Best Fits for Top Available NFL Free Agents After Week 1 Injuries

Injuries are part and parcel of playing professional football. While no one will get through the 2026 NFL season 100 percent healthy, some players had the misfortune to not even make it past Week 1 without picking up a significant ailment.

Although there weren't many major season-ending injuries suffered during the long stretch between Wednesday's NFL Kickoff Game and the Monday Night Football matchup that bookended the 16-game slate, plenty of injuries occured that are likely to keep some of the league's most notable players out for at least one game.

Teams are now scrambling to unearth replacements for their banged-up players before Week 2 gets underway. With time at a premium, it's imperative that these clubs make the most of their free-agent pickups and bring in players who mesh well with their roster and schemes.

With that in mind, here's a look at the best fits for some of the top available players still lingering in free agency.

The Seattle Seahawks began their tenure as reigning champions by gritting out a victory over the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch, but now must go without starting quarterback for a stretch after Sam Darnold suffered a " very unique soft-tissue injury " in the glute area.

Although it remains to be seen how long Darnold will be sidelined for—the team called it a "short-term" issue—Seattle will want to be proactive and bring in another quarterback as insurance for backup Drew Lock.

Given their aspirations of joining the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs as the only back-to-back champs of the 21st century, the Seahawks should prioritize acquiring a proven player over a raw young passer. Josh Johnson, a grizzled 19-year veteran, fits the bill perfectly. Although he's currently on the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad, the Seahawks could pluck him off and add him to the active roster as their QB3.

Johnson offers an extensive amount of experience stemming from his time playing for 14 different teams since entering the league as fifth-round pick in the 2008 draft. He linked up with the Washington Commanders last season and did well in his first action since the 2021 campaign, going 1-1 across two starts while completing 63 percent of his throws for 372 yards and a touchdown on the year. Johnson also added 55 yards and a score on 12 totes.

Although Johnson wouldn't be pressed into action unless Lock goes down and second-year developmental project Jalen Milroe is either injured or ineffective after taking the reins, he's the type of steady old hand the Seahawks can trust if things go from bad to worse over these next few weeks.

The Cleveland Browns stumbled out of the gate, opening their season with a disheartening 34-10 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars. To make matters worse, the team also lost backup running back Dylan Sampson to a severe knee injury, one that may potentially sideline him for the rest of the 2026 NFL season .

Cleveland couldn't get anything going on the ground against the Jags, with starter Quinshon Judkins getting held to 33 yards on 12 carries. Special teamer Raheim Sanders only gained a single yard on his lone tote, while rookie wideout KC Concepion wound up being the team's most efficient hand-off option after tallying 15 yards on three rushes.

Given the dismal state of the team's ground attack and Sampson's projected extensive absence, the Browns must make a move to reinforce the backfield as soon as possible. This could lead to a reunion with former starter Jerome Ford, who remains available after he failed to land with a team this offseason.

Ford was selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2022 draft and found the most success in 2023 after taking over for an injured Nick Chubb. Ford finished his sophomore campaign with 1,132 yards and nine touchdowns from scrimmage. The back lost his starting role upon Chubb's return in 2024 and was relegated to third-string duties after the team drafted both Judkins and Sampson in 2025.

Although he caught on with the Washington Commanders at the start of the offseason, Ford was eventually released with an injury settlement ahead of cutdown day. Despite the discouraging cut, Ford could rejuvenate his career by returning to a club that needs him far more now than it did at this time last year.

Ford averaged a steady 4.3 yards per carry during his first stint in Cleveland and showed he can effectively contribute as both a rusher and receiver out of the backfield. If he can pass a physical, the Browns shouldn't hesitate to sign him as Judkins' backup.

The Baltimore Ravens opened their 2026 campaign with a big 41-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts. While the team loudly stated its case to be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender, it also took a hit when both star wideout Zay Flowers and promising rookie Ja'Kobi Lane were injured in the contest.

According to ESPN's Jamison Hensley , Lane reportedly fractured his wrist and could be out an extended stretch. The Flowers injury isn't as serious but potentially even more concerning, as he had piled up 150 yards and a touchdown on an economical five catches before going down with a hamstring issue in the first half. While the initial prognosis is good, Flowers has been dealing with hamstring problems throughout the offseason and may need some time off to avoid risking the injury getting worse.

With the inconsistent Rashod Bateman, special teamer LaJohntay Wester and recent practice squad call-up Chris Moore being the only active wideouts to make it through Week 1 unscathed, Baltimore must bring in a proven veteran like Tyreek Hill to reinforce the position.

Hill's blazing speed, elite athleticism and strong hands would help him play a role in Baltimore's passing attack from the jump, potentially even seamlessly transitioning into Flowers' high-volume role if called upon.

Hill hasn't seen the field since suffering a devastating knee injury in Week 4 of last season, but is nearly ready to return after an extensive rehabilitation period. Drew Rosenhaus, Hill's longtime agent, appeared on the Pat McAfee Show last week and revealed that his client should be "100 percent good to go" at some point within the next month (h/t Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper ).

Considering the injuries this already-thin receiving corps has been dealing with, adding Hill as soon as he's ready to play again should be atop the Baltimore front office's to-do list.

2026 NFL Trade Block Big Board Entering Week 2 🏈

The Washington Commanders kept things close in their 24-22 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, but that outcome could have been different had Chig Okonkwo not suffered a hamstring injury that knocked him out of the game in the third quarter.

If Okonkwo is out for a stretch—and hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky—Washington will be forced to ask John Bates to fill void and promote Ben Sinnott into a backup role. Unfortunately for the Commanders, neither player is a serious receiving threat, with each lacking the unique combination of size, speed and hands that Okonkwo brings to the table.

Rather than enter a pivotal Week 2 clash against the Dallas Cowboys with an underwhelming tight end situation, it would behoove the Commanders to reunite with former starter Zach Ertz. Although the 13-year veteran remains unsigned, he could still provide a major boost to this offense without needing much time to get brought up to speed.

Ertz is already familiar with quarterback Jayden Daniels and much of the Washington roster after spending the past two seasons serving as one of the team's top weapons. Ertz particularly thrived in 2024 when he racked up 654 yards and seven touchdowns on 66 catches. While he injuries prompted a regression last year, Ertz still posted a solid 50/504/4 line in the 13 games he was available for.

Although he doesn't have much tread left on his tires at the age of 35, Ertz still profiles as a far better Okonkwo replacement than any of the current members of Washington's roster. He may not be the fastest player at the position, but an elite football IQ, good hands and a strong rapport with Daniels more than makes up for that fading athleticism.

The Dallas Cowboys not only suffered a tough 28-20 defeat to the rival New York Giants to open the 2026 NFL season, but lost some key members of their defense for a stretch in the process. With safety Malik Hooker and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown both set to miss several games , the team desperately needs to bring in quality reinforcements.

One of the shrewdest moves Dallas could make at this juncture is adding Bobby Wagner. The 14-year veteran remains unsigned despite a history of success throughout his Hall of Fame-worthy career and could provide an immediate boost to this defense.

Wagner may be in the twilight of his career, but he proved he's still an asset during his time with the Washington Commanders last year. He appeared in all 17 games for the club—marking the fourth consecutive season he didn't miss a single contest—and recorded 162 tackles and a pair of interceptions. He's only a season removed from making the most recent of his 10 Pro Bowl appearances and would be the league's active leading tackler by a wide margin with 2,000 when he signs.

With his unparalleled instincts and experience, Wagner could come in and instantly make a difference for the Cowboys. He may lack sideline-to-sideline speed at the age of 36, but his ability to diagnose plays and attack the football gives him an edge over any other linebacker currently available on the free-agent market.

Coming to terms with Wagner would help the Cowboys weather the storm of defensive injuries they are currently dealing with. Once Overshown is ready to return, Wagner can slide into a rotational backup role and contribute situationally while also serving as a leader for the team both on and off the field. It's a perfect fit for both sides and would help Dallas get back on track after a rough start to the season.