Week 1 of the 2026 season is here, and fans can still dream that their team will lift the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LXI — at least for now.
There are lots of storylines to follow this afternoon, and none are bigger than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Tomlin stepped down this offseason and the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy, who now reunites with four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers — the same coach-quarterback pairing that beat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XL. On defense, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is considered unlikely to play in Week 1 as he works his way back from a back injury this offseason and remains in the middle of stalled contract-extension talks.
Key injury notes heading into Sunday afternoon: Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love (ankle), Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty (ankle), WR Emeka Egbuka (toe) and WR Ja’Marr Chase (knee) all appear likely to play in their openers. Raiders star TE Brock Bowers, however, will miss “a game or two” to start the year after undergoing a knee procedure last week.
Selected Sunday matchups (early and afternoon):
– Saints vs. Lions, 1 p.m. on Fox
– Bills vs. Texans, 1 p.m. on CBS
– Jets vs. Titans, 1 p.m. on CBS
– Packers vs. Vikings, 4:25 p.m. on CBS
– Dolphins vs. Raiders, 4:25 p.m. on Fox
– Cardinals vs. Chargers, 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Follow live updates, highlights and more on Yahoo Sports. Recent live notes include:
– Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is dealing with a glute injury, per NFL Network. He’s expected to miss Week 2 but could return after that if he feels ready. Darnold was hurt a few plays into Wednesday’s game with the Patriots; Seattle still won with Drew Lock handling most of the game.
– 49ers rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling is slated to miss about a month with an ankle injury suffered in the team’s Week 1 game in Australia against the Rams. The 23-year-old, the top pick of the second round in the 2026 draft, had been expected to play a major role in San Francisco’s passing game.
– Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love, who suffered an ankle issue in the preseason, is now expected to be active for Week 1 and make his regular-season debut, per ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss. Love had been a limited participant in practice and was listed questionable; he had 14 touches for 58 yards (11 carries) and three catches for 14 yards in his preseason debut before getting hurt.
– Coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Tua Tagovailoa will miss his team’s opening game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering an oblique injury in Thursday practice. Tagovailoa is considered day-to-day; backup Cooper Rush will start Week 1 with undrafted rookie Jack Strand listed as QB2. Rush had a brief scare with back spasms Saturday but is expected to play.
– Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. is reportedly unlikely to suit up against the Falcons as he manages a back injury and ongoing contract talks that have not progressed; the team has indicated it won’t negotiate an extension during the season and a trade remains possible.
Fan take: These early injury and roster developments matter because they can reshape opening-week outcomes and set the tone for each team’s season — especially when key players or coaching changes are involved. How teams respond to these setbacks will reveal depth, coaching acumen and may foreshadow who emerges as a contender as the year unfolds.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
