Fantasy football injury updates for Patrick Mahomes, Malik Nabers, more

The 2026 NFL season is around the corner and fantasy football managers will soon be gearing up for their drafts.

As they prepare their fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets for the big day, managers will need to keep a keen eye on injuries.

Numerous notable players around the league are dealing with injuries that could impact their availability for the beginning of the 2026 NFL season. Many of them are recovering from maladies suffered the previous season but a handful have been dinged up during the early stages of training camp.

Will players like Patrick Mahomes, Malik Nabers and George Kittle be able to get on the field in Week 1? Here are the latest injury updates for top fantasy football producers as the 2026 NFL season draws nearer.

Fantasy football injury updates

QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs coach Andy Reid hasn’t committed to Mahomes playing in the preseason, but Mahomes has noted his injured knee “feels great” as he continues to target a return to the field by Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

Given that Mahomes hasn’t been categorically ruled out of the preseason, it looks like the soon-to-be 31-year-old has a good chance to be on the field in Week 1. The bigger question is whether he will be a QB1 in fantasy football or whether the Chiefs will lean more on free agent addition Kenneth Walker III early in the season as Mahomes continues to recover from the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee.

QB Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

Penix entered Falcons training camp still working toward full medical clearance as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered midway through the 2025 campaign. Even if he can return to the field during training camp and the preseason, he doesn’t project to be much of a fantasy asset. He averaged just one touchdown pass per game last season and is no guarantee to beat Tua Tagovailoa for the starting job in Atlanta.

RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during the Seahawks’ playoff win over the 49ers. Mike Macdonald hasn’t provided a concrete timeline on his return to action and it remains unclear whether he will be on the field in Week 1.

Once healthy, Charbonnet figures to split carries with Seattle’s first-round rookie, Jadarian Price. Price’s presence coupled with Charbonnet’s injury makes the fourth-year veteran hard to trust as anything more than a low-end flex or top handcuff.

RB Isiah Pacheco, Detroit Lions

Pacheco is dealing with a sprained MCL he suffered during Detroit’s training camp. The good news is that Lions coach Dan Campbell said he “feels pretty good” about the prospect of Pacheco being ready for the start of the season.

Pacheco signed with the Lions in free agency to help replace David Montgomery as the foil to Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs is expected to get a lion’s share of his team’s work at running back, but Pacheco still makes for a good handcuff and potential touchdown-based flex option.

WR Malik Nabers, New York Giants

Nabers’ status for Week 1 has long been murky as he has attempted to recover from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season. The 23-year-old avoided the physically unable to perform (PUP) list entering training camp and appears to be on track to play in Week 1 against the Cowboys, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

Nabers is expected to be the Giants’ No. 1 receiver and should quickly become a favorite target of Jaxson Dart. The LSU product has averaged 77.6 receiving yards across 19 NFL games to date, giving him true WR1 upside in fantasy football.

WR Mike Evans, San Francisco 49ers

Evans has been nursing a quad injury during the early stages of his first training camp with the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan said the team is just “being smart” with the soon-to-be 33-year-old and that the 49ers expect him back on the field to start the season.

Evans is set to be San Francisco’s No. 1 receiver in 2026, provided he can stay on the field. The former Buccaneers saw a streak of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons come to an end in 2025 because of hamstring and clavicle injuries. If healthy, Evans should still have the volume needed to be a solid WR2 in fantasy football formats in 2026.

WR Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears

Burden suffered a groin injury at Chicago’s practice on Aug. 8. He is set to miss the preseason because of the malady, but the team is hoping he will be healthy for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

Burden had been a hot commodity in fantasy circles before his injury. While he remains a breakout candidate, his injury should cement his status as Chicago’s No. 2 receiver behind Rome Odunze, who should be selected ahead of his younger counterpart in fantasy drafts.

WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts

Pierce has been sidelined for all of Colts camp to date while recovering from offseason ankle surgery. Coach Shane Steichen has yet to provide a timeline for the receiver, who signed a $114 million extension this offseason, to return, simply saying he only wants Pierce back “whenever he’s 100%.”

Pierce is expected to be the Colts’ No. 1 receiver in 2026. His deep-play capabilities – he led the NFL with 21.3 yards per reception in 2025 – will make him a boom-or-bust WR2 in fantasy formats. If he misses any time, Josh Downs would move to the top of Indy’s wide receiver depth chart, though Downs is currently dealing with a minor groin issue of his own.

TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Kittle was placed on the PUP list by the 49ers to open training camp as he recovers from a torn Achilles he suffered during the 2025 NFL playoffs. The 32-year-old has expressed a desire to play the team’s Week 1 game in Melbourne against the Rams, but there’s no guarantee he will be able to come off the PUP list before then.

As long as Kittle remains sidelined, Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell will split time at tight end. Tonges would be the bigger fantasy factor as a receiver while Farrell is more known for his blocking prowess.

TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

Kraft suffered a torn ACL midway through the 2025 season. He was originally on the PUP list to start training camp but was activated July 31 and returned to the practice field recently in the hopes of ramping up to play in Week 1.

Kraft averaged an impressive 61.1 yards per game and 15.3 yards per reception last season. That should help make him a top-five fantasy tight end in 2026 if he is able to return to the field at full strength in Week 1.

TE Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets

Sadiq recently endured a setback with a hernia surgery he had in May, but Jets coach Aaron Glenn expressed he is “very confident” the No. 16 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft will be back on the field for Week 1.

Sadiq is expected to be the Jets’ starting tight end in 2026 and is viewed as a sleeper option in fantasy circles thanks to his elite athleticism.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football injury updates for Patrick Mahomes, Malik Nabers, more

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