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2026 NFL Week 2 injury panic meter: Myles Garrett, A.J. Brown, Sam Darnold sidelined with lower body issues

Following the opening week of the 2026 campaign, significant injury setbacks have already hit key stars across the league. New England receiver A.J.

Brown and Los Angeles edge defender Myles Garrett are both facing multi-week absences, joining Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold on the list of sidelined contributors battling lower-body ailments. The situation is especially alarming for the Rams, who have placed Garrett on injured reserve due to lingering knee problems that will require an upcoming surgical procedure on Monday, guaranteeing he will miss a minimum of four matchups.

Garrett, the reigning 2025 Defensive Player of the Year who set a single-season standard with 23.0 sacks a year ago, previously sat out most of training camp and a shared workout session with the Cowboys because of swelling. Although the standout pass rusher attempted to play through the issue against the 49ers, he managed zero stops across 39 snaps, marking only the fourth tackle-free performance of his career and his first since the eleventh week of 2024.

Head coach Sean McVay indicated that an exact recovery window will not be determined until post-operation, as Garrett conceded he was overly preoccupied with protecting his health rather than playing unhindered.

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