Injury report: JJ McCarthy, Jahmyr Gibbs and Marquise Brown

Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season is still three weeks away but after the opening round of preseason games, three key injuries have already occurred that will significantly affect the fantasy landscape.

At this point in the offseason, many players are dealing with nagging bumps and bruises picked up from training camp. At times it can be difficult to tell which injuries are worth noting but it is better to know now before the season begins.

With draft season quickly approaching, take note of the current health status of JJ McCarthy, Jahmyr Gibbs and Marquise Brown.

JJ McCarthy

The 2024 quarterback class is projected to be one of the most talented in recent history and few performed better than McCarthy did during Week 1 of the preseason. Aside from an interception on his first drive, McCarthy looked like the most comfortable, accurate and NFL-ready quarterback of the class against the Las Vegas Raiders.

But just days after his first NFL preseason game, Adam Schefter reported that the rookie tore his meniscus during the game and would require surgery in the upcoming week. He is currently out indefinitely, with the nature of his surgery expected to dictate his timeline.

With McCarthy out for at least the first month of the season, Sam Darnold is all but guaranteed to start in his absence. Darnold has been the starter throughout training camp and started the preseason game against Las Vegas, though McCarthy's performance caused many to believe he would push the veteran for that role sooner than originally anticipated.

Darnold is no stranger to being a starter in the NFL but has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the last decade, particularly when it comes to fantasy. He briefly provided value in Carolina with a shocking five rushing touchdowns through the first four weeks but returned to inadequacy shortly after. Needless to say, even with McCarthy unproven at the NFL level, all skill position players in Minnesota will have a lower ceiling to begin the year, particularly Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Jahmyr Gibbs

It did not happen in the opening preseason game against New York but Gibbs was reported to be dealing with a semi-serious injury in his hamstring. Adam Schefter also reported this news and gave insight on the Pat McAfee Show, saying he believes the running back will be out for the rest of the summer and is questionable for Week 1.

For a player who missed two games in 2023 with a similar injury, the news is not encouraging for a player whose game is dependent on his athleticism and explosiveness. However, considering the Lions have not ruled him out of Week 1 yet, the hope is that it was a minor flare-up without any serious damage.

Should Gibbs miss any time in 2024, David Montgomery becomes an instant top 10 option, having already finished as the RB9 in 2023 next to Gibbs. Craig Reynolds would also see an uptick in usage with the potential to reach flex range in games that Gibbs sits.

Managers who are targeting Gibbs in re-draft leagues should not give the injury much consideration given the lack of internal concern. But his injury status will be worth monitoring and could be a headache all season with Gibbs unfortunately beginning to look like a player who will be plagued by injuries his entire career.

Marquise Brown

Brown was the one big injury that happened in-game during Week 1 of the preseason that is expected to impact the fantasy world. On the first play of the game, Brown caught his first pass from Patrick Mahomes and was injured on the ensuing tackle and did not return. It would later be reported that he suffered a dislocation.

The day after Brown's injury, it was confirmed that he would miss significant time. Expected to be out for the first game of the season, Justin Watson is being looked at by Andy Reid and Matt Nagy as the man to replace him in the starting lineup.

While Brown is out, rookie Xavier Worthy must be added in all leagues as he instantly becomes the WR2 on the team behind Rashee Rice. With Travis Kelce entering his age-34 season — one that he has hinted toward possibly being his last — Worthy could immediately be the second option in the passing game for Mahomes, a job that has been historically lucrative in fantasy.

Worthy's speed and burst on the outside is a factor Kansas City has not had in their offense since Tyreek Hill left in 2022. Obviously, nobody is expecting Worthy to be Hill but with the assumption that Rice will take the next step to become Mahomes' WR1 in 2024, having someone of his caliber on the outside will significantly improve the offense as a whole. The Chiefs have not had any consistency at receiver since Hill's departure.