As NFL teams prepared for Week 1 on Sept. 7, 2025, early inactive reports and injury updates began to shape opening-day lineups and fantasy decisions, with ESPN sources flagging several notable developments ahead of kickoff.
Key takeaways
- ESPN reported Christian McCaffrey is “good to go” for the 49ers’ opener.
- Reports indicate Malik Nabers is expected to play while another veteran receiver, Thomas, is listed as unlikely.
- Sources say a player identified as “Kirk” may miss at least the Texans’ opener.
- Falcons receiver Equanimeous St. Brown? Mooney? — Mooney was described as a possible game‑time decision per team comments.
- Final inactive lists will be released by each team shortly before kickoff and can change up to game time.
- These early items should guide last-minute fantasy lineup changes and waiver decisions.
Verified facts
Publication timestamp: 2025-09-07T15:58:00Z. The updates above were reported through ESPN’s Week 1 coverage and related beat reporting on that date. The McCaffrey update appeared as a short source line indicating he is cleared for his team’s opener.
Multiple short headlines and source notes were circulating on ESPN’s platform: a player named Nabers was described as expected to play while another receiver, Thomas, was called unlikely to suit up; a separate note mentioned a player identified as “Kirk” set to miss at least the Texans’ opener; and one report said Falcons receiver Mooney would be a game‑time call.
Teams across the league will file final inactive lists before each game; those lists provide the authoritative status for who will not play. Until each team posts its official inactive list, reported updates remain subject to last‑minute changes.
Context & impact
Week 1 inactives lists are critical for coaches finalizing game plans and for fantasy managers setting lineups. A late clearance like McCaffrey’s restores a top-tier option for his team’s offense and for fantasy rosters, while uncertainty around receivers can force lineup pivots or start/sit dilemmas.
Even when a player is listed as “expected to play,” teams sometimes keep day‑of restrictions or limited snaps in mind. Fantasy managers should monitor official inactive reports and pregame participation designations to avoid surprises.
Official statements
“McCaffrey ‘good to go’ for Niners’ opener.”
ESPN sources
Unconfirmed
- The headline referencing “Kirk” does not specify which player; the identity and full details were not clarified in the short report.
- Some short item lines on the ESPN feed were abbreviated and lacked full team context; those items remain subject to confirmation from official team announcements.
Bottom line
Early Week 1 reports give a useful preview but are not final. Use the ESPN updates as timely indicators, then confirm with each team’s official inactive list and game‑day participation reports before locking fantasy lineups or finalizing game plans.