10 Key NFL Injuries Entering Preseason Week 2

As the second week of the preseason gets underway, notable injuries are starting to carry a little more weight throughout the NFL. 

We're only three weeks removed from the start of the 2025 regular season, so whatever is lingering may start to bring stress to teams and fans. 

Here's a look at 10 injuries that are particularly critical midway through August. 

Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders

AP Photo/Rusty Jones

Injury: Suffered an oblique strain in practice Wednesday, Aug. 13. 

Status: Did not practice Thursday and is unlikely to play Saturday against Philadelphia, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Why it matters: Sanders performed well in Cleveland's preseason opener, generating plenty of buzz that he could win the team's deep quarterback competition. Now, the door is open for several guys, particularly rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, who will start this weekend if healthy. However, both Gabriel and Kenny Pickett are nursing hamstring injuries, so it's a bit messy in Cleveland.

Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford

AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea

Injury: Has missed all of camp and the preseason thus far due to an aggravated disc in his back. 

Status: The 37-year-old franchise quarterback worked out last Saturday and is expected to do so again this weekend. "Hopefully [his back] responds a little bit better," Rams head coach Sean McVay said, per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop.

Why it matters: An injury like this to a player of Stafford's age is always concerning, and the margin for error is miniscule for the good-not-great Rams at this point. The NFC West should be competitive, and they have become notoriously slow starters in recent seasons. L.A. can't afford for this to linger into September. 

Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Injury: Dislocated the pinky finger on his right (throwing) hand on a hard sack in Indy's preseason opener. 

Status: He's back on the practice field after dodging a bullet in what appeared to be a freak injury, and he should see plenty of action Saturday against the Packers. 

Why it matters: Richardson is locked in a heated battle with Daniel Jones. If this impacts his performance in the team's next two preseason outings (and/or in practice), it could play a role in determining who starts Week 1 for the Colts. 

Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Injury: An oblique injury has kept Hill off the practice field since the first week of August. 

Status: The eight-time Pro Bowler was pushing to return to practice late this week, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques, but the team is playing it conservative. Miami's training staff is concerned he could exacerbate the injury, per Louis-Jacques.

Why it matters: It's just become hard to trust the 31-year-old of late, and the Dolphins stand little chance in the AFC without him. If this lingers, it could drag the entire offense down substantially. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Injury: Started camp on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list as a result of an ankle injury suffered last October.

Status: It was a severe injury, and earlier in camp, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said "we've still got a ways to go" regarding Godwin's progress. 

Why it matters: The former Pro Bowler was coming off three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and producing at an elite level before going down in Week 7. He's integral to the Bucs' chances, as the receiving corps faces major questions regarding its depth, talent and experience beyond Godwin and vet Mike Evans.

Green Bay Packers S Xavier McKinney

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Injury: He's been dealing with a lingering calf injury, and it appears that has become enough of a problem to sideline him for the remainder of camp and the preseason. 

Status: The first-team All-Pro did say he would "be ready when it's time to go" for Week 1, for what it’s worth. 

Why it matters: There's a chance that's optimistic considering this has apparently lingered for some time. And even if he's right, early-season rust is far from ideal. McKinney is one of the Packers' top playmakers, and they're locked in the most competitive division in football with the Lions and Commanders on the sked for Weeks 1 and 2. 

Green Bay Packers WR Jayden Reed

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Injury: A sprained foot has kept him out of practice since August 8, and he was wearing a walking boot during Green Bay's first preseason game last weekend. 

Status: While Reed's out of the boot now, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur recently conceded the 25-year-old could miss Week 1. 

Why it matters: As mentioned, that Week 1 matchup comes against the division-rival Lions. No Reed and a missing or less-than-100-percent McKinney would be tough in that spot, and keep in mind Jordan Love will be coming off minor thumb surgery while receivers Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks have also been out. Nobody has been hit as hard as Green Bay this summer.

Houston Texans S C.J. Gardner-Johnson

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Injury: Was carted off the field during a training camp practice on Aug. 7. There were initial fears he had torn his ACL, but it's not expected to be a season-ending injury after all. 

Status: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the key offseason pickup could even be back in time for Houston's Week 1 matchup with the Rams. 

Why it matters: Gardner-Johnson is supposed to play a major role as part of a Texans defense that has the talent to take it to the next level in 2025. He's picked off six passes in two of his last three seasons and has Pro Bowl-level abilities. An August return to practice would be fantastic news for this potential contender. 

Tennessee Titans RB Tyjae Spears

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Injury: Suffered a high-ankle sprain in the team's preseason opener last week, which required him to be carted off the field. 

Status: Head coach Brian Callahan confirmed the intriguing third-year back is done for the preseason and is expected to be out a few weeks, but this is an injury that can linger.

Why it matters: The 2023 third-round pick put up 95 rushing yards in his final appearance in 2024, causing some to wonder if he could further challenge RB1 Tony Pollard in 2025. This throws a big wrench into that, which could impact his future in Tennessee as well as his flier fantasy prospects. 

San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Injury: A nagging offseason calf injury flared up on Jennings early in training camp, and he hasn't been seen since.

Status: As of last week, there was no timetable for his return, per 49ers GM John Lynch. 

Why it matters: Deebo Samuel is gone, Brandon Aiyuk is already on track to miss a large chunk of the season with a knee injury, and the 49ers are looking pretty thin in the receiving corps without those veterans. If this lingers for Jennings, Brock Purdy and Co. could dig a deep hole in September and October.