NFL vs. Injuries
by Matthew Alvarez
Injuries have already become one of the defining storylines of this season. Throughout the first three weeks of this NFL campaign, injuries have plagued the rosters of numerous teams. These complications have forced coaches and their teams to adjust, while the sidelined players work their way to prior health. The next-man-up mentality is being tested early. Some of these setbacks have been manageable for the organizations, while others devastating. Although injuries are an unavoidable part of professional football, losing key players can create major challenges for NFL teams throughout the season, but as Philadelphia Eagles coach Kevin Stefanski stated, “This is the NFL. You can never predict what is coming.”
Who?
The injury bug has hit both stars and key depth pieces. Miami Dolphins running back and home-town hero, Devon Achane suffered a season-ending ACL injury on Sunday versus the Kansas City Chiefs. “My heart breaks for the guy,” Dolphins head coach Jeff Haffley said Monday. Achane was not the only player to suffer a season-ending ACL injury in Week 3. New York Giants edge rusher Brian Burns also tore his ACL, creating another big loss on the opposite side of the ball.
The quarterback position has not been immune to the league’s early season injuries. Washington Commanders quarterback Jaden Daniels dislocated his left elbow in a week 2 matchup against the Cowboys. The injury is especially concerning because it occurred in the same elbow Daniels injured last season. Additionally, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams strained his hamstring while playing the Vikings in Week 2. He’s expected back on the field in a couple of weeks.
The injury list also includes several of the league’s most prominent wide receivers. Puka Nacua from the Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans’ Nico Collins both suffered minor injuries in Week 1, and have been sidelined since. Their status for week 4 is questionable.
Why?
There are many potential factors that have contributed to the increase in early injuries this season. One possible factor is the limited amount of playing time many starters receive during the preseason. That critical part of the year helps the players adapt to the usual workload required during the season. Additionally, the continuous integration of turf fields seems to have had a negative impact on players, potentially leading to an increase in ACL injuries. The hard surface does not provide the natural shock absorption that natural grass allows. This not only causes football cleats to get stuck in the grass, but triggers severe stress on joints and bones.
Fantasy Football
Fantasy football managers have been extremely busy this season, especially on the waiver wire. In the past 3 weeks, the injuries of high ADP players have caused many trades and new additions to fantasy rosters. Managers have had to resort to starting their stars’ backups, such as Ollie Gordon from the Miami Dolphins and Marcus Mariota from Washington Commanders. These players provide a safe output when their starters are sidelined.
All in all, the injury “apocalypse” in the NFL has already had a major impact on the success of various teams. This will likely continue throughout the rest of the 2026/27 campaign, but the response from these teams will be the deciding factor of their future.
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