NFL preseason Week 1 injuries: Falcons third-round pick tears ACL; Chiefs and 49ers lose starters

The first week of the NFL preseason did not go unscathed.

As is the case with NFL football games, injuries are bound to happen in a contact sport. There's a method to the madness why teams don't play their starters in the preseason, making sure their top players are healthy for Week 1 of the regular season.

Of course, the league is still a month away from the regular season. The players who suffered injuries in Week 1 of the preseason have some ample time to recover. Here are the most notable injuries from Week 1:

Bralen Trice , LB, Falcons

The Falcons placed third-round draft pick and outside linebacker Bralen Trice on IR after he tore his ACL in their preseason game .

Hollywood Brown, WR, Chiefs

Brown made his Chiefs debut on Saturday against the Jaguars , but his appearance was short-lived. After appearing in Kansas City's opening drive and making an 11-yard catch, Brown was listed as questionable to return due to a shoulder injury. Head coach Andy Reid gave further context to the injury postgame saying he suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation . Reid said he could potentially miss some time.

Drew Lock , QB, Giants

Lock is expected to miss time with a a hip pointer and strained oblique suffered late in the first quarter of the Giants' preseason opener against the Lions . The Giants' backup quarterback is expected to have longer than a day-to-day timetable.

Daniel Jones and Tommy DeVito are the only two healthy quarterbacks on the roster. DeVito becomes the backup until Lock returns.

Nate Wiggins , CB, Ravens

Wiggins left Friday's preseason opener against the Eagles with a minor shoulder sprain, this after having three pass breakups in the first series. He left with the injury making a tackle in the third quarter. The Ravens are still optimistic Wiggins can return in Week 1 and is considered day-to-day.

Troy Fautanu , OT, Steelers

A minor MCL sprain was the diagnosis for Fautanu as he left Friday's preseason opener for the Steelers with a knee injury sometime in the game. Fautanu, the Steelers' first-round pick, was seen after the game with ice wrapped around his left knee. The Steelers do not believe the injury to be serious.

David Bell , WR, Browns

Bell left in the first half of Saturday's preseason game against the Packers due to a quadriceps injury, as the Browns wide receiver was questionable to return. Bell is fighting for playing time behind Amari Cooper , Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy .

MarShawn Lloyd , RB, Packers

The rookie running back picked up a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Saturday's preseason game against the Browns, the fourth running back to get a touch in the game. Lloyd was a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft .

Ambry Thomas , CB, 49ers

Thomas limped off the field late in the first half of San Franciso's preseason game against the Titans . After being looked at in the medical tent, the cornerback could be seen being carted off to the locker room. Head coach Kyle Shanahan later revealed that Thomas suffered a broken forearm. As for a timetable, Shanahan said, "it will be some time."

Malik Nabers , WR, Giants

Nabers had his foot stepped on during practice on Sunday and is considered to have a minor ankle sprain .