Updates on George Kittle, Xavier Worthy, James Cook, and Others

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Injuries are always a storyline in the NFL, and Week 2 of the 2025 season is no exception, as numerous pivotal players find themselves on the injury report and several rosters, including the San Francisco 49ers, are already feeling the impact. While the opening week avoided catastrophic setbacks for most teams, stars like George Kittle and Brock Purdy headline a growing list of players sidelined, raising immediate questions for fans and fantasy football managers about how these absences will shape the week ahead.

Below are the injuries that could impact fantasy football in Week 2.

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George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers | Out

The 49ers officially placed George Kittle on injured reserve because of his hamstring injury, guaranteeing that he will miss at least the next four games.

San Francisco doesn’t have another tight end who can come close to Kittle’s production, so they will need players like Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings (more on him later) to step up in his absence. Expect both receivers (plus running back Christian McCaffrey) to see even more volume in the short term.

Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens | Out

Isaiah Likely was ruled out for Week 2’s matchup against the Browns as he continues to recover from his foot injury. DeAndre Hopkins and Mark Andrews are the biggest beneficiaries of his absence, as they have taken on increased roles in the red zone.

Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers | Out

One of the bigger injury surprises coming out of Week 1 was Brock Purdy. The veteran quarterback didn’t miss a snap in the team’s opening win against the Seahawks, but popped up on the injury report Monday with a toe and shoulder injury.

Purdy was officially ruled out for Week 2’s game against the Saints on Friday. It will likely be the first of several games missed by the veteran signal caller.

If Purdy is unable to play, Mac Jones would start for the 49ers against the New Orleans Saints. In 2024, the veteran quarterback completed 65.3% of his passes for 1,672 yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 10 games with the Jaguars. He averaged just 9.6 fantasy points per game during that time.

Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins | Out

Darren Waller’s lingering hip injury will keep him out for the second straight game, as Miami has officially ruled him out for Week 2 after he missed both practice sessions mid-week. The veteran tight end continues to rehab and has yet to participate since returning from retirement, with head coach Mike McDaniel confirming Waller will sit against the Patriots. Miami will once again rely on Julian Hill and Tanner Conner at tight end with Waller sidelined.

Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles | Out

Will Shipley was used in the first half of the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Dallas Cowboys as a breather back for Saquon Barkley. He racked up three carries for 26 yards (all in the first half) before exiting with a rib injury.

Shipley was officially ruled out on Friday. Barkley will continue to dominate touches in the backfield, but AJ Dillon and new running back Tank Bigsby could be used to spell him for the occasional drive throughout the game. Neither have much standalone fantasy value.

Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles | Out

Dallas Goedert led the Eagles in receptions against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Unfortunately, the veteran tight end suffered a knee sprain in that contest. It is not expected to be a long-term issue.

Goedert was listed as a limited practice participant on Tuesday before not practicing on Wednesday or Thursday. He was officially ruled out on Friday due to his knee injury.

Jahan Dotson becomes an interesting waiver addition against with Goedert ruled out after catching three targets for 59 yards in Week 1.

Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs | Doubtful

The only clarity we have gotten on Xavier Worthy’s shoulder injury is that he is day-to-day. That said, it feels like a long shot that the second-year receiver will be ready to play in Week 2 after dislocating his shoulder colliding with Travis Kelce in Week 1. Worthy did not practice on Wednesday (9/10).

Worthy did return to the practice field on Thursday, but his status for Week 2 is up in the air. Still, this is a positive development that suggests that any absence from the shoulder injury will not be long-term at this time.

The biggest beneficiaries of Worthy being out would be veteran receivers Hollywood Brown and Tyquan Thornton, along with tight end Travis Kelce.

Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Doubtful

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have maintained that the goal for Chris Godwin is a debut in Week 5 at the earliest. He enters Week 2 with a doubtful designation, but is very unlikely to see the field.

Christian Kirk, WR, Houston Texans | Questionable

Christian Kirk was a late addition to the injury report and ultimately missed Week 1 with a hamstring injury. The Houston Texans’ offense struggled mainly due to poor offensive line play, which Kirk could help address with his route-running ability.

Kirk did not participate in practice in Week 2, setting him up to miss his second consecutive game. Houston struggled to find another target earner outside of Nico Collins in Week 1. Expect Dalton Schutlz (five targets, three receptions, 28 receiving yards) to continue to be a factor in the middle of the field.

Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders | Questionable

Brock Bowers was knocked out of the Las Vegas Raiders’ first game against the Patriots with a knee injury. After the match, Bowers downplayed the severity of the injury, stating he was held out as a precaution.

Bowers did not participate in practice on Thursday or Friday, which makes his playing status a long shot heading into Week 2, although he does benefit from a Monday night game. Adding Michael Mayer on waivers is a must for teams with Bowers.

Best-case scenario, Bowers is active on Monday, and there are no issues. Worst-case scenario, you get his replacement, who had a solid showing in Week 1 (four receptions for 38 yards). Either way, fantasy managers will need to monitor Bowers’ status closely and may need to make a tough decision on Sunday.

Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers | Questionable

It wasn’t all bad injury news for the 49ers. All of the imaging on Jennings’ shoulder injury has returned positive, giving him a real chance to play in Week 2. The 49ers will need all the help they can get in the passing attack with Aiyuk and Kittle confirmed as out.

Jennings did not participate in Wednesday’s or Thursday’s practices, but was finally upgraded to a limited particpant on Friday. He enters Week 2 with a questionable designation.

Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets | Questionable

Mason Taylor was viewed as a late-round tight end target due to a lack of competition with the Jets. He caught just one pass for 20 yards in his first career game before suffering an ankle injury. He did not practice on Wednesday, but was a full participant in Friday’s practice.

Taylor is listed as questionable heading into Week 2, but should be active barring an unforeseen setback in the next 24 hours.

Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Drake London battled a shoulder injury coming out of Week 1, which kept him limited in practice for much of the week. Fortunately for fantasy managers, he was taken off the Falcons’ final injury report on Friday and is locked in for Sunday’s matchup with the Vikings.

London remains the clear top target in Atlanta’s passing game, and with the team likely needing to throw more against Minnesota’s aggressive offense, he profiles as a strong WR2 with upside in Week 2 lineups.

Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Darnell Mooney missed Week 1 with a shoulder injury, but was close to playing. He is set to make his 2025 debut against the Vikings in Week 2.

Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos

Evan Engram was off to a quiet start in his first game with the Broncos (four targets, three receptions, 21 receiving yards) before a calf injury ended his day early.

Calf injuries are notoriously fickle, so it wouldn’t be shocking if the veteran tight end missed at least one week, if not more. In that case, players like Pat Bryant or Troy Franklin would see their workload increase.

Engram logged a limited practice on 9/10 and was a full participant on Thursday (9/11) and Friday (9/12). He was officially removed from the injury report on Friday and is good to go in Week 2’s matchup against the Colts.

James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills

A surprising name on the injury report on Wednesday was Buffalo Bills running back James Cook. Cook was a limited participant due to a hamstring injury after a strong Week 1 performance against the Baltimore Ravens (13 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown with five receptions for 58 yards).

Cook returned to practice on Thursday (9/11) and does not carry an injury designation into Week 2’s matchup against the New York Jets.

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle gave fantasy managers a brief scare in Week 1 after exiting with a shoulder injury, but he was able to return and finish the game. The Dolphins managed his reps in practice early this week, listing him as limited on Wednesday and Thursday. However, Waddle was removed from the final injury report on Friday and will be a full-go for Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots.

With defenses often keying in on Tyreek Hill, Waddle remains a high-upside WR2 who should continue to see strong weekly volume in Miami’s explosive passing offense.

Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots

Kayshon Boutte was one of the biggest surprises of Week 1, catching six of eight targets for 103 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders. Boutte was on the injury report Wednesday and Thursday as a limited participant due to a shoulder injury.

Boutte does not appear on the Patriots final injury report.

Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants

Rookie wideout Malik Nabers popped up on the Giants’ injury report this week with a back issue, practicing in a limited fashion on Wednesday. That said, fantasy managers shouldn’t be too concerned—Nabers avoided a game designation and is cleared for Week 2. He played nearly every offensive snap in his debut (94% snap share) and immediately commanded volume with 12 targets, catching 5 for 71 yards.

While his efficiency could improve, his heavy usage signals that he’s already the focal point of this passing attack. Fantasy managers can feel confident keeping Nabers in their starting lineups, even if his “back injury” continues to crop up on practice reports throughout the year.

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