NFL Injury Roundup: Josh Jacobs Sits Out, Kenyon Sadiq Nears Return, Elic Ayomanor Hurts Shoulder

Three NFL teams received very different injury updates Thursday as Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs missed practice, New York Jets rookie Kenyon Sadiq moved closer to returning, and Tennessee Titans receiver Elic Ayomanor left the field with a shoulder problem.

Jacobs’ groin injury is not currently considered serious, according to reports, but the Packers have little reason to expose their leading running back to unnecessary training-camp work.

The Jets received more encouraging news. Head coach Aaron Glenn expects Sadiq to return to practice within the next few weeks and believes the first-round tight end will be available for the regular season.

Tennessee faces the greatest immediate uncertainty after Ayomanor injured his left shoulder during a collision in a red-zone drill. Titans coach Robert Saleh said the shoulder felt stable, although further evaluation will determine the extent of the damage.

NFL Injury Updates at a Glance

Player	Team	Injury	Latest Update
Josh Jacobs	Green Bay Packers	Groin	Missed Thursday’s practice; injury reportedly not severe
Kenyon Sadiq	New York Jets	Core muscle surgery recovery	Expected back in a couple of weeks and on track for the regular season
Elic Ayomanor	Tennessee Titans	Left shoulder	Left practice after a collision; further evaluation required

Josh Jacobs Misses Packers Practice With Groin Injury

The Packers kept Jacobs out of Thursday’s practice after the 28-year-old running back developed a groin problem.

Initial reports suggested the injury was not severe, offering Green Bay some reassurance as it prepares for the regular season. Training-camp groin injuries can still linger when a player returns too quickly, particularly at a position that demands repeated acceleration, cutting and contact.

Jacobs remains central to the Packers’ offense despite battling several physical issues last season.

He finished the 2025 campaign with 929 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns across 15 starts. Jacobs also caught 36 passes for 282 yards and another score, giving Green Bay production as both a runner and receiving option.

His value extends beyond the box score.

Jacobs gives the Packers a physical runner capable of sustaining drives, handling short-yardage situations and reducing pressure on the passing game. Losing him for an extended period would force Green Bay to redistribute carries and reconsider how heavily it wants to depend on its quarterback during the opening weeks.

The Packers have invested heavily in Jacobs since signing him to a four-year, $48 million contract in 2024.

He has earned three Pro Bowl selections and received first-team All-Pro honors in 2022 after leading the NFL with 1,653 rushing yards for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Across 105 regular-season games, Jacobs has rushed for 7,803 yards and 74 touchdowns. He has also recorded 269 receptions for 2,072 yards and two receiving scores.

Why Green Bay Should Be Cautious

The Packers do not need Jacobs proving his toughness during an August practice.

His role is secure, his ability is established and his workload during the regular season is likely to remain substantial. Protecting him now gives the groin time to settle before the games begin to count.

Soft-tissue injuries become more dangerous when players compensate physically or return before reaching full movement capacity. Green Bay should prioritize his availability for Week 1 rather than rushing him back to maintain training-camp rhythm.

The situation also gives the Packers an opportunity to evaluate their reserve running backs under greater responsibility.

Jets Expect Kenyon Sadiq Back Within Weeks

The Jets received positive news regarding Sadiq, who continues recovering from core muscle surgery.

Glenn said the rookie tight end could return to practice in a couple of weeks and indicated that the injury should not keep him out of the regular season.

“We actually got pretty good news the other day. I’m just crossing my fingers. I’m going to say it’s a couple weeks still, but it’s not anything that’s going to keep him out of the regular season.”

Sadiq underwent surgery in May and missed a significant part of the Jets’ offseason program.

New York selected him with the 16th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, creating immediate expectations around a player whose athletic profile separates him from most tight ends.

Sadiq ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine, the fastest recorded time by a tight end in combine history.

That speed gives the Jets several possible uses for him.

• Stretching the middle of the field against linebackers
• Creating mismatches against safeties
• Running after the catch from short passes
• Operating from the slot or detached from the formation
• Threatening defenses through play-action

His final college season at Oregon also demonstrated that he could remain productive while managing physical discomfort.

Sadiq played through the core injury, missed only one game and led Oregon with eight touchdown receptions. His 560 receiving yards ranked second on the team.

The Jets Need Development Time, Not Immediate Perfection

Missing offseason work will affect Sadiq’s preparation.

Rookie tight ends already face a difficult transition because they must learn route concepts, blocking assignments, protection responsibilities and multiple alignments. Sadiq must now process those demands after losing valuable practice time.

The encouraging part is that the Jets appear likely to have him available when the season starts.

New York can introduce him gradually rather than expecting a full snap count immediately. His speed alone can influence defensive spacing, even before he becomes a polished blocker or complete every part of the offensive system.

The Jets’ goal should be to have Sadiq healthy enough to contribute while allowing his role to grow throughout the season.

Elic Ayomanor Leaves Titans Practice With Shoulder Injury

Tennessee’s injury update carried greater uncertainty.

Ayomanor hurt his left shoulder after colliding with safety Kevin Winston Jr. during a red-zone drill Thursday.

Saleh said the shoulder felt stable, but the Titans were waiting for additional information.

“It feels stable, but we’ll get more info later.”

That initial stability is encouraging, although it does not rule out a sprain, dislocation, structural damage or an injury that could limit Ayomanor’s ability to catch, block or absorb contact.

The 23-year-old receiver became an important part of Tennessee’s offense during his rookie season.

He recorded 41 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games, starting 14 times after entering the league as a fourth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Those numbers established Ayomanor as more than a developmental player.

He showed that he could handle regular offensive snaps, provide a downfield target and contribute in the red zone. Tennessee entered training camp expecting him to build on that foundation rather than fight merely to retain a roster place.

Why the Shoulder Matters for a Receiver

A wide receiver depends on shoulder strength and stability throughout every part of the position.

The injury could affect Ayomanor when he extends for passes, fights through press coverage, lands after catches or blocks defensive backs in the running game.

Even a relatively minor problem can reduce confidence when a receiver knows contact is coming.

The Titans will therefore need more than confirmation that Ayomanor avoided a major structural injury. They must determine whether he can move, reach and absorb contact without increasing the risk of another setback.

Three Injuries, Three Different Levels of Concern

Although all three updates arrived on the same day, they require different responses.

Jacobs appears to be dealing with a manageable training-camp issue. Green Bay can protect him because his role is already established.

Sadiq remains in rehabilitation, but the Jets now have a clearer and more encouraging timetable. His challenge will involve recovering physically while making up for missed developmental work.

Ayomanor’s condition remains the least certain. Tennessee must wait for testing before understanding whether the receiver faces a brief absence or a more disruptive recovery period.

Player	Concern Level	Team’s Priority
Josh Jacobs	Low to moderate	Avoid aggravating the groin before Week 1
Kenyon Sadiq	Moderate but improving	Complete rehabilitation and rebuild practice rhythm
Elic Ayomanor	Unclear	Confirm the diagnosis before setting a return timeline

Training Camp Is Testing NFL Roster Depth

These injury updates reflect the constant risk teams face during training camp.

Clubs need physical practices to evaluate players and prepare for regular-season contact. Every demanding session also creates the possibility of losing an important contributor before the schedule begins.

The challenge is deciding which players need repetition and which players need protection.

Veterans such as Jacobs can afford to miss time because coaches already know what they offer. Rookies such as Sadiq need practice to accelerate their development. Young starters such as Ayomanor occupy the difficult middle ground, where every repetition matters but one collision can interrupt the entire preparation plan.

The wider NFL has already seen significant roster movement and injury concerns during camp. The Sports Encounter has tracked those developments through its NFL injury and roster roundup, its report on Aaron Donald’s official Rams workout, and its analysis of seven underrated offseason additions that could shape the 2026 season. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

What Happens Next?

Green Bay will continue monitoring Jacobs and may keep him on a reduced workload until the groin responds fully.

The Jets will hope Sadiq can resume practice later in August, giving him enough time to participate in team drills before the regular season begins.

Tennessee’s next update will carry the greatest importance. The Titans need imaging and medical evaluation to determine whether Ayomanor can return quickly or requires a structured rehabilitation period.

Final Verdict

Thursday brought one precautionary absence, one encouraging recovery update and one fresh injury concern.

Jacobs remains too important for Green Bay to take unnecessary risks with a groin problem during training camp.

Sadiq appears to be moving toward a timely return, giving the Jets hope that their first-round tight end can still contribute early in his rookie season.

Ayomanor now becomes the player to watch. His shoulder felt stable after the collision, but Tennessee will need a complete diagnosis before determining how seriously the injury affects its receiving plans.

Follow The Sports Encounter’s NFL coverage for continuing training-camp updates, injuries, roster moves and analysis from across the league. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}