Everyone NFL season comes with a slew of unfortunate injuries, turning the sport into a war of attrition. Some teams, meanwhile, have been more affected by medical issues than others to start the 2024 campaign. In most cases, the impact is negative, requiring teams to rely on relief. At other times, however, the absence of one player can mean the positive emergence of another player. About a quarter of the way through the regular season, here are 10 of the most impactful injuries to occur so far:
Injury: Calf | Games missed: 4 Possible return: Week 5
Ranked the favorite to open the season as Pittsburgh’s quarterback, Wilson has yet to take a single snap due to a calf injury suffered in training camp and aggravated in the preseason. As a result, ex-Chicago Bears prospect Justin Fields all but secured a QB1 commitment, completing a career-high 70.6% of his throws in a 3-1 start.
Injury: Fractured fibula | Games missed: 2 Possible return: Week 9
The hard-running Pacheco was expected to need six to eight weeks of rehab following his move to injured reserve after Week 2. With fellow tight end Clyde Edwards-Helaire only now eligible to return, the Chiefs pivoted to a makeshift rotation of old friend Kareem. Hunt, veteran pickup Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele.
Injury: Achilles tendinitis | Games missed: 4 Possible return: Week 10
Rewarded with a new contract this offseason, McCaffrey has yet to make his debut in 2024, leaving third-year backup Jordan Mason to shoulder a full workload as Kyle Shanahan’s ball carrier. Mason was excellent on the ground in replacement, but McCaffrey’s absence as a pass catcher may have contributed to a two-game skid.
Injury: MCL sprain | Games missed: 2 Returned: Week 4
Technically, Green Bay went 2-0 without Love and 0-2 with him this year. Coach Matt LaFleur perfectly adapted the offense to mobile backup Malik Willis during the starter’s absence. But Love’s arm is MVP-caliber, as was evident late in Week 4, and his ease back into the lineup could still affect the NFC North race.
Injury: Ankle | Games missed: 2 Possible return: Week 7
Limited to 12 games in 2023 and nine games the year before, Kupp rekindled his chemistry with Matthew Stafford to start the season, only to decline again. His loss last year was partially offset by the rookie stardom of Puka Nacua, but now things are murky for Stafford, Sean McVay and Co. again, with Nacua also struck.
5. Rams WR Puka Nacua
Injury: PCL sprain | Games missed: 3 Possible return: Week 8
As noted above, Nacua was Mr. Reliable for Los Angeles in 2023, stepping in perfectly for Kupp as Stafford’s chain mover. A knee injury bothered him this summer, though, and then sent him to injured reserve early this fall. Sidelined indefinitely, he was later replaced by deeper reserves like Tutu Atwell.
Injury: ACL tear | Games missed: To force | Possible return: 2025
Rice just went down on Sunday, falling victim to a fluke hit by his own quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, but he will likely be out for the rest of the year. With Marquise Brown also sidelined indefinitely, that means the Chiefs will rely on rookie Xavier Worthy and journeyman JuJu Smith-Schuster at wide receiver.
Injury: Knee | Games missed: 3 Possible return: Week 5
You could just as easily trade Wills for right tackle Jack Conklin, or Pro Bowl guard Wyatt Teller, or any number of key Browns veterans nursing bumps and bruises. In fact, Kevin Stefanski’s offense is as battered as they come, leaving already-conflicted quarterback Deshaun Watson to scramble in the pocket.
Injury: Hamstring | Games missed: 3 Possible return: Week 6
Brown’s value has never been clearer to Philadelphia than during his three-game absence, in which the Eagles barely posted a 1-2 mark with a more volatile offense. Fellow tight end DeVonta Smith was also sidelined in Week 4, leaving turnover-prone Jalen Hurts to lean almost exclusively on Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert.
Injury: Concussion | Games missed: 2 Possible return: Week 8
Miami’s 2022 season was nearly derailed when Tagovailoa suffered multiple head injuries, and history seems to be repeating itself. Other injuries also played a role (see: Terron Armstead, Odell Beckham Jr., Bradley Chubb, etc.), but with Tagovailoa out indefinitely, Mike McDaniel was forced into emergency options like Skylar Thompson and the recently signed Tyler Huntley. Even if Tagovailoa somehow returns in 2024, many people will worry about his well-being in an explosive but consistently fragile supporting cast.
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