Key players are enduring serious
injuries at an alarming rate across the NFL
[October 01, 2025]
By ROB MAADDI
Even the best quarterbacks look average or worse when they don’t
have time to throw.
Just see Patrick Mahomes in his two Super Bowl losses. The Kansas
City Chiefs couldn’t protect him and were routed by the Philadelphia
Eagles last season and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55.
With so many offensive linemen getting hurt at an alarming rate,
more quarterbacks are facing immense pressure across the league.
Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers were off to a 3-0 start
before running into the winless New York Giants on Sunday.
The Chargers were already missing left tackle Rashawn Slater because
of a torn patella suffered in training camp and right guard Mekhi
Becton because of a concussion. Tackle Joe Alt was carted off the
field with an ankle injury in the 21-18 loss to the Giants.
Herbert was sacked twice, got hit 11 times and was pressured on
45.5% of his drop-backs, according to Pro Football Focus. He threw
two picks and had a season-low 57.3 passer rating.
The Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are among several
teams that haven’t had their projected starting offensive line
together for any of their four games.
The Vikings missed left tackle Christian Darrisaw in the first two
games and lost center Ryan Kelly (concussion) and right tackle Brian
O’Neill (knee) during a 24-21 loss to Pittsburgh in Dublin on
Sunday. They were also playing without left guard Donovan Jackson
following wrist surgery.
Carson Wentz got sacked six times and was under pressure on 38.9% of
54 drop-backs, though some of those were due to holding onto the
ball too long. Wentz and J.J. McCarthy have been sacked on 14% of
their passing plays, which leads the league.
The Buccaneers got All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs back on Sunday
but they lost right guard Cody Mauch for the season in Week 2 and
are missing right tackle Luke Goedeke. Baker Mayfield was sacked
twice and threw his first interception scrambling out of trouble in
a 31-25 loss to Philadelphia.
The Tennessee Titans haven’t had right tackle JC Latham in the past
three games. Right guard Kevin Zeitler sat out Week 3. Rookie QB Cam
Ward has been sacked a league-high 17 times.
Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker sustained a season-ending triceps
injury during camp. Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary also went down
before the season. Panthers guard Robert Hunt is expected to miss
the rest of the season with a torn biceps and center Austin Corbett
is out 6 to 8 weeks because of a knee injury. Saints right guard
Cesar Ruiz hurt his ankle on Sunday. Eagles right tackle Lane
Johnson injured his shoulder and right guard Tyler Steen sustained a
lower-body injury.
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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) talks with a staff
member as he is carted off the field after suffering an unknown
lower leg injury in the second half of an NFL football game against
the New York Jets, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Chiefs are
among the few teams that have stayed healthy on the offensive line.
When Bills right tackle Spencer Brown didn’t play against the Saints
because of a calf injury, it marked just the second time since the
start of 2024, including playoffs, that the Bills didn’t have their
projected five starters.
Other injuries
Tyreek Hill was the latest star player to sustain a season-ending
injury when the five-time All-Pro receiver dislocated his knee
during Miami’s win over the Jets on Monday night. The New York
Giants lost star wideout Malik Nabers for the season to a knee
injury on Sunday.
Quarterback Joe Burrow, edge rushers Nick Bosa and Khalil Mack,
defensive linemen Nnamdi Madubuike and Calijah Kancey and running
back James Conner are among the top players out.
Lamar Jackson has a hamstring injury for the Ravens, who’ve been
decimated by injuries. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy missed the past two
games and All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard hasn’t played all season.
All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey,
Pro Bowl tackle Ronnie Stanley and starting cornerback Nate Wiggins
all left Sunday’s loss at Kansas City along with Jackson.
Tight end George Kittle, running backs Joe Mixon and Aaron Jones,
wide receivers Mike Evans, Brandon Aiyuk, Jayden Reed, Christian
Watson, Jalen McMillan and Tank Dell, cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and
Maxwell Hairston and linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Nolan Smith,
running backs Austin Ekeler and Najee Harris are also recovering
from injuries.
Brock Purdy missed two games and is still dealing with a toe injury
that could force him to sit out San Francisco’s game on Thursday
night. Jayden Daniels didn’t play the past two games for Washington
because of a knee injury. Justin Fields missed one with a concussion
for the Jets. McCarthy hasn’t played the past two.
Injuries are part of the game. Football is a violent sport. Teams
that can avoid losing key players have the best chance to win in the
end.
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