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Atlanta still has not named a starting quarterback for Wednesday’s opener against Pittsburgh, with Michael Penix Jr. working back from a knee issue and Tua Tagovailoa the alternative. Green Bay is without Micah Parsons. Seattle has lost Zach Charbonnet for the first four games.
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The 2026 season opens Wednesday 9 September, and the injury picture is still moving. Here is the latest Week 1 news team by team, and the situations most likely to affect the opening slate.
Updated 8 September. Injury designations change daily once official practice reports begin, so treat every status here as a snapshot.
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The Five Situations That Matter Most
1. Atlanta has no named starter for Wednesday
The Falcons have still not confirmed who starts against the Steelers. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has said the plan is for Michael Penix Jr. to be the starter eventually, but that he may not be ready immediately after a knee issue.
Tua Tagovailoa is the alternative, though that does not appear to be the preferred route. This is the single biggest unresolved question on the Week 1 board and the one most likely to move a line late.
2. Micah Parsons is out in Green Bay
Parsons is on the shelf for the Packers ahead of their trip to Minnesota. Green Bay opened as a 1.5-point favourite in that game and the market has since flipped to the Vikings, and this is a meaningful part of why.
3. Patrick Mahomes is cleared
The Chiefs quarterback has been cleared to open the season after last year’s season-ending knee injury. He plays Monday night against Denver.
Denver sits at +2.5 with a moneyline near +124, which is a narrower number than a healthy Mahomes at Arrowhead would normally command. The market is pricing in some uncertainty about how he looks in his first competitive action.
4. Seattle loses Charbonnet for a month
The Seahawks kept Zach Charbonnet on the reserve PUP list, which rules him out for the opening four games. First-round rookie Jadarian Price is now positioned to lead the rushing work, with George Holani expected to handle receiving downs and pass protection.
That is a significant change for a team opening at home against New England in a Super Bowl LX rematch.
5. Kyler Murray is Minnesota’s starter
One of the more consequential roster stories of the offseason resolves in Week 1. Murray takes the first snap for the Vikings against Green Bay.
Injury Notes by Game
Patriots at Seahawks — Wednesday 9 September
- New England: running back TreVeyon Henderson did not practise Sunday with an ankle injury. Worth tracking through the early week.
- Seattle: Zach Charbonnet on reserve PUP, out four games. Rookie Jadarian Price steps up. Sam Darnold starts under centre.
49ers vs Rams, Melbourne — Thursday 10 September
- San Francisco: defensive lineman Okuayinonu has been ruled out for Week 1 and did not travel to Australia.
- Good news: tight end George Kittle, working back from an Achilles issue, made the trip, as did Nick Bosa. Both are expected to play.
The travel factor is worth noting on its own. Neither side gets a home crowd, and both squads have made the same long journey, so the usual home-field adjustment does not apply.
Falcons at Steelers — Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- Atlanta: quarterback situation unresolved. Penix Jr. (knee) versus Tagovailoa.
- Pittsburgh: Aaron Rodgers opens the season as the starter, with Mike Tomlin no longer on the sideline. The Steelers are laying 3 at home.
Ravens at Colts — Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- Baltimore: Lamar Jackson says he is “absolutely” ready for Week 1 after an offseason learning a new offence under first-year head coach Jesse Minter.
- Indianapolis: receiver Alec Pierce was a full participant in practice after an ankle issue and appears good to go.
Cowboys at Giants — Sunday Night Football
- Dallas: a mostly clean bill of health. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed Liufau fractured his forearm and will have surgery, and Moore is on injured reserve with a hip issue after an earlier groin problem.
- New York: Malik Nabers appears on track for Week 1 barring a setback.
Dolphins at Raiders — Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
- Las Vegas: Ashton Jeanty made the initial 53-man roster and is progressing after an ankle injury, but the team has not given a return date. Mike Washington Jr. is the direct contingency if Jeanty cannot handle a full workload.
Saints at Lions — Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- New Orleans: Alvin Kamara was not placed on injured reserve, which preserves the possibility of an earlier return than some expected.
Broncos at Chiefs — Monday Night Football
- Kansas City: Mahomes cleared and starting.
Why Week 1 Injury News Moves Lines More Than Usual
Opening-week spreads are built entirely on projection. There is no competitive game action for sportsbooks to price from, and preseason tells them very little because starters barely play.
That makes injury news the dominant input. A Friday or Saturday practice report can shift a Week 1 number further than a full week of results would in October, because there is nothing else for the market to weigh against it.
Two practical consequences if you are betting the slate:
- Wait on unresolved quarterback situations. Atlanta is the obvious one this week. A confirmed starter can move that line by more than a point.
- Watch Wednesday and Friday specifically. Those are the days official practice participation reports firm up, and the days lines respond hardest.
For the current board, see our Week 1 odds coverage. For our selections, see our Week 1 best bets.
Week 1 Schedule Reminder
| Day | Date | Headline game |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 9 September | Patriots at Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC |
| Thursday | 10 September | 49ers vs Rams, Melbourne, 8:35 p.m. ET, Netflix |
| Sunday | 13 September | 13 games, plus Cowboys at Giants on SNF |
| Monday | 14 September | Broncos at Chiefs, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN |
Full details in our 2026 NFL schedule hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is starting at quarterback for the Falcons in Week 1?
Not confirmed as of publication. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has indicated Michael Penix Jr. is the intended starter but may not be ready immediately after a knee issue, with Tua Tagovailoa the alternative.
Is Patrick Mahomes playing in Week 1?
Yes. Mahomes has been cleared to open the season after last year’s knee injury and starts Monday night against Denver.
Is Micah Parsons playing Week 1?
No. Parsons is out for Green Bay ahead of the trip to Minnesota, which is part of why that line flipped from the Packers to the Vikings.
Is George Kittle playing in Australia?
He travelled with the 49ers to Melbourne and is expected to play, having worked back from an Achilles issue. Defensive lineman Okuayinonu did not travel and is ruled out.
When do official NFL injury reports come out?
Teams file practice participation reports through the week of a game, with the fullest picture arriving Wednesday and Friday. Those are the days Week 1 lines tend to move most.
How much do Week 1 injuries affect the betting lines?
More than at any other point in the season. With no competitive game action to price from, sportsbooks weight injury news heavily, so a single late status change can move a number by a point or more.
Injury statuses change daily and were accurate at the time of writing. Always check the latest official team reports before acting on anything here. If you are betting on these games, you must be 21 or older and located in a state where sports betting is legal. Please gamble responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER for confidential support.
