The 2026 NFL playoffs are here and we begin with wild-card weekend, which kicks off Saturday with the first of six games.
The Los Angeles Rams visit the Carolina Panthers, while the Chicago Bears will host their division rivals in the Green Bay Packers in prime time. Sunday will see the AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Buffalo Bills; the San Francisco 49ers will visit the Philadelphia Eagles; and the upstart New England Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers. On Monday night, the Houston Texans go on the road to face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Advertisement
Here are the notable injury updates and the injury reports for each of the six playoff teams this weekend.
Bears WR Rome Odunze back for Packers game
Caleb Williams will get a weapon back for his first NFL playoff game, with Rome Odunze off the injury list and ready to return. The second-year wide receiver has been out since Week 13 with a foot injury.
“I’m planning on playing,” Odunze said Wednesday. “But I’ve been planning on playing for weeks.”
Odunze was the Bears’ leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions when he exited the lineup. He said Wednesday his stamina isn’t fully back yet, but he’s confident he can help.
Advertisement
“As long as I have the option to be out there and contribute, I’m going to give it my all,” Odunze said. “I believe I can make a difference.”
Cornerback Kyler Gordon is also expected to play against the Green Bay Packers after missing the final five regular-season games with a groin issue. He is currently listed as “questionable.”
“He looked good yesterday. We’ll see what it looks like again today both him and Rome, you know,” said head coach Ben Johnson. “It’s good to have them both back out there. They’re excited. They’re moving around well and we’ll see if they can help us out this weekend.”
Advertisement
49ers LT Trent Williams hopeful to play
San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams was a limited participant during practice on Thursday and Friday, after sitting out on Wednesday with a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 17.
Williams usually rests on the first day of practice during a game week, but head coach Kyle Shanahan clarified that wasn’t the case, saying the All-Pro was still hurt. Williams said Friday he’s confident he can play on Sunday.
Receiver Ricky Pearsall did not practice Friday, but was spotted on a side field this week. Shanahan said Wednesday that Pearsall aggravated the PCL injury that has limited him this season during Week 17.
Advertisement
Lane Johnson questionable for Eagles
Lane Johnson (foot) has been listed as questionable for the Philadelphia Eagles’ Sunday meeting with the San Francisco 49ers. Johnson was limited in practice this week after being out since Week 11 with a Lisfranc injury.
“Lane’s a big difference maker, and I know he is working crazy to get himself back, and we will see where that is this week,” head coach Nick Sirianni said this week. “But he’s a difference maker. … He’s one of the best that’s ever done it. I think I kind of get too much into scheme with that. But yeah, he allows you to do some different things.”
NFL wild-card schedule and injury reportsSaturday, Jan. 10
Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, N.C.
TV: Fox
Tickets: Gametime
Advertisement
Rams
OUT: RG Kevin Dotson (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Jordan Whittington (knee), TE Terrance Ferguson (hamstring), CB Josh Wallace (ankle)
Panthers
OUT: None reported
QUESTIONABLE: G Robert Hunt (biceps), G Chandler Zavala (calf)
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Soldier Field | Chicago
TV: Amazon Prime Video
Tickets: Gametime
Bears
OUT: DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion), LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (concussion), DL Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (concussion)
QUESTIONABLE: DB Kyler Gordon (groin), OL Braxton Jones (knee)
Packers
OUT: WR Dontayvion Wicks (concussion)
QUESTIONABLE: T Zach Tom (back, knee), S Javon Bullard (knee), WR Dontayvion Wicks (concussion), QB Malik Willis (right shoulder, hamstring), LB Nick Niemann (pectoral), DL Warren Brinson (foot)
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in a wild-card playoff matchup. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
(Nic Antaya via Getty Images)Sunday, Jan. 11
Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: EverBank Stadium | Jacksonville, Fla.
TV: CBS
Tickets: Gametime
Advertisement
Bills
OUT: CB Maxwell Hairston (calf), S Damar Hamlin (pec), LB Terrel Bernard (calf), RB Ty Johnson (ankle), K Matt Prater (right quad)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Joshua Palmer (ankle), LB Shaq Thompson (neck)
Jaguars
OUT: No players reported
QUESTIONABLE: OL Cole Van Lanen (knee)
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia
TV: Fox
Tickets: Gametime
49ers
OUT:
QUESTIONABLE: WR Jacob Cowing, LB Luke Gifford, CB Renardo Green, WR Ricky Pearsall, DL Keion White, T Trent Williams, LB Dee Winters
Eagles
OUT: No players reported
QUESTIONABLE: G Lane Johnson (foot), OL Brett Toth (concussion), OLB Azeez Ojulari (hamstring)
Advertisement
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Mass.
TV: NBC
Tickets: Gametime
Chargers
OUT: WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring), S Kendall Williamson (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: T Austin Deculus (oblique), OLB Bud Dupree (hamstring), TE Tucker Fisk (ankle), RB Omarion Hampton (ankle), DB Elijah Molden (hamstring), LB Del’Shawn Phillips (hamstring)
Patriots
OUT: DL Khyiris Tonga (foot)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), OLB/DE Harold Landry III (knee), OT/TE Thayer Munford Jr. (knee)
Houston Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair is introduce before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)Monday, Jan. 12
Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium | Pittsburgh
TV: ESPN/ABC
Tickets: Gametime
Texans
OUT:
QUESTIONABLE:
Steelers
OUT:
QUESTIONABLE:
NFL injury updates liveLive12 updates
Fri, January 9, 2026 at 2:30 PM PST
Twelve-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams has played in 11 playoff games in his career, and he’s hopeful Sunday will be his 12th despite being limited in practice Thursday and Friday.
Fri, January 9, 2026 at 1:08 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson is questionable for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, according to their injury report.
Johnson has been out since Week 12 after suffering a Lisfranc injury in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions.
Fri, January 9, 2026 at 12:56 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is out for Saturday’s wild-card game against the Chicago Bears, according to the team’s injury report.
Wicks missed last week’s game against the Vikings after suffering a concussion in Week 17 against the Ravens. Despite being limited in practice this week, Wicks is unable to go.
Expect wide receivers Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden and tight end Luke Musgrave to get more targets with Wicks out.
Fri, January 9, 2026 at 11:26 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton is questionable with an ankle injury for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, according to the team’s injury reports. Despite the injury, Hampton told reporters that he has plans to play.
Hampton missed eight games this season and fractured his ankle in Week 5. Hampton rushed 545 yards and 4 touchdowns in his rookie season.
Fri, January 9, 2026 at 8:37 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Fri, January 9, 2026 at 5:48 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Boutte was listed on Thursday’s injury report with a hamstring injury and was limited in practice.
The reciever missed two games in November with a hamstring issue. The Patriots did not say if this is a new injury or an aggravation of the previous one.
New England is already down a receiver after placing Mack Hollins on injured reserve last week.
Fri, January 9, 2026 at 5:44 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Hampton is dealing with an ankle injury that has kept him out of practice this week. He did work with trainers on Thursday on a side field, but not with his teammates.
“We’re going to wait and see on that. He’s working through his process with the medical group,” said Chargers OC Greg Roman, via Daniel Popper. “He’s engaged. He’s ready mentally with the game plan.”
Hampton played only nine regular-season games dealing with an ankle injury.
Thu, January 8, 2026 at 4:10 PM PST
Criss Partee
New England Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane was a full participant in practice on Thursday as he’s been dealing with an ankle injury. OT/TE Thayer Munford Jr. was a non-participant in practice on Thursday. Center Garrett Bradbury and tackle Vederian Lowe were both out due to illness.
Thu, January 8, 2026 at 1:44 PM PST
Davante Adams is off the injury report and set to return from his hamstring injury against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday. Adams hasn’t played since Week 15 against the Detroit Lions.
Thu, January 8, 2026 at 1:10 PM PST
Sean Leahy
The Panthers are hoping that guard Robert Hunt returns for Saturday’s meeting with the Rams. After having been out with a torn biceps since Week 2, Hunt has practiced the past two weeks.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Thursday he was “very optimistic” that Hunt will play.
“Today we went a little faster, so, it was a good test of my elbow to see how I feel,” Hunt said Wednesday. “And it’s not going to be, my elbow’s not going to be perfect, you know what I mean? It’s not going to be, but I think I compete with it. . . .
“I feel percentage-wise, I feel good enough to compete and do my job at a good level. I’m going to be rusty, though. I ain’t played in a while, and this is a good team. This is a really good team.”
Thu, January 8, 2026 at 1:09 PM PST
Sean Leahy
The five-time NFL All-Pro was injured during the first quarter of the Eagles’ 16-9 win over the Lions in Week 11. He was placed on injured reserve and has not played since.
The 35-year-old Johnson has been part of two Eagles Super Bowl victories and along with his All-Pro recognition has also made six Pro Bowls.
The Eagles host the 49ers on Sunday afternoon.
Thu, January 8, 2026 at 1:06 PM PST
Sean Leahy
The All-Pro did not play in Week 18 after injuring his hamstring in Wee