NFL Football 24 Hours

Last updated: September 11, 2026, 11:17 PM ET

Cowboys Backfield Takes a Hit

Dallas will be without running back Malik Davis indefinitely after he suffered a hip injury in Friday's practice. Davis is scheduled to undergo surgery on Saturday and will be placed on injured reserve, a source told ESPN, leaving the Cowboys shorthanded in the backfield ahead of their opener.

Bears Lock Up Their Lead Back

Chicago and running back D'Andre Swift have agreed to a 3-year, $33.75M extension that includes $27.5M guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal keeps one of the league's most versatile backs in Chicago for the foreseeable future.

Odunze Expects to Go

Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze says he expects to play Sunday in the season opener at Carolina despite being listed as questionable with a calf injury on the final injury report. His availability would be a boost for a Chicago passing game still finding its footing.

Eagles Debut Delayed

Philadelphia has ruled out edge rusher Jonathan Greenard for Week 1 because of a pec injury. Greenard, who missed all of training camp but was a limited participant in practice this week, will have to wait to make his Eagles debut.

Falcons Turn to Backup

Atlanta will start Cooper Rush at quarterback in Sunday's opener against the Steelers after ruling starter Tua Tagovailoa out with an oblique injury. The veteran backup now inherits the offense for a critical early-season matchup.

Tua Day-to-Day

Tagovailoa sustained the oblique injury during Thursday's practice and was listed as a limited participant. The Falcons are calling him day-to-day, leaving his status for the coming weeks uncertain.

Shanahan Rewarded in San Francisco

The 49ers have given coach Kyle Shanahan a multiyear extension, sources confirmed to ESPN. Shanahan owns an 83-67 record across his 10 seasons in San Francisco, and the new deal signals the organization's faith in him to keep the franchise in contention.

Niners Roll in Melbourne

San Francisco opened its season with a 27-7 win over the Rams in Australia, even though Los Angeles flew in just the day before the game. The victory gave the Niners an early statement result in the NFC West race.

Warner Trolls the Rams

Linebacker Fred Warner didn't hold back on social media after the team's Melbourne win, needling the Rams with a pointed "Google me" message. The jab added extra spice to an already heated division rivalry.

Travel Talk Dismissed

Though many Niners players applauded the team's decision to travel to Melbourne a week in advance, both Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay said they didn't believe the differing arrival times factored into the outcome. The two coaches brushed aside the narrative after San Francisco's comfortable win.

Garrett Struggles in Rams Debut

Rams edge rusher Myles Garrett went without a tackle in his first game with Los Angeles and admitted he isn't at 100%, calling it "the worst version of myself that I've put out there." The knee issue bears watching as the Rams try to regroup.

Stribling's Debut Cut Short

Rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling saw his 49ers debut end with an ankle injury. Kyle Shanahan said initial testing didn't provide full results, and Stribling will require more evaluation after the team's 16-hour flight back to the Bay Area.

Patriots Lose A.J. Brown

New England is placing wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve because of a high ankle sprain, sidelining him for a minimum of four games, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's a significant blow to a Patriots passing attack counting on him as a centerpiece.

MRI Confirms Brown's Diagnosis

An MRI on Brown's right ankle confirmed the high ankle sprain suffered in the season opener, and the receiver will be out at least four weeks. The Patriots must now reshuffle their receiving corps while he recovers.

Patriots Add Defensive Help

New England is expected to sign free agent defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to a one-year deal worth up to $6M, sources told NFL Network. The former Bills lineman adds depth and experience to the interior of the Patriots' defense.

Bucs Get Egbuka Back

Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles says wideout Emeka Egbuka will be "full go" for Sunday's opener against the Bengals, while fellow receiver Jalen McMillan is doubtful to play. Egbuka's return gives Baker Mayfield a key target in a tough Week 1 matchup.

Panthers' Brooks Cleared

Carolina running back Jonathon Brooks will play against the Bears with no limitations as he comes back from multiple knee injuries. His availability adds a dynamic element to the Panthers' ground game in the opener.

Cardinals' Love Set to Suit Up

Arizona rookie running back Trey Benson is expected to play Sunday against the Chargers after battling a high ankle sprain since mid-August, a source told ESPN. Getting him on the field is a welcome development for the Cardinals' offense.

Steelers' Porter Questionable

Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is listed as questionable for Sunday's season opener as he and the team continue working toward a contract extension. His status adds another layer of intrigue to Pittsburgh's secondary plans.

Titans Lose Gray After Accident

Tennessee will be without starting weakside linebacker Cedric Gray for the season opener against the Jets. Gray was placed in the league's concussion protocol on Monday after being involved in a UTV accident.

Ravens Without Madubuike

Baltimore defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike was ruled out for Sunday's opener against the Colts, though coach Jesse Minter said he'll be "ready to roll here soon." The Ravens' defensive front will have to compensate in his absence.

Seahawks' QB Questions

Drew Lock led Seattle to a Week 1 win after Sam Darnold injured his hip and left the game, and the question now is whether he can keep the offense afloat against the Cardinals in Week 2 and potentially beyond.

Darnold Gets Good News

Sam Darnold received encouraging results on his hip injury, coach Mike Macdonald said, but the Seahawks quarterback is expected to miss next week's game, according to sources. Seattle will lean on Lock in the interim.

Barkley Chasing 2024 Form

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley says he's "going back to a little kid again" to recapture the dominance he showed in 2024, adapting to Philadelphia's heavy under-center, wide zone scheme that is largely new to him.

Shough Embraces Captaincy

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, named a captain this season, says high expectations for Year 2 don't faze him. The 26-year-old is out to prove he can lead New Orleans to the postseason.

Jags Keep Hunter Fluid

Jacksonville's Travis Hunter will play both ways, but exactly how much remains fluid, the team said. The two-way star's workload will be managed week to week.

Nacua Opens Up

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua told Netflix that "alcohol was definitely a thing" for him as he navigated off-the-field stresses, including a rapid rise to NFL stardom and the birth of his son. He described enduring the "darkest times" of his life.

Jacobs Pleads No Contest

Packers running back Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property at a hearing in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Thursday. The legal resolution clears one off-field matter as the season gets underway.

Week 1 Preview Extravaganza

The remaining slate features 14 games, including Josh Allen vs. C.J. Stroud and Jayden Daniels against Jalen Hurts, with picks, predictions, key stats and watchability ratings across the board. It's a full Sunday of quarterback duels and division intrigue.

Betting the Board

Oddsmakers have posted spreads and totals for all 16 NFL games in Week, along with FPI predictions. Bettors have plenty of angles to weigh before kickoff.

Best Bets for Sunday

Our experts dug into the odds and player props for Week, offering their betting tips and favorite plays for Sunday afternoon's games. The analysis targets matchups where the numbers may be mispriced.

Fantasy Lineup Decisions

With more than a dozen players on the fence, our analysts offer start-or-sit thoughts on whom to trust in Week 1 lineups. The advice includes starting your Buccaneers and sitting Mahomes.

Inactives to Watch

Updated inactives and analysis are tracking the status of Ashton Jeanty, Jordan Love, Rome Odunze and others leading up to kickoff. Fantasy managers should check the latest reports before locking lineups.

TD Scorers to Target

Mike Clay reveals his top Week 1 touchdown scorers, featuring Jahmyr Gibbs, Omarion Hampton and more. The projections highlight the backs and receivers most likely to find the end zone.

Facts vs. Feelings

Our analysts examine seven players who could get off to fast or slow starts in Week, including Jaxson Dart, D'Andre Swift, Quinshon Judkins, Kenneth Gainwell, Tetairoa McMillan, Rashee Rice and Juwan Johnson.

Record Watch for 2026

Could 2026 be a record-breaking year? Solak picks six marks that might be in jeopardy, from the NFL's rushing record to a new long in field goal kicking and a single-season tight end receiving yardage mark.

Skattebo and the Jonas Blessing

First it was Cody Bellinger, then Patrick Mahomes and Lewis Hamilton, and now the question is whether Giants running back Cam Skattebo is next in line for the Jonas Brothers blessing. The quirky trend has become a fun subplot around the league.

New Stadium Eats

The latest NFL season brings no shortage of unique concession items debuting across stadiums, from tush push taters to Who Dey sausage. Fans have plenty of new menu options to sample on game days.

Remembering 9/11

Twenty-five years after the attacks, Hall of Famers and franchise greats including Michael Strahan and Vinny Testaverde relive the emotional memories they experienced in the aftermath. Their recollections offer a powerful window into how the tragedy shaped the league and its players.