Quarterbacks
Brock Purdy
Injury: Left shoulder / Toe
Analysis: Purdy’s Week 2 status is uncertain after sustaining injuries to his left shoulder and a toe. For a right-handed quarterback, missing time with a left shoulder issue suggests at least moderate severity, though reports indicate the toe is the bigger concern. The specific toe hasn’t been disclosed, but if it’s the right big toe, that’s significant, quarterbacks generate throwing power and accuracy by forcefully pushing off that toe during the motion.
Primary beneficiary if time missed: Mac Jones
Running Backs
Jonathan Taylor
Injury: Neck Injury
Analysis: Taylor appeared to have injured his neck on Sunday but is reportedly okay and could have returned to the game. This should not affect his week two status. It was interesting to see rookie DJ Giddens play well in Taylor's absence toward the end of the game.
Austin Ekeler
Injury: Shoulder
Analysis: Ekeler is managing a shoulder injury ahead of Washington’s Thursday night game, though it’s not believed to be serious and he has a chance to play. Shoulder issues can affect a running back’s willingness to initiate contact and their ability to extend for catches. Historically, RBs average a 19% dip in fantasy points in their first game back from a shoulder injury.
Primary beneficiary if time missed: Bill Croskey-Merritt
Will Shipley
Injury: Rib Injury
Analysis: Shipley exited Thursday’s game with a rib injury and did not return. Rib injuries are largely pain-tolerance issues, as key muscles like the lats, pecs, and obliques attach to the ribs, making twisting, reaching, and bracing for contact painful. Philadelphia’s signing of Tank Bigsby sparked speculation about Shipley’s status, though reports have refuted that concern. Historically, RBs average 1.2 games missed and a 15% dip in fantasy points in their first game back. For now, Shipley remains off the fantasy radar behind Barkley.
Wide Receivers
Xavier Worthy
Injury: Shoulder Dislocation
Analysis: Worthy dislocated his shoulder in Week 1 in a friendly-fire incident with Travis Kelce. Worthy appeared to suffer a posterior dislocation, which almost definitely led to a labrum injury. Coach Reid states that he is day-to-day, but this is incredibly optimistic.
Worthy will attempt to rehab and wear a brace to make up for the stability lost with a labrum injury. This can work, but it is not guaranteed. Worthy will likely spend a few weeks rehabbing before he and the team know if rehab alone will get the job done. In the NFL, players average missing three weeks following a shoulder dislocation. He can play well, but re-dislocation rates are extremely high (55%). Another dislocation would almost certainly lead to season-ending surgery. I wrote in more detail yesterday on Worthy's situation.
Primary beneficiary if time missed: Marquise Brown, Juju Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton