NFL training camps are underway and in their infancy stage, but we have some news and injuries to discuss and how it is already impacting the rankings. Yes, I know we’re early in the process and we shouldn’t overreact in these early days, but there are some fantasy football implications that we have to talk about. Let’s dive into some of the players making early headlines.
2026 NFL Training Camp News & Fantasy Football Injury Updates
Here are NFL injury updates and fantasy football outlook for a few notable players during training camp.
Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR)
RB Jonathan Brooks just lined up as a wideout and caught a contested deep ball down the sideline.
His contributions in the passing game could be fun, if he stays healthy.
— Kyle Bailey (@KyleBaileyClub) July 29, 2026
Jonathon Brooks continues to turn heads in camp both on the ground and through the air. None of this is surprising to me, as Brooks is a player that I have been high on this offseason before it was cool to have that stance. He has only Chuba Hubbard (one of the most inefficient running backs in the NFL last year) standing in front of him for a featured role. I expect Carolina to continue to slowly ease him in during camp and the preseason as they ramp him up for the season. Brooks looks fully recovered (finally) from his torn ACL and ready to crush in 2026. Just to be kind and rewind about the type of talent we’re discussing here, Brooks in his final collegiate season ranked 21st in yards after contact per attempt and yards per route run while also finishing ninth-best in elusive rating (per PFF). Chase him up the board and draft him often this summer.
Kaelon Black (RB – SF)
#49ers RB Jordan James suffered a rib fracture in Monday’s practice. He will miss some time.
S Malik Mustapha has a hamstring strain. Neither practicing today, obviously.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) July 29, 2026
Kaelon Black looks to have an early edge to climb into the clear RB2 spot on the 49ers’ depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey, with Jordan James now dealing with a rib fracture. James sustained the injury in Monday’s practice. Isaac Guerendo has had his own injury demons to deal with during his NFL career and has seemingly fallen down the depth chart with the team drafting James and Black in back-to-back years. I wasn’t in love with Black as a prospect as a rusher who failed to finish inside the top 40 FBS backs last year in yards after contact per attempt, breakaway rate, or elusive rating (per PFF). He’ll be climbing up my ranks, though, into the clear handcuff tier because, as we’ve seen over the years, Christian McCaffrey‘s health is never a certainty.
MarShawn Lloyd (RB – GB)
“The flashes from running back MarShawn Lloyd continue. On one play Wednesday, he bounced a middle run outside like he was shot out of a cannon and darted around St-Juste to the edge for a touchdown. His unique speed and explosiveness were evident once again. There’s nothing like… https://t.co/wbCAo4Qitv
— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) July 29, 2026
My guy MarShawn Lloyd is making some noise in training camp. He has looked explosive so far and is everything that the Packers thought they were drafting. Yes, the big worry is whether he holds up as the practices and reps pile up. We still have to collectively hold our breath, but Lloyd should be inching closer and closer to the clear handcuff tier of backs for fantasy season if he can continue this charge throughout the preseason. Just to remind everyone about Lloyd’s talent. During his final two collegiate seasons, he was 20th and 16th in yards after contact per attempt, third and 18th in breakaway rate, and fourth and 15th in elusive rating (per PFF, minimum 100 carries).
Malik Nabers (WR – NYG)
Malik Nabers looks good. This was the first time we’ve seen him run since the knee injury.
He participated in individual drills at the Giants first practice of the summer. Have to think it bodes well for Week 1. pic.twitter.com/uBFfLCkTsA
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) July 29, 2026
After an offseason filled with concerning or discouraging reports about Malik Nabers‘ health, apparently most of us (including myself) were too concerned with the condition of his knee. Nabers looked good on Wednesday from all of the practice footage making its rounds on social media. He displayed good acceleration off the line and was precise with his route running. I have already bumped him up my rankings after seeing all of this and will continue to do so if he keeps stacking positive reports and practices over the next few weeks.
Ricky Pearsall & De’Zhaun Stribling (WR – SF)
#49ers WR Ricky Pearsall is dealing with knee swelling related to the PCL injury he suffered last year. Team says “all options” are being explored and there is some “concern.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) July 29, 2026
After a ton of positive news so far in this article, now we arrive at the wet blanket portion for Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall is dealing with knee swelling related to the PCL injury he suffered last year. This is incredibly troubling. This isn’t the first workout that Pearsall has been put through this offseason, so it leads me to wonder if this has been a problem all offseason and we’re just now hearing about it. I have been hyping Pearsall up all offseason because of his talent and upside, but this news about his knee has me quickly considering putting him on my do-not-draft list for 2026.
Yes, this conversation also leads to a positive one for De’Zhaun Stribling, who, with Pearsall and Christian Kirk‘s (calf strain) injuries, is getting run with the first team in camp. These reps are incredibly valuable for the talented rookie who could open Week 1 as the clear WR2 for Brock Purdy behind Mike Evans. Instead of being buried as the WR4 in practice right now, he’s getting a chance to establish rapport with Brock Purdy. Stribling will zoom up my ranks and pass Pearsall with what he currently know.
Chris Brazzell & Jalen Coker (WR – CAR)
Panthers rookie WR Chris Brazzell II suffered a moderate LCL tear in his left knee in practice & he’s expected to miss up to 8 weeks, per league source. @josephperson 1st.
Brazzell will get a second opinion. He’s competing for WR3 role. NFL Week 1 is 6 1/2 weeks away. pic.twitter.com/xCK5Lqd0BZ
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) July 29, 2026
Weeks 13-19 last year
(per @FantasyPtsData)Tetairoa McMillan vs. Jalen Coker
Tg% – 18.3% vs. 20%
YPRR – 1.78 vs. 2.30
RZ tg – 1 vs. 4
1st read % – 26.1% vs. 28.3% pic.twitter.com/0rYFFUsmaL— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) June 20, 2026
Here’s yet another injury situation that spells nothing but doom for Chris Brazzell and stokes the hype flames for Jalen Coker. On Wednesday, Brazzell was already dealing with a sore knee before sustaining a tear in his LCL. He’s expected to miss up to eight weeks. For a rookie, this is horrible news as he will be unable to build rapport with his quarterback in camp and during the preseason while getting acclimated to the NFL. This does, however, consolidate the target tree around Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. No, I don’t think Xavier Legette threatens Coker as Carolina’s clear WR2. As laid out above, Coker was seeing better usage than even McMillan in the Carolina passing attack in Weeks 13-19 last year. Coker’s becoming a late-round priority for my 2026 fantasy football draft approach.
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