Week 2 is here and there are plenty of names to discuss on the NFL injury report. We have already seen a few season-ending setbacks, but what about those players that were just nicked up prior to this weekend? Let’s dissect the top fantasy football quarterbacks and tight ends that have popped up on the injury report throughout the week. What is their status for Sunday and Monday games?
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Injury Updates for Top Fantasy Football QBs
Here is the latest news on fantasy-relevant quarterbacks at the start of Week 2.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
Editor’s Note: CJ Stroud is active for Week 2.
#Texans QB C.J. Stroud popped up on the injury report on Friday with a right shoulder injury, but he is expected to play today, source said. He was listed as questionable.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 17, 2023
Throughout the week, it appeared that almost all of the starting quarterbacks in the NFL were going to be good to go for Week 2. But on Friday, C.J. Stroud was suddenly added to the Houston Texans’ injury report. He is listed as questionable for Sunday with a right shoulder injury.
Stroud was not on the Texans’ injury report earlier in the week, raising questions on if he will be able to play on Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts come to town. If Stroud is unable to go, Davis Mills will likely get the start for Houston. Be prepared as a fantasy manager, as Stroud playing or missing the game on Sunday will likely be close to a game-time decision.
Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Same game, but opposite sides of the field. Anthony Richardson left the Indianapolis Colts’ Week 1 loss near the end of the contest when he injured his knee after a scramble. Gardner Minshew finished the game behind center for the Colts.
The good news for Colts fans is Richardson has been able to practice all week, and he does not have an injury designation heading into Sunday in Houston. Richardson will be suited up and get the start for the Colts.
Injury Updates for Top Fantasy Football TEs
Here is the latest news on fantasy-relevant tight ends at the start of Week 2.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Editor’s Note: Travis Kelce is active for Week 2.
Chiefs’ TE Travis Kelce is good to go today, per source. He is expected to wear a compression sleeve on his knee as he did at practice last week. But the week off also was said to be helpful for Kelce, and he was said to have gotten “his legs back.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2023
After missing Week 1 with a knee injury, there is some great news for Kansas City Chiefs fans and Travis Kelce fantasy managers. According to head coach Andy Reid, Kelce is in line to play on Sunday when the Chiefs travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars.
Kelce had been a limited participant in practice most of the week after hyperextending his knee before Week 1. The injury that kept him out of Week 1 came at a cost to the Chiefs, as they fell to the Detroit Lions with some poor performances from the team’s other pass catchers.
Chiefs fans will be hoping Kelce is the remedy to a lackluster Week 1 and fantasy managers with Kelce will hope the star tight end can produce with high numbers as he has in the past.
Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Editor’s Note: Mark Andrews is active for Week 2
#Ravens TE Mark Andrews, listed as questionable because of a quad injury, is expected to play on Sunday, source said. He was a full participant on Friday.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 17, 2023
Mark Andrews practiced on a limited basis all week for the Baltimore Ravens. The tight end, who is recovering from a quadriceps injury, is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in Cincinnati against the Bengals.
In Andrews’ absence in Week 1, wide receiver Zay Flowers was Lamar Jackson’s favorite target. Second-year tight end Isaiah Likely took over for Andrews and only had one catch for four yards.
We will have to wait until closer to game time for an official designation on Andrews. But fantasy managers will want to have an alternate in waiting on their bench in case Andrews can’t go again in Week 2.
Darren Waller, TE, New York Giants
Tight end Darren Waller has been suffering from a hamstring injury for a little over a week. While he was still able to play in the New York Giants’ Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Waller was limited in practice this week with the nagging hammy.
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However, Waller is said to be good to go for Sunday and is expected to be on the field when the Giants take on the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale. Fantasy managers will have to hope his injury has improved as the star tight end was only able to catch three passes for 36 yards in Week 1.
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pat Freiermuth participated on a limited basis throughout the week, dealing with a chest injury from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. But the tight end was able to return to practice in full on Friday and looks poised to play again in Week 2.
Freiermuth will not get an official designation until Saturday afternoon as the Steelers play the Cleveland Browns on Monday night. However, Freiermuth should be on the field for Week 2. Even if he ends up being listed as questionable, expect him to play on Monday.
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson was limited in practice during the week with a calf injury. However, the tight end was able to practice in full on Friday, a sign that he should be set to suit up on Monday night when the Saints take on the Carolina Panthers.
The official injury reports for Monday night games come out on Saturday afternoon, so we will have to wait for confirmation of Johnson’s status until then. But it would be surprising if the tight end was not on the field Monday night in Charlotte.