playJeremy FowlerCloseJeremy Fowlersenior NFL national reporterJeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com. and Dan GrazianoCloseDan Grazianosenior NFL national reporterDan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now.
He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.Multiple AuthorsSep 10, 2026, 06:25 AM ETOpen Extended ReactionsAs we hit Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been making calls to sources around the league for the latest news and notable buzz.What should we expect from Patrick Mahomes and other players returning from significant injuries in the early parts of the season? Which teams might be flying under the radar and could surprise? Where are the most interesting and uncertain quarterback situations around the NFL? And for all those fantasy football managers out there, which players might come out of nowhere in Week 1?It’s all here, as Jeremy and Dan answer big questions and empty their reporting notebooks with everything they are hearing heading into the 2026 campaign.Jump to: Injury comebacks | Playoff sleepers QB situations to watch | Breakouts More notes, intel entering Week 1Which player returning from a significant injury is best set up for a strong comeback?Graziano: Let’s start with the biggest name: Mahomes.
He tore his ACL late enough last season that many wondered if he’d play at all in the early part of the 2026 season. But it was clear early in camp that he attacked his rehab and would be ready to go in Week 1. We should see him Monday night against the Broncos, and though the injury to left tackle Josh Simmons does give me a little pause, I think there’s reason to believe the Chiefs’ offense will be better around Mahomes.They replaced Matt Nagy with Eric Bieniemy at offensive coordinator, which doesn’t seem like a big change given Bieniemy’s history there, but they also changed out several other offensive assistants. And they are counting on a fully healthy Xavier Worthy, a (hopefully) fully healthy and engaged Rashee Rice and newly signed running back Kenneth Walker III to make them more explosive.
I have the Chiefs bouncing back and reclaiming the AFC West title.Fowler: What helps Mahomes is a supporting cast that seems improved, especially if rookies Emmett Johnson and Cyrus Allen ascend, but Simmons’ injury also gives me pause. But Mahomes is well-positioned to win Comeback Player of the Year. He hears the noise, the hint of doubt about his place in the QB pantheon for the first time in his career. I expect him to respond accordingly — with a big season.But he isn’t the only QB on the comeback trail.
Jayden Daniels can reclaim his place as a premier quarterback, and there’s considerable hype in league circles that Daniels will get back on track and be a problem for the rest of the NFC East. Kyler Murray has everything he needs in Minnesota to succeed if he can maximize Kevin O’Connell’s offense.Graziano: I believe Daniels is a fantastic player and will play well as long as he’s healthy. I have significant concerns about the group around him, particularly his offensive line, capping his (and the team’s) performance ceiling this season. Hopefully for their sake I’m wrong.Some guys who I think are good enough to win Comeback Player of the Year if they come back healthy and play are:Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers if he helps to elevate Jaxson Dart and the Giants to playoff contender statusPackers edge rusher Micah Parsons if Green Bay makes a second-half defensive turnaround and a playoff run once he returnsJaguars receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter if he plays like a lockdown corner and catches, say, three touchdown passes on offense.
The Jags playing well again also would help.Fowler: Parsons could provide a timely October lift for the Packers to contend. And the way Jacksonville plans to use Hunter — as a primary zone corner and a “package” receiver — will showcase his splash-play ability.And let’s not forget about 35-year-old Aaron Donald. No, he’s not returning from an injury, but he is unretiring — and he will be a major force if he can get to 80% of his previous play. Interior rushers have proved they can play well into their mid-30s (see Cameron Heyward and Calais Campbell).
The sheer talent around Donald should free up rushing lanes and one-on-one opportunities. Still, the ramp-up will take some time. The Rams are sitting him this week, and returning after two-plus years out of football is no small feat. Part of the Rams’ plan will be to keep Donald fresh for December and January snaps.
That’s the right strategy — even if that sacrifices early-season sack numbers.play0:49What does Aaron Donald being inactive mean for 49ers-Rams?Based on your preseason conversations, which team could be a real playoff sleeper?Fowler: Sleepers are harder to find because of the league’s deep parity, but let’s go with the Giants, who won only four games last season. An NFL truism remains that you win with line play, and the Giants have that. They finally found an offensive line combination that works, resulting in a top-five rushing offense last season. The defensive line is well-stocked, even without defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II.
Dart is widely viewed as a quarterback with an upward trajectory. Add the John Harbaugh confidence boost and Nabers’ imminent return, and New York might have something. So, give me the Giants as a sneaky NFC playoff team.Graziano: The people I talk to seem to agree with you somewhat on the Giants. Those who buy into Dart as a real NFL starting QB point out how good they look up front on defense and that the offense has plenty to work with if Nabers is truly healthy.
Those who doubt Dart are obviously more hesitant to back the Giants as sleepers.But, in general, I agree with you in that it’s tough to find many true “sleepers” — as in, teams most people don’t think will be good but could end up being good. I keep talking myself into the Jets having a passable offense and maybe even a good one, but I don’t expect them to contend with Buffalo and New England in the AFC East. I do think we will be talking about them as a potentially good spot for a rookie QB to land next spring.I’m going to stretch the definition a bit: I think people are sleeping on just how good the Jaguars can be. Jacksonville was 13-4 last season, won nine of its final 10 regular-season games and ended up winning the AFC South.
It seems as if a lot of people have already conceded that division to the Texans, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Jacksonville build on last season’s progress under Liam Coen, repeat as division champs and make a playoff run.Fowler: The Jaguars are deep and will be able to move the ball. Their three-man receiving corps is among the league’s best. The offensive line faces questions — it’s lacking ideal size and has had some injuries. But Coen made it work with that group last season and should again.Your point on the Jets is a fair one — I was there for camp and the roster is better.
But the Jets haven’t won eight or more games since 2015, so it’s tough to bank on them until they show it. But here’s a snoozefest of a sleeper, if we’re going that deep: the Browns.I’m not declaring that Cleveland will make the playoffs just yet, but there’s legitimate talent on both sides of the ball. The defense has a chance to be stout. Resources were spent to replenish the line.
The offense is well-stocked with intriguing young talent. If Deshaun Watson’s play g
