Fantasy football managers have several wide receiver injuries to monitor as 2026 drafts pick up steam. Some players have returned for training camp, while others remain on gradual rehabilitation schedules after major knee, ankle, and lower-body injuries.
These updates will impact fantasy ADP, early-season expectations, and your overall roster composition. Let’s examine the latest outlooks for these fantasy notables and how to handle their individual situations.
Wide Receiver Injury Updates
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Nacua has yet to return from the psoas soreness that forced him from the Rams’ Aug. 11 joint practice with Dallas. Head coach Sean McVay initially expected Nacua back the following week “ready to go,” but he remained sidelined on Aug. 17 and could miss the entire week of practice. The longer-than-expected absence makes the injury worth an eyebrow raise, particularly given Nacua’s previous durability issues. For now, the Rams continue to treat the injury as minor, and his Week 1 availability doesn’t appear to be in jeopardy.
Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Nabers took another major step on Aug. 17 by participating in full-speed team periods for the first time since undergoing ACL and meniscus surgery, although he remained in a red no-contact jersey and handled only a limited number of reps. New York subsequently held him out of its Aug. 20 joint practice with Miami, preferring to introduce contact in a more controlled setting. Head coach John Harbaugh said Nabers must absorb contact before he can be cleared for game action, leaving Week 1 attainable but still uncertain.
Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A toe sprain suffered during Tampa Bay’s joint practice with the New York Jets on Aug. 12 initially produced encouraging news, with testing showing a stable sprain. The outlook became less certain on Aug. 17, however, when head coach Todd Bowles described Egbuka as “day-to-day, week-to-week” and said he was unsure whether the injury could affect his Week 1 availability. With Egbuka positioned for a major role following Mike Evans’ departure, the uncertainty surrounding his return makes the toe worth monitoring closely during fantasy drafts.
Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
Burden suffered a groin injury during Chicago’s Aug. 8 practice and is expected to miss the remainder of the preseason. The Bears remain hopeful that the second-year receiver will return for Week 1, but the absence costs him important practice time after he entered camp looking to expand his offensive role. Burden’s breakout potential remains viable if he avoids a setback, though the injury adds uncertainty to a young player who has yet to establish himself.
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Smith returned to practice on Aug. 17 after missing seven consecutive sessions with a hamstring injury, but Philadelphia continues to limit his workload. He participated in individual drills while sitting out team periods during the Eagles’ joint practices with New England, including on Aug. 20. The return to the field is encouraging, and there has been no indication that Smith is in danger of missing Week 1. Still, resuming unrestricted team work is the next benchmark to watch.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
After signing a lucrative deal in the offseason, Pierce remains on Active/PUP following offseason ankle surgery, but his recovery has progressed to conditioning and individual drills. General manager Chris Ballard said on Aug. 11 that Pierce remains on target to play Week 1, and Shane Steichen added on Aug. 19 that Pierce is in a “great spot” and they hope to have him back soon. Every missed team practice still limits his opportunity to refine his connection with Daniel Jones, while his vertical role already creates natural week-to-week volatility. Tread carefully on draft day.
Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints
Tyson is expected to miss approximately two months with the right hamstring injury he suffered during New Orleans’ Aug. 13 joint practice with Jacksonville. The lengthy timetable could keep the No. 8 overall pick sidelined until October and raises the possibility that he begins the season on injured reserve. The Saints have said the injury is unrelated to Tyson’s previous hamstring problems, but his extensive college injury history only adds to the concern. His redraft value takes a major hit, derailing what could have been a breakout rookie season before it even began.
Michael Pittman Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers
A right hamstring injury suffered during Pittsburgh’s Aug. 8 practice has lingered longer than initially expected for Pittman. He will miss a second consecutive preseason game, but the Steelers reportedly plan for him to be ready to play in their Week 1 matchup with Atlanta and do not consider the injury a long-term concern. Pittman still is losing valuable preparation time with Aaron Rodgers in a new offense, making his eventual return to full practices worth monitoring even with the more encouraging regular-season outlook.
Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
The blazing Worthy continues to progress from the shoulder sprain he suffered during an Aug. 1 practice. After returning to limited individual work on Aug. 10, he advanced to 7-on-7 drills on Aug. 17 and caught a deep pass from Patrick Mahomes during the session. Worthy still had not resumed full 11-on-11 work, making that the next important step in his recovery. Kansas City has little reason to rush him during the preseason, and current reports still have Worthy on track for Week 1 barring a setback.
Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles
Lemon returned to practice in pads on Aug. 20 after a hamstring injury cost him roughly two-and-a-half weeks of training camp, although Philadelphia kept the rookie out of team drills. The return is encouraging after hamstring trouble also wiped out a significant portion of his offseason work, but the missed time has allowed other receivers to establish themselves while Lemon remains behind schedule. His health is improving, though his early-season role remains less certain than it appeared entering camp.
Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
McMillan resumed practice on Aug. 18 after a knee injury limited his work for most of the previous two weeks. Tampa Bay will continue to ease him back and has already ruled him out of its second preseason game, but his return to the field makes Week 1 considerably less concerning. The interrupted camp still costs McMillan preparation time as he competes for targets behind Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin, particularly with Egbuka’s toe injury creating additional uncertainty in the Buccaneers’ receiving corps.
Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans
A torn ACL suffered during Houston’s Aug. 18 joint practice with Las Vegas will cost Higgins the entire 2026 season. The second-year receiver was coming off 41 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie and was positioned for a significant role opposite Nico Collins. His absence creates additional opportunities for Dalton Schultz, Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel, though Dell’s own recovery looms large over how this will shake out.
Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills
Coleman suffered a sprained foot/toe during Buffalo’s preseason opener on Aug. 15 and was wearing a walking boot when the Bills returned to practice on Aug. 18. The injury initially appeared minor, but the boot and missed practice make it worth monitoring until Coleman returns to the field. He had generated positive reports throughout camp and caught three passes for 17 yards and a touchdown in the preseason opener, making the setback poorly timed as he tries to establish a larger role in his third season.
Tank Dell, Houston Texans
Dell reached a major milestone in his recovery on Aug. 10 by participating in full-team drills for the first time since suffering his devastating knee injury in December 2024. Houston has continued to manage him carefully since then, however, with head coach DeMeco Ryans saying on Aug. 17 that Dell remains on an individualized plan and declining to commit to him playing during the preseason. Jayden Higgins’ season-ending ACL tear creates considerably more opportunity behind Nico Collins, giving Dell intriguing late-round upside if he can get healthy enough to handle a regular workload.
Christian Kirk, San Francisco 49ers
The extended absence after a calf strain suffered on Day 1 of training camp has prevented Kirk from establishing chemistry with Brock Purdy in a rebuilt receiving corps. With Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel ahead of him and younger receivers competing for roles behind them, Kirk already faced an uncertain fantasy workload. The lingering calf injury further reduces his appeal, leaving little reason to spend a draft pick on him in most formats.
Chris Bell, Miami Dolphins
Activation from the Non-Football Injury list on Aug. 17 marked an important step in Bell’s recovery from the torn ACL he suffered at Louisville last November. The third-round rookie subsequently participated in his first training camp practice while wearing a red no-contact jersey, and head coach Jeff Hafley is hopeful Bell will be ready for the regular season. Miami still is proceeding cautiously and will keep him out of its work against the New York Giants. Missing most of camp makes an immediate offensive role unlikely, but Bell remains worth tracking in deep leagues as his workload increases.
Tyreek Hill, Free Agent
Nearly 11 months after suffering a knee dislocation, ACL tear, and additional ligament damage, Hill still lacks full power in his left leg as of a July 23 statement and has offered no return timetable. He also remains unsigned. The combination of age and uncertain availability makes him unsuitable for standard fantasy drafts at this time.
Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers
Pearsall developed swelling in the same knee that sustained a PCL injury during the 2025 season, forcing him to miss practice after initially participating in training camp. San Francisco evaluated all treatment options before settling on season-ending surgery. Pearsall is expected to make a full recovery for the 2027 season.
Chris Brazzell II, Carolina Panthers
Brazzell will miss the entire 2026 season after suffering a left LCL injury during a seven-on-seven training camp drill. The rookie will undergo knee surgery and was moved to injured reserve. Carolina drafted him in the third round to provide size and vertical speed behind Tetairoa McMillan, making the injury a notable loss for the receiver depth chart and creating more opportunities for Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette to establish themselves for fantasy gamers.
