Multiple NFL players sustained injuries during the first two games and practice sessions of the second week of the season. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown, and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling were among those sidelined during recent games. Additionally, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was injured during a Thursday practice session.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald reported on Thursday, September 10, that Darnold sustained a muscle injury near his hip during a game against New England on Wednesday, September 9. Macdonald stated that the news regarding the injury has been positive and the team will assess Darnold's status for the September 20 game against Arizona when practice resumes next week. Backup quarterback Drew Lock replaced Darnold during the 13-10 win over the Patriots.
The New England Patriots will place wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve due to a high-ankle sprain sustained in the second half of Wednesday's game. According to sources familiar with the move, Brown will miss at least four games. The Patriots previously traded a 2028 first-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire Brown. Quarterback Drake Maye, who threw three interceptions after Brown left the game, stated the team must "stick together" to improve.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, a top draft pick at No. 33 overall, was carted off the field during a 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, September 10 (Friday local time in Australia). Coach Kyle Shanahan said Stribling’s Achilles' was intact but he requires further tests for an ankle injury. The 49ers also lost tight end Jake Tonges to an MCL injury during the same game. In Atlanta, Cooper Rush is scheduled to start on Sunday, September 13, after Tua Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury.
The scale of these roster changes is immediate, as NFL teams must now rely on backup players for at least the next month. In New England, the loss of a primary receiver who cost a future first-round draft pick will be felt in games against Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, and Buffalo. The Falcons will see an immediate change in leadership on Sunday, September 13, as Cooper Rush takes over for Tagovailoa. For the Seahawks, the health of Sam Darnold, who played only five snaps on Wednesday, determines whether the team continues with Drew Lock for their next matchup on September 20.
These injuries set a precedent for how teams manage depth early in the season, particularly for positions like quarterback and wide receiver. The use of the injured reserve list for A.J. Brown triggers a mandatory four-game absence under NFL rules. Further medical tests for Stribling and practice evaluations for Darnold next week will determine the long-term roster availability for the 49ers and Seahawks respectively.