Key roster and quarterback concerns emerge before Week 1
The 2026 NFL season is getting closer, but several teams still have important questions to address before Week 1. Injuries, quarterback decisions, and offseason changes are putting added attention on three franchises.
Training camp is providing new developments as players compete for roles and prepare for the regular season. The decisions made over the next few weeks could shape the outlook for these teams once the games begin.
Kansas City Chiefs await Mahomes’ Week 1 clearance
Kansas City enters 2026 with Patrick Mahomes returning from ACL and LCL tears suffered in his left knee during Week 15 of the 2025 season. The Chiefs are scheduled to open the regular season against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14.
Mahomes has repeatedly said his goal is to return for Week 1, and he has been medically cleared for full participation in training camp. However, the Chiefs have not guaranteed that he will play in the opener, leaving his game availability as an important preseason storyline.
Mahomes is working toward a Week 1 return
Mahomes underwent surgery after tearing his ACL and LCL in Week 15 of the 2025 season. He has participated in the Chiefs’ offseason program and training camp while continuing his rehabilitation.
Head coach Andy Reid has emphasized the importance of carefully managing Mahomes’ return. The quarterback’s availability remains one of Kansas City’s central preseason storylines as the season opener approaches.
Kansas City also added Kenneth Walker III
The Chiefs signed running back Kenneth Walker III during the 2026 offseason after he left the Seattle Seahawks. Walker was the MVP of Super Bowl LX before joining Kansas City on a 3-year contract.
His arrival gives Kansas City another established running option and strengthens the team’s backfield. The Chiefs will continue integrating Walker into Andy Reid’s offense during preseason preparation before the regular-season opener.
The Rams are monitoring multiple injuries
Los Angeles has dealt with injury concerns involving wide receiver Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett. Nacua left a joint practice with Dallas on August 11 because of groin soreness, while Garrett missed practices because of knee swelling.
Nacua is coming off a 2025 season with 129 receptions, 1,715 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. Garrett joined the Rams this offseason after recording an NFL-record 23 sacks for Cleveland in 2025.
Puka Nacua left practice with groin soreness
Nacua exited the Rams’ practice with the Dallas Cowboys on August 11 and could not finish the practice. Reports later described the issue as minor, but the Rams have continued monitoring his condition.
The receiver enters his fourth NFL season after leading the league in receptions during 2025. Los Angeles is scheduled to begin its regular season against San Francisco in Week 1.
Myles Garrett has also missed practice
Garrett missed his second consecutive Rams practice because of knee swelling during joint work with Dallas. Head coach Sean McVay did not identify the affected knee when discussing the situation publicly.
Garrett is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and set the league’s single-season sack record with 23 sacks in 2025. Los Angeles acquired him from Cleveland this offseason to strengthen its defense.
The Rams have a major Week 1 test
Los Angeles will open the 2026 regular season against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday, Sept. 11 local time. The game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:35 a.m. AEST, which corresponds to Thursday, Sept. 10 at approximately 5:35 p.m. PT in Los Angeles.
The matchup is the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia. With Nacua dealing with minor groin soreness and Garrett being monitored for knee swelling, their health will remain an important preseason storyline before the Rams travel to Melbourne.
Minnesota made a major quarterback decision
The Minnesota Vikings recently named Kyler Murray their starting quarterback over J.J. McCarthy. The decision followed the team’s evaluation of both quarterbacks during training camp.
Murray joined Minnesota this offseason after seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, remains part of the Vikings’ quarterback room entering his third NFL season.
Interesting fact: The first Super Bowl was played in 1967.
Kyler Murray begins a new chapter in Minnesota
Murray signed with the Vikings in March after Arizona released him at the start of the 2026 league year. The 2019 first overall pick spent seven seasons with the Cardinals before moving to Minnesota.
His selection gives the Vikings an experienced quarterback to lead the offense entering the 2026 season. Murray’s ability to become comfortable in Kevin O’Connell’s system has been a major focus during training camp.
Interesting fact: The league is staging a record nine international games across four continents and seven countries, with games scheduled in Australia, Brazil, the U.K., France, Spain, Germany and Mexico.
J.J. McCarthy remains an important storyline
McCarthy was selected by Minnesota with the 10th overall pick in 2024 and entered training camp competing with Murray for the starting role. O’Connell and the Vikings ultimately selected Murray after evaluating the quarterbacks during training camp.
McCarthy remains on Minnesota’s roster and is expected to continue developing within the offense. The Vikings will continue evaluating the quarterback room during preseason games and preparation for Week 1.
Minnesota opens against Green Bay
The Vikings are scheduled to open the regular season against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 13 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The divisional matchup is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. CT, or 4:25 p.m. ET.
Minnesota will enter Week 1 with Murray as its announced starter, while McCarthy remains part of the quarterback room. The quarterback competition has therefore been settled before the preseason schedule is complete.
THe internet is also talking about Patrick Mahomes gets an encouraging training camp update from Andy Reid.
Three storylines to watch before Week 1
Kansas City must continue managing Mahomes’ return while integrating Walker into its offense. Los Angeles is monitoring Nacua’s issue and Garrett’s knee swelling before an international opener against San Francisco.
Minnesota has settled its quarterback competition by naming Murray the starter over McCarthy. All three teams still have preseason practices and games remaining before their 2026 regular-season openers.
In other news, some NFL fans voice frustration with the Kelces.
What do you think? Which of these three NFL teams has the biggest concern heading into Week 1? Like this slideshow and comment with your pick and why!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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