Posted September 3, 2026 at 12:05 PM ET
Two of the season’s biggest storylines took shape Wednesday and Thursday: Patrick Mahomes says he’s on track to start Week 1 as he finishes rehabbing his surgically repaired knee, while the Patriots are managing a fresh ankle scare for rookie back TreVeyon Henderson just a week before kickoff.
Week 1 Status At a Glance
| Player | Team / Pos | Status | Fantasy Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Mahomes | KC / QB | 🟢 Likely | Start with confidence for Week 1 vs. DEN |
| TreVeyon Henderson | NE / RB | 🟡 Questionable | Hold as starter; have Rhamondre Stevenson stashed as the direct contingency |
🟢 Likely to play · 🟡 Questionable / trending unclear · 🔴 Out or unlikely to play next week.
Quarterbacks
🟢 Likely — Patrick Mahomes (KC): Mahomes, working back from the torn ACL and LCL that ended his 2025 season early, told reporters this week he feels “on track to start” the Chiefs’ Week 1 matchup against Denver on September 14. He hasn’t missed a practice since being cleared for full football activity in July, and coaches have described his physical progress through camp as ahead of schedule. He’s not expected to see any preseason snaps, but barring a setback in these final two weeks, Kansas City is planning for him to be full-go for the opener. Fantasy Action: No lineup change needed — keep starting Mahomes as your QB1 and check back closer to kickoff only if the Chiefs’ practice participation reports change.
Running Backs
🟡 Questionable — TreVeyon Henderson (NE): The rookie-turned-lead-back slipped while cutting during a practice earlier this week and came away with a right ankle injury. It’s not considered serious, but as of Thursday he had not yet returned to practice, which puts a bit of a clock on things with the Patriots’ opener against Seattle just a week away. A beat report from the Boston Globe still expects him to be good to go by kickoff. New England has options if he needs a game off to be safe: Rhamondre Stevenson would step into a bigger early-down role regardless, with recently-acquired Corey Kiner behind him on the depth chart. Fantasy Action: Don’t panic-drop Henderson — hold him as your starter and monitor Friday/weekend practice reports, but handcuff-minded managers in deeper leagues should have Stevenson rostered as the direct beneficiary if Henderson can’t go.
Both situations are worth tracking closely over the next several days as final practice reports and the first official Week 1 injury designations start rolling in. We’ll have updates as soon as either team’s status changes.
Sources
- Bleacher Report: Patrick Mahomes Gives Week 1 Injury Status Update Amid Knee Rehab as Chiefs Prepare for Broncos
- Heavy.com: Patriots Injury Update — Latest on RB TreVeyon Henderson Ahead of Week 1
- Pro Football Network: 2026 NFL Injury Report & Fantasy Impact tracker
Fantasy Injury News 
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