NFL Football 24 Hours

Last updated: September 12, 2026, 2:31 PM ET

NFL Week 1 Quarterback Shakeups

The Falcons will start backup Cooper Rush at quarterback in Sunday's opener against the Steelers after ruling starter Tua Tagovailoa out with an oblique injury. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, listed cornerback Joey Porter Jr. as questionable for the season opener as both he and the team continue to try to reach a contract extension. In Seattle, the question is whether Drew Lock can keep the Seahawks' offense afloat if Sam Darnold remains out; Lock led Seattle to a Week 1 win after Darnold injured his hip and left the game.

Injury Report and Inactives

The Patriots are placing wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve due to a high ankle sprain, sidelining him for a minimum of four games, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis is scheduled to have surgery Saturday and be placed on injured reserve after suffering a hip injury in Friday's practice. The Eagles ruled out edge rusher Jonathan Greenard for Week 1 due to a pec injury; he missed all of training camp but was a limited participant in practice this week. Baltimore will be without defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike against the Colts, though coach Jesse Minter said he will be "ready to roll here soon." Tennessee will be without starting weakside linebacker Cedric Gray for the season opener against the Jets after he was placed in the league's concussion protocol on Monday following a UTV accident.

Receiving Corps Status

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. Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze says he expects to play Sunday at Carolina despite being listed as questionable on the final injury report with a calf issue. On the ground, Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks will play against the Bears as he comes back from multiple knee injuries. Updated Week 1 inactives and analysis are being tracked based on the latest reports and official announcements leading up to kickoff.

Contracts and Extensions

The Raiders have given tight end Michael Mayer a multiyear extension as he steps in for an injured Brock Bowers to start the regular season, a deal worth $45M. The Bears and running back D'Andre Swift reached agreement on a three-year, $33.75M extension that includes $27.5M guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Green Bay and tight end Tucker Kraft reached agreement on a four-year extension worth up to $92M. In San Francisco, the 49ers have given a multiyear extension to coach Kyle Shanahan, who owns an 83-67 record in his 10 seasons.

Week 1 Matchups and Previews

Fourteen games remain on the Week 1 slate, and ESPN has matchup previews with picks, predictions, key stats and watchability ratings, including Josh Allen vs. C.J. Stroud and Jayden Daniels vs. Jalen Hurts. Fifteen predictions for Week 1 cover upset picks, fantasy sleepers and projected stat lines. Bettors can find odds, spreads and totals plus FPI predictions for all 16 games. For lineup decisions, fantasy start/sit advice weighs more than a dozen players on the fence, including a recommendation to start the Bucs and sit Mahomes.

Team and Player Storylines

Washington offensive coordinator David Blough said Jayden Daniels has had his best NFL camp so far, and the Commanders are expecting a big year from their quarterback. In Denver, all eyes are on the Broncos' pass rush, which set single-season franchise sack records in back-to-back years, including a league-leading 68 last season. Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley says he is "going back to a little kid again" to recapture his 2024 dominance in a heavy under-center, wide zone scheme that is largely new to him. The Chargers' title hopes rest partly on the McDaniel-Harbaugh partnership, with the two men saying of their football marriage, "We need each other."

Quarterbacks and Leadership

Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins is approaching Year 15 and embracing a mentor role for the team's young core while working with Klint Kubiak. In New Orleans, 26-year-old quarterback Tyler Shough, named a captain this season, is out to prove he can lead the Saints to the postseason and says the high expectations don't faze him. to the draft, Oregon's Dante Moore is the runaway top vote-getter among 25 NFL scouts and executives polled by ESPN to project the top quarterback for the 2027 draft.

Records, History and Culture

Can a team break the NFL's rushing record, or will we see a new long in field goal kicking? Six record candidates could be in jeopardy in 2026, including a possible new single-season tight end receiving yardage mark. Twenty-five years after 9/11, Hall of Famers and franchise greats including Strahan and Testaverde recount the moments they experienced in the aftermath of the attacks. Off the field, the latest NFL season has no shortage of unique stadium concession items debuting across venues, from tush push taters to Who Dey sausage. And Giants running back Cam Skattebo may be the next athlete to receive the Jonas Brothers blessing, following Cody Bellinger, Patrick Mahomes and Lewis Hamilton.

Postgame Chatter

After the 49ers' Melbourne victory, linebacker Fred Warner trolled the Rams on social media, telling them to "Google me."