Chairshot NFL News Report (9/26/2026): Darnold Returns, Daniels Avoids IR & Bosa Goes Down

Sam Darnold returns for Seattle, Jayden Daniels avoids injured reserve and Nick Bosa is expected to miss multiple weeks.

Seattle is getting its starting quarterback back just as Washington learns its own quarterback injury may not be as severe as initially feared.

Sam Darnold has been cleared to start Sunday against the Commanders, while Washington will keep Jayden Daniels off injured reserve after receiving encouraging news on his dislocated elbow. San Francisco received the opposite kind of update Friday, with Nick Bosa expected to miss multiple weeks because of a calf injury.

It’s the Chairshot NFL News Report for September 26, 2026!

Sam Darnold Cleared to Start Against Washington

Sam Darnold is officially back. Seattle removed its starting quarterback from the injury report Friday after he practiced fully for a second consecutive day, and head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Darnold will start Sunday against Washington. Darnold injured his glute during Seattle’s season-opening victory over New England and missed Week 2 against Arizona.

Drew Lock performed well while Darnold recovered, completing 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona, with all three scores going to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Seattle nevertheless made it clear throughout the process that Darnold would return to the starting job once healthy.

That gives the 2-0 Seahawks a much cleaner quarterback situation heading into Week 3 than they had a week ago. Lock proved Seattle can survive a short-term absence, while Darnold now returns without the team having sacrificed anything in the standings.

The Seahawks will still be without safety Julian Love because of a calf injury, while safety Ty Okada is also out with a hamstring injury. Defensive tackle Brandon Pili is questionable because of concussion and neck issues.

Jayden Daniels Avoids Injured Reserve

Washington received encouraging news Friday when head coach Dan Quinn announced that Jayden Daniels will not be placed on injured reserve. Daniels remains week-to-week after dislocating his left elbow against Dallas, and general manager Adam Peters said surgery is not currently being considered.

Keeping Daniels off IR means Washington believes there is at least a possibility he could return before the mandatory four-game absence that would come with an injured-reserve designation. There is still no firm timetable, and the Commanders have already ruled him out against Seattle.

Marcus Mariota will start Sunday instead, but Washington’s injury problems extend well beyond quarterback. Linebacker Frankie Luvu, tight end Chig Okonkwo, guard Sam Cosmi and safety Nick Cross have also been ruled out.

That makes Daniels’ update important beyond Week 3. Washington is already 0-2 and faces Indianapolis in London next week before games against the Giants and 49ers. Avoiding a long-term absence gives the Commanders at least some possibility of getting their franchise quarterback back during that stretch rather than automatically losing him through Week 6.

Nick Bosa Expected to Miss Multiple Weeks

San Francisco will be without Nick Bosa against Arizona, and the absence may extend considerably beyond Sunday. Kyle Shanahan said Friday that Bosa is expected to miss multiple weeks after suffering a calf injury during practice Thursday, and the 49ers are discussing whether injured reserve could become necessary.

Bosa did not practice after suffering the injury and has officially been ruled out for Week 3. San Francisco will also be without defensive linemen Romello Height and James Thompson Jr., while wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is out with an ankle injury and Mike Evans is questionable because of a hip issue.

The timing hurts because the 49ers have started 2-0 while playing some of the best football in the league. Losing Bosa for one divisional game would already matter, but a multi-week absence changes the calculation for a defensive front that is suddenly dealing with several injuries at once.

Arizona enters Sunday at 1-1 following last week’s 31-7 loss to Seattle. Safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson is out, while defensive lineman Roy Lopez and cornerback Max Melton are questionable.

Puka Nacua Doubtful for Sunday Night Football

The Rams are likely to be without Puka Nacua for a second consecutive game. Nacua did not practice at all this week and is officially listed as doubtful for Sunday night’s game against Denver because of the hip designation that Sean McVay has described more specifically as groin soreness.

McVay said Friday that the doubtful designation means Nacua is more unlikely than likely to play, but also indicated the Rams expect him back next week against Philadelphia if there is no setback. Safety Kamren Kinchens is also doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Los Angeles already showed Monday that it can operate without Nacua. Matthew Stafford threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns in the 28-6 win over the Giants while Davante Adams and the rest of the receiving group absorbed the missing targets.

Denver gets better news in its backfield. RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins carry no injury designation and are expected to be available, although rookie Jonah Coleman has been ruled out with an ankle injury and Marvin Mims Jr. is questionable because of a foot issue.

Brock Bowers Remains Questionable

Las Vegas still does not know whether Brock Bowers will make his season debut Sunday against New Orleans. The star tight end is officially questionable after practicing on a limited basis earlier in the week but missing the portion of Friday’s practice that was open to reporters.

Bowers underwent a procedure on his knee before the season and has missed both games, although he came close enough to returning last week that he went through a pregame workout before the Raiders decided not to activate him. Las Vegas has still started 2-0 without its best receiving threat.

That makes patience easier. The Raiders do not need Bowers to rescue a winless offense, and rushing him back for Week 3 would make little sense if the knee is not fully ready.

New Orleans will be without receiver Barion Brown and defensive lineman Christen Miller, while cornerback Martin Emerson is questionable with a shoulder injury.

Bills Could Be Thin at Wide Receiver

Buffalo enters its game against the Chargers with two significant receiver questions. Keon Coleman is questionable with an ankle injury, while DJ Moore is questionable because of the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 2.

The Bills also listed defensive tackle Ed Oliver and guard Ar’m’jar Reed-Adams as questionable, while defensive backs Jordan Hancock and T.J. Sanders have been ruled out. Buffalo is 2-0 and has produced one of the league’s most explosive offenses through two weeks, but its receiving depth could be tested against Los Angeles.

The Chargers have even more names unavailable. Offensive lineman Trey Pipkins, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, defensive back Elijah Molden, receiver Brenen Thompson, tight end Charlie Kolar and guard Kayode Awosika are all out. Backup quarterback Trey Lance is questionable with a groin injury.

Sunday arrives with several contenders already dealing with injuries that go beyond normal early-season soreness. Seattle gets Darnold back, Washington may have avoided the worst-case scenario with Daniels and the Rams believe Nacua’s absence should remain short-term.

San Francisco’s situation is more concerning. Bosa missing multiple weeks changes the complexion of an otherwise excellent 2-0 start, especially with additional injuries along the defensive front.

By Sunday afternoon, several teams will be asking backups to do more than simply fill roster spots. Week 3 is becoming the first real test of which contenders actually built enough depth to withstand September.

This report includes information from: NFL.com, Seahawks.com, Commanders.com, 49ers.com, Rams.com, Broncos.com, BuffaloBills.com and official team injury reports.