NFL Week 2 injury report: Christian McCaffrey ruled out

The NFL's opening week did not pass without several important players sustaining injuries that could impact their availability for this week … and beyond.

With the preseason cut to just three games – and many teams choosing to not even play their starters at all in those exhibition contests – it's hard to know if any of the usual bumps and bruises in training camp might have any lingering effects.

Then again, there are always some freak injuries that just can't be avoided as players go all out once the games start counting. So let's take a look at some of the health concerns some big-name players have entering Week 2.

RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers ruled McCaffrey out for Week 2 when the team travels to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. McCaffrey’s been dealing with calf and Achilles injuries. The injuries sidelined McCaffrey in San Francisco’s Week 1 win against the New York Jets.

On Friday, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t rule out the possibility of the team placing McCaffrey on injured reserve, which would sideline him a minimum of four games.

“It is something we are considering now,” Shanahan said. “Yesterday was his worst day. It’s on and off, but with yesterday having his worse pain, it’s something we are going to be discussing in the next 24 hours.”

WR Hollywood Brown, Kansas City Chiefs

According to multiple reports, the Chiefs will place Brown on IR as he elects to have surgery to repair his dislocated SC joint. Brown will miss at least four games, but reports indicate it could be longer.

Brown's injury was reportedly not healing correctly, and without surgery he could risk a long-term injury that would be more serious.

WRs Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams could be without two key offensive weapons when the Bears play the Houston Texans on "Sunday Night Football."

Allen (heel) and Odunze (knee) have not participated in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, with the Bears' injury report giving both players an "unspecified" playing status.

The rookie wideout Odunze had an MRI on his knee on Monday after injuring it in Sunday's game.

"I believe it was a blocking play," Bears coach Matt Eberflus told reporters. "I did not see it on film, the exact play. We’ll see where he is and hopefully he will be fine."

DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

Myles Garrett, the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, did not practice on Thursday as he deals with an ankle issue.

The Browns also will be without Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

QB Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Russell Wilson (calf) missed the Steelers' season-opening win over the Atlanta Falcons as Justin Fields got the start. But the veteran quarterback says he's getting closer to being ready to play.

"I feel like I'm getting closer and closer," Wilson said. "I'm just trying to be smart and got to do a lot of work today on the field and everything else, throwing and all that, so just trying to be smart."

With Wilson a limited participant in practice, the Steelers have been prepping Fields to start Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

WR Malik Nabers, New York Giants

Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) was added to the Giants' injury report on Thursday, and was a limited participant in practice.

Nabers — the sixth overall selection in the 2024 draft — had five catches for 66 yards in his NFL debut on Sunday.

CB Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed cornerback Tyson Campbell on the injured reserve list, the team announced on Thursday.

Campbell sustained a hamstring injury against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and will miss a minimum of four weeks as a result of being placed on IR. The team also promoted cornerback Tre Flowers to the active roster.

Campbell signed a four-year extension worth $76.5 million this offseason, tying him to the team for the foreseeable future.

RB De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are trying to break a four-game skid against the AFC East-rival Buffalo Bills, but they might need to do so without one of their top offensive playmakers.

Running back De'Von Achane is officially questionable for Thursday night's matchup with an ankle injury.

If Achane is unable to play, the Dolphins' ground game could look considerably different from its typical form, as Raheem Mostert has already been ruled out with a chest injury.

RB Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

Running back Kenneth Walker III was among four Seahawks players who did not participate in Wednesday's practice.

Offensive tackle George Fant (knee), and linebackers Tryel Dodson (shoulder) and Uchenna Nwosu (knee) were the other three players to sit out Wednesday's Seahawks practice. The Seahawks play the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday.

Walker is dealing with an oblique injury after rushing for 103 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in Sunday's win over the Denver Broncos.

TE Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (ankle) did not participate in practice on Wednesday.

If Schultz is inactive, the Texans likely would turn to Brevin Jordan and rookie Cade Stover against the Chicago Bears on "Sunday Night Football."

RBs Raheem Mostert, De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

Neither Mostert nor Achane practiced Tuesday for Miami, which plays Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills.

Mostert has a chest injury and Achane injured his ankle during Week 1's win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mostert has already been ruled out for Thursday night, while Achane is questionable. Look for Jeff Wilson and rookie Jaylen Wright to see more work as a result.

RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

The scratch heard 'round the world. And now we wait.

The 49ers made the surprising decision to sit their star running back for Monday night's game against the New York Jets, saying McCaffrey's injury was still bothering him too much to risk it. That would seem to indicate his Week 2 status against the Minnesota Vikings is also very much in doubt.

Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey is dealing with a calf strain and Achilles tendinitis. ESPN's Adam Schefter said Tuesday that he believes there's a "real chance" McCaffrey is out Sunday, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said called McCaffrey "a long shot."

In McCaffrey's absence Monday night, Jordan Mason popped off for 147 yards rushing and a touchdown in the Niners' 32-19 victory.

WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are going to be without Nacua for at least a month.

The Rams officially announced on Wednesday that Nacua has been placed on injured reserve due to a knee sprain he suffered during the team’s 26-20 overtime loss against the Detroit Lions in Week 1.

Coach Sean McVay originally told reporters that Nacua was an IR candidate but later clarified.

“He's gonna go to IR. There is always a possibility. It's probably not likely that he would not go to IR because his injury is gonna keep him out for more than a month. That is the most likely route,” McVay said.

Nacua limped off the field and went into the Rams’ blue medical tent midway through the second quarter after making a catch. He returned to the game briefly on the Rams' next possession, but the wideout was unable to continue and was ruled him out at halftime. He had four catches for 35 yards at the time of his injury.

Wide receivers Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson will be asked to step up in Nacua’s absence.

“I feel for Puka,” McVay said. “These other guys are gonna get some opportunities, and I’m confident they’ll step up and play good football for us.”

QB Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Love injured the medial collateral ligament in his left knee with six seconds to play in the Packers' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night.

Initial tests on Love's knee indicated that the anterior cruciate ligament is intact and that his "initial timetable for return is in the 3-6 week range." However, he is scheduled to get a second opinion and there is some early optimism that Love can return sooner.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Love will not be placed on injured reserve, but did not offer any specifics on when Love might return.

“First of all, he’s got to get cleared,” LaFleur said. “Until he gets cleared, those conversations don’t exist. We will never put him in a position to mortgage the short term for the future. If he can’t protect himself, we would never do that to him, or our football team.”

QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen suffered an injury to his non-throwing hand during the fourth quarter of the Bills' season-opening win over the Arizona Cardinals. The injury won't keep the quarterback from playing against the Miami Dolphins on "Thursday Night Football."

“As you guys are aware, Josh was injured in the fourth quarter there,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Monday. “They looked at his hand, he went back in and functioned, and then he was looked at after the game again, and he's been cleared to practice today and cleared to play in the game.”

TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

Ferguson was diagnosed with a bone bruise and a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his knee, according to NFL Media. He's expected to miss time, but the Cowboys have not yet ruled him out for Week 2.

DT Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers

The Panthers may have suffered a huge loss if early reports regarding their best defensive lineman turn out to be correct. Brown is feared to have suffered a meniscus injury to his knee that could require season-ending surgery.

TE David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Njoku exited Sunday's game after taking a hard hit on a play across the middle of the field. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Njoku is week-to-week, but did not address speculation that the Pro Bowl tight end suffered a high-ankle sprain – which could force him to miss several games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Week 2 injury report: Christian McCaffrey, Puka Nacua, top list