The NFL season is just days away and we have a serious injury checkup for all 32 teams. Which ones had the best offseason? Which ones are most likely to struggle? The answers may surprise you.
The “the bones maren morris lyrics” is a song by the band The Bones. It was released in 1992 and peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
7th of December, 2021
ESPN’s NFL Nation
No team is totally healthy as we enter the last third of the 2021 NFL regular season, but the effect of injuries varies around the league.
The New Orleans Saints haven’t won since losing quarterback Jameis Winston to a season-ending ACL rupture in his left knee in a win on Oct. 31. After quarterback Russell Wilson sustained a finger injury in Week 5, the Seattle Seahawks struggled.
The negative news began early in the season for certain clubs, such as the Baltimore Ravens, and hasn’t stopped. Running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards both suffered season-ending injuries, and Baltimore has subsequently lost numerous more important players.
On the other hand, clubs like the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys have recovered from critical injuries. As the postseason race heats up, ESPN’s NFL writers use a 1-10 grading system to measure their teams’ health (with 10 being the healthiest).
Jump to: I’m in a good mood | Things might be a lot worse I’m feeling under the weather.
Having a nice time (Rating: 7-10)
8 out of 10 for health
8 players have been placed on injured reserve.
38 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? In losing 38 starts by 10 different players, the Chiefs have been more fortunate than many other teams. The defense has been most impacted, with six different starters missing at least one game. Chris Jones, Frank Clark, Tyrann Mathieu, Willie Gay, and Anthony Hitchens are among others on the list. They’re all back now, which explains why the Chiefs’ defense has improved dramatically. Adam Teicher’s remark
8 out of 10 for health
13 players have been placed on injured reserve.
36 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The loss of “passing back” James White for the season after three games, as well as slot cornerback Jonathan Jones after six games, has been the most devastating blow. Trent Brown, the starting right tackle, missed eight games due to a right calf ailment that is still bothering him. Those are the major issues. Everything else has been of a more transient kind. — Reiss, Mike
8 out of 10 for health
14 players have been placed on injured reserve.
33 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Texans have been one of the healthiest teams in the NFL in terms of volume, but they have been without a few important players, notably quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who has missed six games due to a left hamstring injury. Houston has also had to contend with a lot of turnover on the offensive line, with left tackle Laremy Tunsil, right tackle Marcus Cannon, and center Justin Britt all missing time due to injuries. Sarah Barshop is a writer.
7 on the health scale
5 players have been placed on injured reserve.
17 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? This season, the Chargers have had severe injuries on both sides of the ball. The loss of cornerback Ryan Smith is the worst. He was on the reserve/COVID-19 list until suffering a core muscle injury in training camp and was placed on injured reserve before tearing his ACL. He’ll be sidelined for the rest of the season. Smith’s absence, as well as offensive lineman Oday Aboushi’s ACL rupture, have harmed the squad, according to coach Brandon Staley. Shelley Smith says:
7 on the health scale
6 players have been placed on injured reserve.
15 starts were omitted due to injury.
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How horrible has it been for your team? The Bills had a good first half of the season, with a generally healthy roster. There were a few games when starters did not play, but the squad as a whole remained on the field, which is why the “starts missed” number is so low. However, injuries have begun to pile up recently, most notably CB Tre’Davious White’s ruptured ACL. He’ll be sidelined for the rest of the season. Because to COVID-19 and guard Jon Feliciano’s current time on injured reserve with a calf injury, the offensive line has had several absences. Alaina Getzenberg is a writer who lives in New York City.
7 on the health scale
9 players have been placed on injured reserve.
13 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? For the most part, this has been a really healthy squad. Cornerback Trae Waynes is responsible for nine of the Bengals’ 13 missed starts by first-team players. He’s been out all season with a hamstring injury, and his comeback date is uncertain. The Bengals, on the other hand, have been very lucky in having almost all of their key starters available this season. It’s a significant reason Cincinnati has a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. – Ben Little
7 on the health scale
11 players have been placed on injured reserve.
19 starts were lost due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Rams’ starting lineup has been reasonably healthy throughout the season, but it was dealt a major setback in Week 10 when receiver Robert Woods tore his ACL in his left knee. Woods has been a major contributor for the offense since 2017, so his absence has been noticed. The Rams have also had to adapt on defense without starting offensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, who was put on injured reserve following Week 7 due to a pectoral injury. Lindsey Thiry (Lindsey Thiry)
7 on the health scale
11 players have been placed on injured reserve.
37 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? Throughout the season, the Cowboys have dealt with a variety of ailments. Dak Prescott, the Cowboys’ quarterback, missed a game due to a calf injury. Tyron Smith, the left tackle, missed three games due to an ankle ailment. DeMarcus Lawrence, a defensive lineman, missed ten games due to a fractured foot. Randy Gregory, a pass rusher, has missed four games due to a calf issue. Safety Due to two separate injuries, Donovan Wilson has missed five games. COVID-19 forced receiver Amari Cooper to miss two games. Due to a concussion, receiver CeeDee Lamb missed a game. Since October, running back Ezekiel Elliott has been dealing with a knee injury. All of the guys, including Cooper, Lawrence, Gregory, and Neville Gallimore, who has been out since the preseason with an elbow injury, are beginning to return. This rest following back-to-back Thursday games is beneficial to the Cowboys, and they may be at their healthiest as the season progresses. Todd Archer is a writer.
On if J.J. Watt’s development suggests a comeback, Kingsbury says: “He’s not going anywhere. He’s a machine who’s been working nonstop. I’m never up here when he’s not doing some kind of rehab, and today he was jogging on the field. With him, you never know what to expect.”
December 1, 2021 — Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss)
7 on the health scale
16 players have been placed on injured reserve.
43 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Cardinals, particularly its players, were plagued by injuries this season, but they are finally largely healthy. J.J. Watt, a defensive lineman, is presently on injured reserve after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 7 versus Houston. Arizona also suffered ankle and hamstring injuries to quarterback Kyler Murray and receiver DeAndre Hopkins, respectively. They’re back, but Watt is still out — but there’s a chance he’ll be back later this season. Josh Weinfuss (@JoshWeinfuss)
It could be a lot worse. (Rating: 5 out of 6)
6 on the health scale
8 players have been placed on injured reserve.
Injury has resulted in 48 starts being missed.
How horrible has it been for your team? Injuries have wreaked havoc on the receiver and safety positions. T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell, the Nos. 2 and 3 receivers, have missed a combined 14 games (seven apiece) due to injury. Because no other receivers have taken advantage of Hilton and Campbell’s injuries, No. 1 receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has been placed under extra pressure. When starting safeties, it’s challenging to maintain consistency on the defensive back end. Both Khari Willis and Julian Blackmon have lost significant time. After just six games due to a ruptured Achilles in practice, Blackmon will miss the remainder of the season. This season, Willis has missed five games. Mike Wells’ remark
6 on the health scale
9 players have been placed on injured reserve.
Injury has resulted in 48 starts being missed.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Eagles haven’t been as terribly damaged as they have been in previous years, when they were usually among the league’s most injured teams. Early in the season, they lost defensive end Brandon Graham and offensive lineman Brandon Brooks and Isaac Seumalo to injury. Graham’s absence has been expensive, but the offensive line’s depth has held up well. Coach Nick Sirianni’s first year at the helm has seen them remain reasonably healthy. Their 6-7 record hasn’t been hampered by injuries. Tim McManus, Ph.D.
6 on the health scale
9 players have been placed on injured reserve.
62 starts were omitted due to injury.
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How horrible has it been for your team? After a bleak start in the first week, the 49ers have managed to remain relatively healthy in comparison to the nightmare that was 2020. In the season opener against Detroit, No. 1 cornerback Jason Verrett and top running back Raheem Mostert were both lost for the season, and the Niners have also lost important players such as defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw and right tackle Mike McGlinchey for the remainder of the season. All of them are severe setbacks, but the Niners’ key players have mostly avoided season-ending injuries apart from those. Even though receiver Deebo Samuel and linebacker Fred Warner both suffered lower-body injuries recently, neither is anticipated to miss more than a week or two. Nick Wagoner is a writer.
6 on the health scale
12 players have been placed on injured reserve.
37 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Falcons’ most crucial loss had nothing to do with an arm or a leg, but rather the mental health of their star receiver, Calvin Ridley. Despite appearing in just five of Atlanta’s 11 games this season, he still leads all wide receivers in receptions (31) and yards (281), behind only tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Cordarrelle Patterson. Atlanta also missed three games without its top pass rusher, Dante Fowler, and lost its second-best secondary player, Isaiah Oliver (knee), for the season in Week 4. As a result, the Falcons have sustained some severe losses while remaining healthy in other areas. Michael Rothstein is a writer and producer.
6 on the health scale
16 players have been placed on injured reserve.
32 starts were lost due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? This season’s projected starting offensive line never got on the field for a regular-season game, a year after the Raiders’ projected starting offensive line played all of three snaps together. Not after left guard Richie Incognito tore his right calf in a joint practice with the Rams on Aug. 19 and right guard Denzelle Good tore his ACL in his left knee in the season opener against the Ravens. At tight end and running back, respectively, Pro Bowlers Darren Waller (ankle/knee) and Josh Jacobs (ankle) have each missed two games. The Raiders’ defense has been reasonably healthy, with cornerback Trayvon Mullen missing seven games due to a toe ailment thus far. Gutierrez, Paul
Rating for health: 5
8 players have been placed on injured reserve.
56 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The offense was hit hard by the departures of receiver DJ Chark (the team’s top deep threat), WR/KR Jamal Agnew (who had filled in for Chark), and tight end Dan Arnold. The major reasons for quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s troubles since the Week 7 bye are those injuries, as well as healthy receivers failing to gain separation and dropping passes. Lawrence only threw one touchdown pass in November, so the Jaguars are adjusting their approach to incorporate more read-option aspects in an attempt to get anything going. Michael DiRocco’s remark
Rating for health: 5
9 players have been placed on injured reserve.
46 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? This season, the Steelers have battled to remain healthy, particularly on defense. Stephon Tuitt hasn’t played a down since breaking his ankle in Week 2, while Tyson Alualu hasn’t played since knee surgery earlier this year. T.J. Watt, who is known for his toughness, has been sidelined with a groin ailment, as well as knee and hip injuries, and has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. This season, almost every position group has been without a starter at some time. — Brooke Pryor is an actress who plays Brooke Pryor.
Rating for health: 5
10 players have been placed on injured reserve.
32 starts were lost due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? Several important players have missed time for the Browns this season, including running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, and right lineman Jack Conklin, who is now out for the season due to a knee injury. The health of QB Baker Mayfield, who has been playing despite a torn labrum in his left non-throwing shoulder since Week 2, has been the greatest concern. Jake Trotter’s remark
Rating for health: 5
15 players have been placed on injured reserve.
50 starts were lost due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Dolphins’ standout nose tackle Raekwon Davis and starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa both sustained injuries in the first two games of the season, putting them on injured reserve. DeVante Parker, William Fuller, and Jaylen Waddle, the rebuilt receiving trio, have played zero snaps with Tagovailoa this season, and Parker and Fuller have combined to miss 15 games. Miami’s general health had a role in its 0-7 start, but the club has recovered over its current five-game winning run. — Louis-Jacques Marcel
Rating for health: 5
15 players have been placed on injured reserve.
54 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? It’s battered, but thanks to more depth, it’s managed to stay on. In the second quarter of the season opener, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was injured, but Taylor Heinicke has filled in well. Washington has previously used four such centers. Due to injuries, free agency receiver Curtis Samuel has had minimal effect this season, and the club is missing young defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young, who was gone for the season with a ruptured ACL. Logan Thomas, the team’s top red zone danger, has missed five games due to a hamstring injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a knee ailment. Despite this, Washington has rallied from a 2-6 start to be in contention for the playoffs. ‘John Keim’
Rating for health: 5
17 players have been placed on injured reserve.
54 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? To begin, the Broncos’ injured reserve list includes outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, receiver Jerry Jeudy, receiver KJ Hamler, center Graham Glasgow, and both starting inside linebackers (Josey Jewell and Alexander Johnson). The rest of the season will be missed by Hamler, Glasgow, Jewell, and Johnson. Bryce Callahan, a nickel cornerback, is also on injured reserve. Their rookie class has been thrust into the deep end of the pool as a consequence of their battering. In the Chargers’ Week 12 triumph, four rookies played on defense, three of whom started, and six rookies are earning important action each week. — Legwold, Jeff
I’m feeling under the weather (Rating: 0-4)
4 out of 5 for health
6 players have been placed on injured reserve.
22 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Bears have lost a lot of front-line talent to injury, whether it’s quarterback Justin Fields, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, receiver Allen Robinson, pass rusher Khalil Mack, or safety Eddie Jackson. The Bears are in a bind because of the caliber of those missing positional players, not because of the shear quantity of injured players. They can’t afford to lose any more starters at this point. Dickerson, Jeff
4 out of 5 for health
9 players have been placed on injured reserve.
32 starts were lost due to injury.
Here’s how the playoff bracket currently stands, as well as the possible outcomes. • Who’s in the playoff picture right now? • The Playoff Machine on ESPN » • Football Power Index » | Standings
How horrible has it been for your team? For the second year in a row, Minnesota’s defense has been hit hard by injuries, particularly along the defensive line, where injuries to Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce, as well as absences from Dalvin Tomlinson (COVID-19) and Everson Griffen (non-football illness), have forced the Vikings to get creative in how they move linemen around. Cornerback Patrick Peterson was placed on injured reserve for three games, while safety Harrison Smith had to sit out two games while on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Courtney Cronin (Courtney Cronin)
4 out of 5 for health
17 players have been placed on injured reserve.
39 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? Outside of Ford Field, photos of eight Detroit Lions players were stamped, touted as prominent faces on the team, ahead of the team’s season opening. Three of those players — cornerback Jeff Okudah, center Frank Ragnow, and linebacker Romeo Okwara — had season-ending injuries, with offensive lineman Taylor Decker also missing the first eight games. In Motown, the injuries have been severe. The Achilles rupture in Week 1 may have been the most painful for Okudah, who was seeking to reinvent himself after a great training camp. Eric Woodyard’s remark
4 out of 5 for health
17 players have been placed on injured reserve.
72 starts were lost due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Jets lost two of their top defensive players, defensive end Carl Lawson (preseason) and safety Marcus Maye, to season-ending Achilles injury (Week 9). Because Lawson was their only proven edge rusher, his loss was devastating. To be honest, injuries have highlighted their defense’s general lack of depth. On offense, quarterback Zach Wilson was absent for four games, yet the offense actually performed better without him. Cimini, Rich
4 out of 5 for health
18 players have been placed on injured reserve.
37 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? Mike Vrabel’s next man up approach has been fully applied to this year’s Titans. On game day, Tennessee has utilized 86 different players. That’s a new NFL high. The injured reserve list resembles that of a Pro Bowl roster. Some of the top names are receivers A.J. Brown and Julio Jones, running back Derrick Henry, and pass rusher Bud Dupree. The Titans are hoping to have some of their finest players back from injured reserve as the season comes to a close. Turron Davenport (Turron Davenport)
3 on the health scale
13 players have been placed on injured reserve.
25 starts were lost due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Seahawks were severely harmed by Russell Wilson’s finger injury in two ways. They finished 1-3 in the four games they had to complete without him when he was out for the first time in his career. Wilson hasn’t been the same since his comeback, missing throws uncharacteristically during a three-game losing run that coincided with his surgery. Another reason their offense only scored 26 points over that time is that without Chris Carson, who has been out since Week 5 with a neck injury that necessitated season-ending surgery, they haven’t had a rushing game to rely on. Brady Henderson’s quote
3 on the health scale
13 players have been placed on injured reserve.
51 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The list is lengthy, but it begins with rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn and running back Christian McCaffrey, who were both hurt in the team’s Week 3 victory against Houston. The Panthers have dropped from 3-0 to 5-7. Horn’s man-to-man coverage was difficult to replace for the No. 1 defense in the NFL at the time. Quarterback Sam Darnold was never completely at ease without McCaffrey, his safety net. His total QBR was half of what McCaffrey’s was. The Panthers are statistically better without McCaffrey, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season after being placed on injured reserve for the second time this season. David Newton is an author.
3 on the health scale
14 players have been placed on injured reserve.
51 starts were omitted due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Buccaneers have been decimated by injury, and Sunday’s game against Atlanta was the first time their starting defensive backfield has played together this season. Offensively, tight end Rob Gronkowski and receiver Antonio Brown have been the most missed players, but happily, receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as running back Leonard Fournette, have been regular and dependable performers for quarterback Tom Brady. Outside linebacker Joe Tryon has also helped them improve their rotation as Jason Pierre-Paul continues to play despite a torn rotator cuff. Jenna Laine is a writer who lives in New York City.
2 on the health scale
22 players have been placed on injured reserve.
78 starts were lost due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The Saints have suffered a slew of injuries, both in terms of number and quality. For the whole season, they were without receiver Michael Thomas. Since QB Jameis Winston tore his left ACL in Week 8, they haven’t won a game, and now backup Taysom Hill is sidelined as well. Alvin Kamara, the running back, and Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk, the offensive linemen, have all missed a combined 12 games. They’ve attempted four replacements after losing veteran Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz for the season. What is the price? They’re on their first five-game losing run since coach Sean Payton took over in 2006, and there’s a good possibility they won’t make the playoffs after winning the NFC South four times in a row. — Mike Triplett (Mike Triplett)
2 on the health scale
23 players have been placed on injured reserve.
68 starts were lost due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? The run of injuries, particularly to guys in the skill positions on offense, has been ridiculous. Each of the Giants’ top six playmakers has missed at least two games this season. Add in the loss of two starting offensive lineman in the first two weeks of the season, and you have one of the league’s worst offenses. And now, with their quarterback, Daniel Jones, out with a neck injury, the Giants are dealing with uncertainty. The Fighting Joe Judges have had a difficult season. Jordan Raanan is a writer.
Rating for health: 1
9 players have been placed on injured reserve.
64 starts were lost due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? For the most of the season, the Packers have been missing their two top defensive players. Following back surgery, outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith played just 18 plays in the opener and hasn’t played since. Because of a shoulder ailment, cornerback Jaire Alexander has missed the last eight games. Last season, both earned second-team All-Pro choices. While trying to return from ACL reconstruction, first-team All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari has yet to play a down this season, while Pro Bowl left guard Elgton Jenkins (who had been stepping in for Bakhtiari) was lost for the season last week due to a ruptured ACL. The Packers and Ravens, according to Man Games Lost, which records all NFL injuries and their effect on teams, have been struck the worst of any club in the league — not in terms of raw numbers, but in terms of key players missing games. Demovsky, Rob
Rating for health: 1
22 players have been placed on injured reserve.
81 starts were lost due to injury.
How horrible has it been for your team? Few teams have as many injuries as the Ravens, yet the squad has somehow managed to overcome them. The Ravens are in first place in the AFC North, which makes you wonder how terrific they might be if they were totally healthy. Baltimore’s attack isn’t as dynamic without its top two running backs (J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards). Without Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley, the Ravens aren’t protecting Lamar Jackson as well. Without All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters, the defense isn’t creating many turnovers. However, the squad has managed to stay afloat by winning several tight games. Jamison Hensley (Jamison Hensley)
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