NFL 2026 Preview Highlights Injuries and Star Returns

The 2026 NFL season opens Sept. 9 with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, while early projections identify potential last-place teams and Week 1 winners. ESPN’s NFL Top 100 ranks Justin Jefferson No. 10 and projects a 1,376-yard, 113-reception season as he builds his connection with Kyler Murray, while Tucker Kraft is viewed as a potential league-leading tight end in receiving yards after a strong 2025 season ended by an ACL injury. The Green Bay Packers will begin the season without Micah Parsons, who is on reserve/PUP after tearing his ACL in 2025 and must miss at least four games; a return around Week 6 against his former team, Dallas, is considered realistic, though Green Bay faces other injury concerns. The Packers expect tight end Luke Musgrave, defensive tackle Warren Brinson and eventually other injured players to return, while Miami is rebuilding after taking on a record $181.6 million dead-cap charge and relying heavily on rookies and short-term signings. Aaron Donald is coming out of retirement to join the Rams’ defensive line alongside reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, and Parsons predicts Donald could record about 15 sacks in a more limited role. Early Week 1 picks favor the Eagles, Lions, Seahawks, Chiefs, Bengals and Broncos, among others.