First-Round Rookies Struggle With Injuries and Performance at Training Camp
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Several top-32 picks from the 2026 NFL Draft are facing setbacks as roster cutdown day approaches.
As the August 30 roster cutdown deadline nears, several first-round selections from the 2026 NFL Draft are struggling to make an impact due to injuries and inconsistent play, as Sports Illustrated first reported.
Injuries have hampered multiple top picks. The No. 3 overall selection, Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and is listed as week-to-week after receiving 14 touches in his preseason debut. New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, taken No. 8 overall, is expected to be sidelined for roughly two months with a hamstring injury. New York Jets tight end Kenyon Sadiq suffered a setback in his recovery from offseason hernia surgery and is likely to miss the final two preseason games, though head coach Aaron Glenn expects him ready for Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.
Other rookies are facing performance hurdles. Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Caleb Banks, selected No. 18 overall, struggled in his preseason debut, recording a Pro Football Focus grade of 30.4 over 25 defensive snaps. Sports Illustrated reports Banks struggled with pad level and was frequently chipped or double-teamed.
On the New York Jets, wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is described as a work in progress while competing for the WR3 role behind Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell. Meanwhile, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Mansoor Delane has been limited by a shoulder injury, though Sports Illustrated notes he has recently shown improvement during 7-on-7 drills.