. While injuries are usually more of a factor later in the year, we've already seen some significant ones that could impact early campaigns.

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson missed the opener with an ankle injury. The Dallas Cowboys recently placed starting guard Tyler Smith on injured reserve (with a designation to return) following thumb surgery.

On Wednesday, we learned that the Las Vegas Raiders will be without star tight end Brock Bowers. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport , the talented pass-catcher underwent a meniscus trim on Tuesday and will miss "a game or two" while he recovers.

Here, we'll dive into some of the most notable injuries and injury recoveries worth tracking ahead of the remaining Week 1 slate. We'll examine the specifics of each situation, how Week 1 matchups could be impacted, and the latest buzz from around the league.

TE George Kittle and Edge Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers will open their 2026 season on Thursday night with a brutal test. Not only will they have to battle a loaded Los Angeles Rams team, but they will also have to do so across the world in Melbourne, Australia.

The good news for the 49ers is that they may have two of their key playmakers back against the rival Rams. Pass-rusher Nick Bosa (torn ACL) and tight end George Kittle (torn Achilles) both suffered significant injuries last season that threatened to linger into 2026. However, both are trending toward availability.

On Tuesday, 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris told reporters that Bosa will be in the lineup, while offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said that Kittle's return is a distinct possibility.

"We have got to see how he gets through the rest of the week, we've got two more practices, but Kittle looks good," Kubiak said, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner .

Fantasy managers will want to monitor Kittle up until the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, but Bosa should be a go. Having both would be a big boon to San Francisco's chances of outlasting the early Super Bowl favorites.

Fans won't get to see star Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald against the 49ers on Thursday night. While the three-time Defensive Player of the Year did end his retirement to return to L.A. this season, he isn't ready to take the field just yet.

Donald did not travel with the Rams to Melbourne.

Fans should, however, get a few glimpses of prized trade acquisition Myles Garrett. While the reigning Defensive Player of the Year has spent much of the summer managing swelling in his knee, he's set to make his debut for L.A. against the rival 49ers.

"He's looked great," Rams coach Sean McVay said, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop . "We've been smart with Myles, like I've kind of told you guys, but his impact has been tremendous."

The Rams may look to utilize Garrett on a limited snap count, but he should still have a big impact on their pass rush. Expect him to command regular double teams, which should open up playmaking opportunities for Byron Young, Kobie Turner, and Braden Fiske.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers took the league by storm as a rookie in 2024. However, he suffered a torn ACL last season that ended his campaign after only four games.

The Giants are banking on a return to form by Nabers as they look to compete under new head coach John Harbaugh and with second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart. While the LSU product may not be in full pre-injury form to face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, he appears set to suit up.

"I think he's ready to go," Harbaugh said, per The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll . "...If he's ready to go, and he feels like he's ready to go, then he'll play."

If Nabers is back and close to 100 percent, it will allow New York to test Dallas' new-look defense early and often. If he isn't, the Giants will have to rely on a shallow receiver room. Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, and Malachi Fields are the only other receivers on their active roster.

Arizona Cardinals fans have been eager to see the debut of rookie running back and third overall pick Jeremiyah Love .

The Notre Dame product looked impressive during his preseason debut on August 13, but he's been dealing with an ankle injury ever since.

The good news is that Love was back at practice this week, and head coach Matt LaFLeur said the rookie has had "no limit," according to NBC Sports' Kyle Dvorchak .

Having Love available will give Arizona a potent dual-threat option as it looks to upset the Los Angeles Chargers on the road. However, this doesn't mean the rookie is ready to be the focal point of the offense.

Love was listed as the No. 2 running back behind Tyler Allgeier on the Cardinals' Week 1 depth chart .

Realistically, fans can probably expect to see a good bit of both backs as Arizona opens the season with a committee approach.

Fans can add Bowers to the list of standouts they won't see in Week 1. While missing him will be big, it looks like Las Vegas should have standout running back Ashton Jeanty available when it hosts the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Jeanty had been out of practice with a low ankle sprain since suffering the injury on August 23. However, he returned to practice on Wednesday, and head coach Klint Kubiak has expressed optimism about his Week 1 availability, according to ESPN's Ryan McFadden .

Bowers' absence will likely mean an uptick in targets for backup tight end Michael Mayer against Miami. Whether Jeanty gets the start or not, fans should expect to see a good amount of rookie running back Mike Washington Jr .

Washington has the sort of breakaway speed that will complement Jeanty's physical playing style. Kubiak regularly rotated running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet as the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator.

WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are set to debut a new-look defense—one now headlined by defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence—on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If Cincinnati cannot slow Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers, it may have to win a high-scoring game. That would be an incredibly daunting challenge if either Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins were to miss the game—and both have been dealing with injuries.

Chase has been dealing with a knee injury while Higgins has been battling a heel ailment. Neither is guaranteed to play or be at 100 percent on Sunday, but the dynamic duo is trending in the right direction.

"They continue to do more and more every day, but I like the pace they're on," head coach Zac Taylor said, per Geoff Hobson of the team's official website.

If Chase and/or Higgins is limited against Tampa, Cincinnati will likely look to lean on Chase Brown and its ground game while hoping that its rebuilt defense is as advertised.

WR Rome Odunze and RB D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears will open their season on Sunday against the defending NFC South champion Carolina Panthers. The Bears are looking to defend their own division title while making a deeper push into the postseason.

Unfortunately, two of Chicago's key offensive players are banged up heading into Week 1. Wideout Rome Odunze is dealing with a foot injury, while running back D'Andre Swift exited practice last week with cramps.

Running back Kyle Monangai has also been out of practice since mid-August with a knee injury.

However, Swift and Monangai both returned to practice on Tuesday, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Both should be on hand to test Carolina's run defense on Sunday. The outlook is far less certain for Odunze:

If Odunze can't go, fans should expect to see a lot of Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, and Kalif Raymond in the passing game.

DT Nnamdi Madubuike and WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens will open their season against the Indianapolis Colts in what will be the debut of new head coach Jesse Minter.

The availability of two notable players could shape whether Minter begins his Baltimore tenure with a win.

Standout receiver Zay Flowers has been dealing with a hamstring and was listed as limited in Wednesday's practice. Also limited was defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, who missed all but two games in 2025 with a neck injury.

It's been a long road back for Madubuike, who hasn't played in nearly a full calendar year. He may not be quite ready to return to live action against the Colts, though Minter won't rule out a Week 1 debut.

If Madubuike does return, even on a limited basis, it should help Baltimore's defense slow Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor, and the rest of Indy's offense. He was one of the league's most disruptive interior defenders before the injury.

If Flowers is limited, Ravens rookie third-round pick Ja'Kobi Lane could take on a larger role in his NFL debut.

Week 1 will end with a Monday Night Football thriller between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. Not only will the matchup provide a drama-drenched AFC West showdown, but it should also mark the return of Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs quarterback suffered a torn ACL roughly nine months ago. While he was cleared in time to participate in training camp, that never guaranteed that he'd be ready for regular-season action by Week 1.

Mahomes' return still isn't guaranteed, but it's looking incredibly likely.

"There's a pretty good chance Patrick will go ahead and start, unless something were to come up here in the next couple days," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said on Tuesday, per ESPN's Nate Taylor .

Justin Fields would serve as Kansas City's backup, but Patrick Mahomes appears set to start. Mahomes is returning from a significant knee injury, however, and Kansas City will face a difficult Denver defense in Week 1.