Key NFL Injuries Affecting the 2025 Season: Five Players Who Could Change Everything
Every NFL season gets derailed by injuries, but 2025 might see more playoff races decided in the training room than on the field. As camps open this July, five star players are fighting to return from devastating injuries that could swing entire divisions.
- Dak Prescott Says He’s Healthy, but Cowboys Saw This Movie Before
Prescott claims he’s “healthy as I’ll be” after missing nine games with a hamstring injury. Cowboys fans have heard this before. At 31, carrying a $240 million contract, Prescott can’t afford another long absence.
The numbers seem stark: Dallas averaged 29.9 points with Prescott in 2023 but just 20.1 without him last year. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020. They added George Pickens to help CeeDee Lamb, but new coach Brian Schottenheimer needs Prescott upright to avoid extending their 30-year conference championship drought.
- Chris Godwin Needs Another Surgery, Bucs Offense in Limbo
Tampa Bay’s season hinges on Chris Godwin’s ankle. He dislocated it in Week 7, needed surgery, then required another procedure this spring. Now he’s on the PUP list with no timeline for return.
Before the injury, Godwin had 50 catches for 576 yards in just seven games. Without him, Tampa’s offense fell apart – dropping from 5th in scoring to 17th. Making matters worse, offensive coordinator Liam Coen left for Jacksonville, so new OC Josh Grizzard has to figure things out without his best receiver.
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- Brandon Aiyuk Won’t Play Until October at the Earliest
The 49ers have a massive problem. Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL against Kansas City last October, and he’s still not close to returning. GM John Lynch keeps saying they’re “pleased” with his progress, but coach Kyle Shanahan admitted they have no idea when he’ll actually play.
But here’s what we know: Aiyuk will likely start on the PUP list, meaning he’ll miss at least four games. The earliest realistic target is week 6 against Tampa Bay. That’s a 10-month recovery for a guy who just signed a $120 million deal.
The timing is brutal, though. San Francisco traded Deebo Samuel to Washington and Jauan Jennings wants out over contract issues. That leaves second-year receiver Ricky Pearsall as their top healthy option. Remember, this team went 6-11 last year after three straight 12-win seasons. Without Aiyuk’s 1,342 yards from 2023, they might miss the playoffs again.
- Jaylon Johnson Hurts Leg Right After Demanding $30 Million
Chicago’s timing couldn’t be worse. Jaylon Johnson injured his leg training on his own, and now he’ll miss “several weeks” of camp. This happened days after he demanded a new contract like the $30 million deals Derek Stingley Jr. and Sauce Gardner just got.
Johnson earned those demands – 89 tackles, 18 pass breakups, and six interceptions over two Pro Bowl seasons. But missing half of training camp means he might not be ready for Chicago’s opener against Minnesota on September 8. The Bears haven’t won a playoff game since 2010. Starting slow in the brutal NFC North basically guarantees another lost season.
- Rashee Rice Faces Jail Time Plus Knee Recovery
Kansas City’s situation is messy. Rice tore his LCL in Week 4 but looked good in OTAs. Problem is, he’s heading to jail for 30 days after causing a multi-car crash in Dallas. The NFL will likely suspend him as well – sources say “multiple games.”
Before getting hurt, Rice was destroying defenses – on pace for 136 catches and 1,632 yards through three games. The Chiefs’ passing game dropped from 6th to 14th without him. They need him back desperately, with Kelce slowing down and the AFC stacked with explosive offenses.
The Reality Check
These five injuries could flip the entire season. Teams with healthy stars win 2.5 more games on average than injury-riddled squads. In a 17-game grind where one loss can mean watching playoffs from home, these recoveries will separate contenders from pretenders.
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