Wild Card Weekend Preview: Injuries and Matchups

The 2026 NFL postseason opens with key injury questions and a full slate of Wild Card games across both conferences.

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The 2026 NFL postseason officially begins this weekend, with Wild Card action set to unfold across four days and multiple venues. As teams prepare for win-or-go-home football, early injury reports for Saturday’s games are already influencing how the opening round could take shape.

The NFC field is led by the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers as division winners, followed by Wild Card entrants from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Green Bay. In the AFC, Denver, New England, Jacksonville, and Pittsburgh claimed division titles, with Houston, Buffalo, and Los Angeles rounding out the playoff bracket.

With the bracket now finalized, Saturday’s schedule provides the first look at postseason availability concerns and early matchup dynamics.

The Wild Card weekend opens Saturday afternoon in Charlotte, where the Carolina Panthers host the Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium. Los Angeles will be without right guard Kevin Dotson, while several skill-position players remain questionable, including wide receiver Jordan Whittington and tight end Terrance Ferguson. Carolina enters the matchup monitoring the status of guards Robert Hunt and Chandler Zavala, both listed as questionable.

WHERE: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)


WHEN: 4:30 p.m. ET | FOX, NFL+

Rams Injuries

·  OUT: RG Kevin Dotson (ankle)

·  QUESTIONABLE: WR Jordan Whittington (knee)

·  QUESTIONABLE: TE Terrance Ferguson (hamstring)

·  QUESTIONABLE: CB Josh Wallace (ankle)

Panthers Injuries

·  QUESTIONABLE: G Robert Hunt (biceps)

·  QUESTIONABLE: G Chandler Zavala (calf)

Saturday night shifts to Chicago, where the Bears host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. Green Bay’s injury report includes multiple questionable designations, highlighted by quarterback Malik Willis and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks. Chicago has already ruled out three defenders due to concussions, including Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, while offensive lineman Braxton Jones and defensive back Kyler Gordon remain questionable.

WHERE: Soldier Field (Chicago)


WHEN: 8:00 p.m. ET | Prime Video, NFL+

Packers Injuries

·  QUESTIONABLE: QB Malik Willis (right shoulder/hamstring)

·  QUESTIONABLE: WR Dontayvion Wicks (concussion)

·  QUESTIONABLE: OL Zach Tom (back/knee)

·  QUESTIONABLE: DL Warren Brinson (foot)

·  QUESTIONABLE: LB Nick Niemann (pectoral)

·  QUESTIONABLE: S Javon Bullard (knee)

Bears Injuries

·  OUT: DL Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (concussion)

·  OUT: LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (concussion)

·  OUT: DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (concussion)

·  QUESTIONABLE: OL Braxton Jones (knee)

·  QUESTIONABLE: DB Kyler Gordon (groin)

Sunday’s slate features Jacksonville at Buffalo, Philadelphia hosting San Francisco, and New England traveling to Los Angeles to face the Chargers on Sunday Night Football. Final injury reports for those games are expected later in the week.

Sunday, January 11 (Final injury reports pending)

AFC — Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills

WHERE: EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
WHEN: 1:00 p.m. ET

NFC — Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers
WHERE: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
WHEN: 4:30 p.m. ET | FOX, NFL+

AFC — New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers
WHERE: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
WHEN: 8:00 p.m. ET | NBC, Peacock, NFL+

Wild Card Weekend concludes Monday night in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers host the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium.

Monday, January 12

AFC — Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans
WHERE: Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh)
WHEN: 8:15 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN, NFL+

Looking ahead, top seeds Denver and Seattle will await the lowest-seeded remaining teams in the Divisional Round. Depending on results, Denver could face the Chargers, Bills, Texans, or Steelers, while Seattle may draw Carolina, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Green Bay.