Week 2 of the 2025 NFL regular season has come and gone, leaving behind some names in the sport as we move forward. Turns out, Week 1 wasn’t so bad after all.
This slate of games, which isn’t even over yet, saw the likes of Joe Burrow, J.J. McCarthy, Austin Ekeler and Jayden Reed head for an extended stay on the sidelines. That doesn’t include players like Justin Fields or Aaron Jones, who are also in danger of missing some time.
Brock Purdy, George Kittle and others will now have some company in the NFL infirmary – which is starting to include more teams than the San Francisco 49ers.
There is no time to moan and groan, however. This is the hand we’re dealt and there is no choice but to keep playing. We understand it can be a double whammy after losing a player and the weekly matchup. Rather than add insult to that injury reality, we’ve compiled a handy list of the key fantasy football stars that are banged up heading into Week 3.
Here’s the latest on those players.
Fantasy football injury updates: Week 2
QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in Week 2’s game against the Jaguars. According to reports, he will miss at least three months while recovering from the surgery he needed to repair the ligaments in his foot.
Jake Browning is Burrow’s backup in Cincinnati and will be expected to make the start against the Vikings in Week 3.
QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy is also dealing with a turf toe injury that he sustained in Week 1 of the regular season. The ailment kept him out of the 49ers’ Week 2 win over the Saints.
Before the game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the 49ers were ‘not optimistic’ that Purdy would return in time for Week 3’s game against the Cardinals. However, ‘it’s not out of the question.’ The quarterback should still be considered week-to-week.
QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Monday that Daniels is considered day-to-day with a knee injury he suffered in Week 2’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ loss to the Packers. He already had an MRI come back clean and has started his return-to-play process, Quinn said.
Whether Daniels will be available for Sunday’s game against the Raiders will be a question answered later in the week, perhaps as soon as Wednesday.
Should Daniels be unavailable, Marcus Mariota would start for Washington.
QB Justin Fields, New York Jets
Fields is in the concussion protocol after sustaining a head injury in Week 2’s loss to the Bills.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Monday that it’s hard to evaluate whether he will be available for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers but that he’d be sharing more information later in the week.
WR Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
Worthy fully tore his labrum in Week 1 after a collision with tight end Travis Kelce. He missed the Chiefs’ Week 2 game against the Eagles as a result.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Worthy is ‘looking good’ to return in Week 3 against the Giants. If he plays, it would be with a harness to provide additional protection for his shoulder.
RB Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders
Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt is projected to take over as the Commanders’ starter in the backfield, with Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez backing him up.
RB Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
Jones exited the Vikings’ Week 2 ‘Sunday Night Football’ game with a hamstring injury. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team is still evaluating the injury but that Jones is likely to be ruled out for Week 3 against the Bengals.
QB J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
McCarthy will be out 2-4 weeks with a high ankle sprain, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. O’Connell initially revealed the ankle injury in a Monday press conference.
WR Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that ‘the hope is that it’s a 6-8 week injury’ for the Packers wideout.
