NFL Depth Report - Week 2

Sam Darnold → Drew Lock (SEA, QB at Arizona, Sun 4:25 ET)

Just five snaps into Seattle's Week 1 win, Sam Darnold's season took a quick detour after what the team is calling a "very unique" soft-tissue glute injury. He's not on IR yet, but that's still being watched as estimates right now point to a three-to-six-week recovery timeline.

In the interim, Drew Lock will take the helm, now back in Seattle after a year with the Giants. Lock played admirably in the season opening win over the New England Patriots, pulling off a late game-winning drive, and now gets a division road game in the desert against the surprisingly 1-0 Arizona Cardinals.

Myles Garrett → Josaiah Stewart (LAR, EDGE vs. Giants, Mon 8:15 ET)

Let's be honest, no one's replacing Myle Garrett. A surefire Hall-of-Famer when he hangs it up, Garrett was supposed to be one half of the Rams' golden jacket duo up front, but after a knee scope following a lackluster performance in an outback loss to the 49ers, a game in which Aaron Donald didn't play, LA fans will have to wait at least 4 weeks before seeing their new look front on the field together with Garrett headed to IR.

His first-team spot now belongs to Josaiah Stewart, a second-year player drafted 90th overall in 2025. Steward had three sacks last year, and three solo tackles last week, and with Donald making his re-debut, he's stepping up as the Rams look to avoid an 0-2 start. Desjuan Johnson, the 2023 NFL Draft's Mr. Irrelevant, should see some additional time, as well.

A.J. Brown → Mack Hollins (NE, WR vs. Pittsburgh, Sun 1:00 ET)

Another injury to a marquee acquisition up next. A.J. Brown's arrival in New England was intended to provide Drake Maye with a bonafide Number One target, but after a quiet week while on the field (3-26-0 against Seattle in Week 1), Brown finds himself on IR with a high-ankle sprain, out until Week 6 at the earliest.

We've already seen what this WR corps looks like with Brown sidelined, considering Mack Hollins out-snapped every other Patriots receiver last week, and Hollins will once again be tasked with stepping into a larger role, both as a target in the passing game, and as a more frequent role as a run blocker as New England looks to get their offense back on track against a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

Kyler Murray → Carson Wentz (MIN, QB at Chicago, Sun 1:00 ET)

It was a bad week to be the hopeful answer for a new team. Kyler Murray was supposed to be the engine at QB for the Minnesota Vikings after last season's instability and some uneven play from J.J. McCarthy.

But early in the game, while attempting to scramble, a brutal hit from Quay Walker landed Murray in concussion protocol, which he has yet to clear as of this article.

If Murray is unable to go Week 2, the Vikings will trot out Carson Wentz, who overcame a rusty start to pull Minnesota out of an early deficit, scoring 29 straight points and tossing three TDs on just 19 attempts in a 39-22 win over their NFC North rivals.

Wentz will look to keep the momentum going, and the ball in Justin Jefferson's hands, as they take a trip southeast to Chicago where Caleb Williams just put up 59 points of his own.

Minkah Fitzpatrick → Andre Cisco (NYJ, S vs. Green Bay, Sun 1:00 ET)

The Jets' big-ticket safety hasn't practiced since a strained groin (his own) forced him out of their Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans -- just their second 1-0 start since 2015.

Officially, the Jets are calling Minkah Fitzpatrick week-to-week, while most beat writers beleive he could be out two to three games.

Andre Cisco looks to be the next man up, with a somewhat poetic chance to make good on the Jets' acquisition of the former Jacksonville Jaguars safety after his own injury (torn pectoral) last season forced him to miss eight games.

He'll certainly get his chances against a Packers team that put up 387 passing yards on 42 attempts in Week 1.