Will Jeanty, Kittle, Jeremiyah Love Play Week 1? Latest Prediction Markets

• As the NFL 2026 season opener rapidly approaches, training camp injuries are at the forefront across the league
• Notable names who are already questionable to play in Week 1 include 49ers tight end George Kittle, Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, and Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty
• Prediction markets are keeping a close eye on these players and others as investors decide how to proceed with individual and team performances in NFL Week 1 and beyond

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Listen closely, and you can still hear the sigh of relief from Las Vegas when Raiders second-year running back Ashton Jeanty’s injury, initially feared to have been to his knee, turned out to be an ankle sprain. Jeanty is the latest big-name player whose availability for Week 1 of the NFL season is in question due to injury. The league, keenly aware of the value of star power, wants to ensure its marquee names are on the field when the games count.

However, despite protective steps taken to monitor players in real time, address dings before they escalate, and keep the most important players healthy enough to play, it’s a collision sport. Injuries are unavoidable. The main question centers on their severity and if they can be mitigated so the players can participate.

In addition to Jeanty, two other critical components to their teams’ 2026 prospects — 49ers tight end George Kittle and Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love — have injuries of their own, putting their status in question.

Prediction markets look at every area of the NFL from which teams will win and lose, to player performance, and a seemingly infinite number of options for users to take part. Those who want to weigh in can even speculate on which players who are currently injured will compete in NFL Week 1.

Prediction Markets for Jeanty, Kittle, Love to Play in NFL Week 1

Trading volume for this market on Kalshi is relatively light at the moment, just over $80K.

Jeremiyah Love is at just over 60% to be an NFL Week 1 participant. Kittle is at a shade under 50%. Jeanty is in the mid-40s.

There is a long list of names in addition to these three to choose from, including Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, newly-signed Buccaneers D-lineman Vita Vea, ‘Niners running back Christian McCaffrey, and Rams receiver Puka Nakua.

For those who want to jump in, the Kalshi referral code offers a $25 bonus for new users once they have completed $25 in trades.

The rules stipulate that for the market to resolve to Yes, the selected player must play in a Pro Football game in Week 1 of the 2026-27 Pro Football regular season. They must take at least one snap, even if it is nullified by a penalty. The outcome will be verified by ESPN and the Governing League.

Ashton Jeanty

Because Jeanty’s ankle injury just happened on Sunday, Aug. 23, there is little information seeping out as to its severity. While it’s obviously nowhere as serious as a knee injury, a sprained ankle can be measured in degrees. For a running back, taping it up and getting back out there might be possible, but if it’s negatively impacting his speed, cutting ability, and lower body stability, it can not only hinder his production, but it could lead to a different injury.

The initial panic when Jeanty, 22, was helped from the practice field and could not put pressure on his right leg has subsided. He’ll presumably be back relatively quickly. The question is how long he will be sidelined.

Jeanty is a foundational piece for the Raiders’ attempted resurrection under new head coach Klint Kubiak. He, along with rookie QB Fernando Mendoza, will be the centerpieces of a renaissance for the “Commitment to Excellence” Al Davis created and has eluded this legendary franchise for too long.

The 2025 6th overall pick in the NFL Draft out of Boise State, Jeanty was expected to replicate his strength, speed, and dynamism that resulted in him rushing for 2,601 yards as a junior to lead the nation. But as an NFL rookie, he ran for 975 yards on 266 carries and caught 55 passes out of the backfield for 346 yards. It was viewed as a disappointment. But when put in the proper context, he had a pick machine at QB in Geno Smith and the offensive line was porous. The team was 3-14 and in disarray with head coach Pete Carroll there for the paycheck and an offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, whose fast-break offense suited neither Smith nor Jeanty.

The Raiders open at home against the Dolphins on Sept. 13. That gives him three full weeks from the day of the injury to be ready to go. Before any updates are given and in real time, expect him to play until the team says otherwise.

George Kittle

Kittle, the 49ers star tight end and one of its unquestioned leaders, could be ready for Week 1 when the ‘Niners play the arch-rival Rams in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday, Sept. 10. (It will be Friday Down Under.)

The 7X Pro Bowler and 2X 1st Team All-Pro will be 33 in October. He suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the team’s Wild Card playoff win over the Eagles in January, but has been removed from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and is back at practice.

While there has been endless drama in San Francisco from head coach Kyle Shanahan’s apparent distracted driving (put the phone down!) car accident to one player after another being on the shelf, Kittle has largely been under the radar in his recovery. Eight months is a quick turnaround from a torn Achilles. Removing him from the PUP list keeps him from missing the first four regular season games as per league rules regarding that designation.

There’s definitely an argument to say it was a clerical move and they will keep him out for a week or two. They certainly could keep him out until he’s 100% healthy or close to it. But given it’s Kittle, expect him to push to play.

Jeremiyah Love

Love, 21, suffered a high ankle sprain in the Aug. 13 preseason game against the Raiders. While there are parallels between Love and Jeanty, a high ankle sprain is different from a “regular” ankle sprain. There is more ligament involvement higher up on the leg, making a return less certain. Love’s high ankle sprain is exponentially more dangerous than Jeanty’s low ankle sprain.

The 3rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, Love’s development could be an early make-or-break for first-year head coach Mike LaFleur. The Cardinals don’t even know who their long-term signal-caller will be. The number one QB on their depth chart is veteran Jacoby Brissett. He’s backed up by journeyman Gardner Minshew. The polarizing rookie 3rd-rounder, Carson Beck, is behind Minshew for the moment. Beck will be 25 in November. He’s no kid.

Their long-term QB might not be on the roster, and it would be foolish not to think they’re looking eastward toward Texas and wondering if Arch Manning will be there for them in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Based on those factors and that the Cardinals reside in the ridiculously tough NFC West with the Super Bowl champion Seahawks, the Super Bowl favorite Rams, and the talented 49ers, it’s probably better to say that he is not going to play in Week 1.