Injuries are an unavoidable aspect of the NFL, rearing their unwelcome heads just as teams prepare for the main event. This preseason has been especially brutal, with all 32 teams experiencing significant setbacks. Key players, whose performances stand crucial for their respective teams, find themselves sidelined, altering plans and strategies as the season looms.
Significant Blows for the Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons’ newly acquired Moore has been dealt a devastating blow. After being traded to Atlanta this offseason, Moore sustained a season-ending knee injury earlier this month. His exit from the practice field was a somber sight, marked by an air cast on his right leg and immediate transport to a local medical facility. The prognosis is clear: Moore will be out of action until 2025.
Adding to the Falcons' woes, Trice, their No. 74 overall pick, tore his ACL during his first preseason game. Like Moore, Trice's return is anticipated in 2025, which poses a significant challenge for the team's depth and development plans moving forward.
The team also absorbed another critical hit with Evans’ torn patellar tendon. Expected to return in 2025, Evans joins the growing list of players whose seasons have ended before they began.
Widespread Impact Across the League
The injuries are not confined to the Falcons alone. Williams, another rising talent, tore his ACL during training camp and will also be missing in action until 2025. Similarly, McCarthy's torn meniscus ensures his absence will extend to the same year.
Buffalo Bills' Milano finds himself sidelined due to a torn biceps. While his injury won’t keep him out as long as others, his return is optimistically scheduled for December—a far cry from a full season but a critical loss for a significant portion of it.
The Houston Texans’ Curtis Samuel, meanwhile, is dealing with turf toe. His recovery timeline seems more forgiving, with expectations set for him to return by Week 2. Similarly, MVS, who sustained a neck sprain during a preseason victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, is likely to be back by Week 3.
Dane Jackson’s hamstring injury and Brooks' torn ACL will keep them off the field until Week 4. The Bengals' first-round pick, who suffered a strained pectoral muscle, should be ready by Week 2, giving frustrated fans a sigh of relief.
Dealing with Long-term Absences
On a sadder note, Tennessee's No. 1 wideout and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, both battling knee injuries from early August, aim for returns by Week 1. The Lions' second-year running back, who encountered a hamstring injury this month, may have dodged a bullet as it’s "not expected to be a serious issue."
Meanwhile, Phillips, who fought through a torn Achilles, was activated off PUP last week and is expected back by Week 1. Warren, too, is slated to return by Week 1 after a hamstring injury sidelined him in a preseason game against the Bills.
Higbee, Chubb, and Herbig: The Extending Timelines
Higbee’s journey back to the field is likely the longest. With ACL and MCL injuries keeping him out, his targeted return is as late as Week 15. Herbig, also dealing with a torn rotator cuff, has his eyes set on a December comeback.
Perhaps no one can empathize with these long-term struggles more than Chubb, whose knee injury from last season required multiple surgeries. Though placed on PUP since Week 17, there is hope he might return by Week 8, a situation carefully monitored by both the team and fans.
Optimism Amid Adversity
Despite these setbacks, there is a silver lining visible through the optimism vested in player recoveries. "Week 3 or Week 4 would be 'great' for Brooks' return," noted Dave Canales. His sentiment resonates through the league, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging preseason.
Preseason injuries have undeniably disrupted evaluations and preparations, forcing coaches and staff to adapt. As the regular season approaches, how teams navigate these turbulent waters will be a storyline to watch, revealing resilience in the face of adversity.