Fantasy football injury report preseason: Latest on Najee Harris, Joe Mixon and others

USA Today

4 days ago

There are only a few weeks remaining until the start of the 2025 NFL regular season, and fantasy football drafts are well underway at this stage of the calendar.
The first week of the preseason is in the books. Many positional battles were on full display and now all 32 teams have experienced their first live game action in 2025.
As is the nature of the NFL, multiple players are dealing with injuries and could potentially miss time. Here is the latest injury status for star players that could affect your fantasy rosters as draft season heats up.
Fantasy football injury report: Preseason
Mooney suffered a shoulder injury in practice on July 25 while diving for a deep pass. He remains without a timetable to return to the field, and head coach Raheem Morris has been noncommittal on Mooney being ready for Week 1.
The Ravens tight end suffered an ankle sprain and a broken bone in his foot during practice on July 29. The injury required surgery, and his timetable to return at the time was five to six weeks, which aligns closely with Week 1.
The Bills' top target from 2024 suffered a high ankle sprain during practice on Aug. 1. He is expected to miss the preseason but head coach Sean McDermott has said Shakir is expected to be healthy in time for Week 1.
The first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft suffered his second ACL tear in his right knee in as many years. He has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and won't play in the upcoming 2025 season. The Panthers will move forward with Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle as their primary running backs.
The rookie fifth-round pick left practice early on Thursday, Aug. 7 and an MRI revealed a bone bruise in his heel. He is in a wide-open backfield competition with veteran Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders for touches. He is not expected to miss extended time.
Reed has been dealing with a sprained foot, and head coach Matt LaFleur has said he is hopeful Reed will be ready for Week 1, listing him as "day-to-day". The 25-year-old receiver was seen wearing a walking boot during the preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9.
Watson suffered a torn ACL in Week 18 of the 2024 season and appears ahead of schedule in his recovery. Still, he is expected to begin the season on the PUP list. This designation would keep him out at least the first four weeks of the regular season.
Mixon opened training camp on the non-football injury list (NFI) after dealing with a foot injury he suffered earlier in the offseason. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport has reported that Mixon will be re-evaluated closer to the start of the regular season and he reportedly has not suffered any setbacks.
Dell is on the PUP list and has no timetable for a return after suffering a gruesome knee injury in Week 16 of the 2024 season. The Texans' top healthy receivers are Nico Collins, Christian Kirk and rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
Richardson suffered a dislocated right pinky finger in the Colts' preseason opener on Aug. 7. He isn't expected to miss time after throwing at practice on Saturday, Aug. 9.
The veteran receiver suffered a high ankle sprain during practice on Tuesday, July 29. He has not practiced since, but head coach Andy Reid has said it will not require surgery, and it doesn't sound like something that will keep him out for the start of the regular season.
The veteran running back suffered a superficial eye injury on July 5 as a result of a fireworks accident. He was later placed on the NFI list on July 17. Head coach Jim Harbaugh was noncommittal on Harris' status for Week 1 when speaking to reporters on Friday, Aug. 8. He added that "there's a chance" Harris is ready for the start of the season. This remains a situation to monitor.
The 37-year-old has not practiced fully in training camp, but head coach Sean McVay announced Stafford was to make his 2025 camp debut Monday, Aug. 11. On Wednesday, Aug. 6 NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Stafford was "dealing with an aggravated disc" in his back and had an epidural shot to relieve the pain. The veteran QB has made enough progress to return to the field.
The Swiss Army Knife player for the Saints is on the PUP list. He is working his way back from an ACL tear that he suffered in Week 13 of the 2024 season. He has been seen working off to the side throughout camp.
Lazard suffered a shoulder injury in the Jets' preseason opener on Saturday, Aug. 9. He was seen wearing a sling on his right arm after the game. He is set to undergo further tests.
The Jets' second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft suffered a high ankle sprain during practice on Aug. 4. The LSU product has received praise from his teammates and coaches and appears ready to be the Week 1 starter, but he will miss some time and does not have a timetable to return.
The Eagles' star wideout has been held out of practice since Aug. 1 as he nurses a hamstring injury. There doesn't seem to be concern about Brown's status, but it's a situation worth monitoring.
Aiyuk is not expected to be ready for Week 1 as he works his way back from an ACL injury he suffered in Week 7 of the 2024 season. He remains on the PUP list and general manager John Lynch told reporters Thursday, Aug. 7, he "doesn't think" Aiyuk will be cleared for Week 1.
White exited the Buccaneers' preseason opener on Aug. 9 after suffering a groin injury. He is set for further testing to determine the severity of the injury. An extended absence would open the door for Sean Tucker to take on a complementary role to starter Bucky Irving.
Godwin is on the PUP list as he works his way back from a dislocated ankle he suffered during Week 7 in 2024. General manager Jason Licht told reporters on Tuesday, Aug. 5, that Godwin is "exactly where" the team hoped he would be in his recovery, but there's still no decision on his Week 1 status. Rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka stands to gain the most if Godwin misses the start of the regular season.
Spears suffered a high ankle sprain in the team's preseason opener on Aug. 9. Head coach Brian Callahan announced that the running back will "miss a couple of weeks at least."