The 2025 NFL season is fast approaching, but already a number of teams are battling significant injuries to star players. With training camps still in progress and more preseason action on tap, it’s becoming harder for each club to stay totally unscathed. And we’ve still got roughly a month to go until the fall calendar kicks off with Sept. 4’s opener.
Among the most notable players banged up this summer: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who’s reportedly received epidural injections to reduce the pain of an aggravated disc. With Rams coach Sean McVay offering vague but hopeful updates, what should fans actually expect in regards to the quarterback’s availability? Especially after he missed the first few weeks of camp?
And how about other big names battling preseason ailments? Which players are most in danger of missing Week 1, if not more regular season action? We’ve rounded up the latest on camp’s most notable injuries, assessing each situation with a panic meter:
Panic meter:
- 🚨 = Low panic level
- 🚨🚨 = Medium panic level
- 🚨🚨🚨 = High panic level
Rams QB Matthew Stafford (back)
Panic level: Medium 🚨🚨
The 37-year-old quarterback is on track to make his practice debut after missing the first few weeks of camp with a back issue; NFL Media previously reported Stafford has an aggravated disc. The return to on-field work bodes well for the veteran’s Week 1 availability. And Los Angeles is no stranger to having Stafford at limited capacity in the offseason. Still, his age and previous injuries, including a 2022 spinal cord contusion, should have eyes glued to veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo.
Panic level: Medium 🚨🚨
Minnesota’s top playmaker stopped practicing early in camp after experiencing hamstring soreness, and the Vikings have understandably been slow to reintroduce “Jets” to the lineup. After all, it was a hamstring injury that sidelined Jefferson for seven games in 2023. Coach Kevin O’Connell suggested this week the No. 1 receiver will be locked and loaded for the regular season. Jefferson’s also been a steady, smiling presence at camp. Still, hamstring woes can linger. It’s only fair to be a bit skeptical.
Panic level: Medium 🚨🚨
One of Josh Allen’s top targets in Buffalo, Shakir was recently labeled “week-to-week” by coach Sean McDermott with a high-ankle sprain. That may or may not put his Week 1 availability in jeopardy. Still, the veteran wideout, who also signed a long-term contract extension back in February, figures to be back to full speed by early in the season at the latest. A trip to injured reserve to open the year would allow the Bills to preserve a roster spot while letting Shakir rest for three games.
Panic level: Medium 🚨🚨
This one is layered. For one, the panic is real in part because fellow wideout Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from an ACL tear suffered in 2024 — an issue that figures to keep the club’s top pass catcher off the field through Week 1. And yet it’s unclear whether Jennings’ absence is in any way related to his previously reported desire to land a new contract from 49ers brass. Officially, coach Kyle Shanahan has offered no timeline for Jennings’ return, while leaving the door open for contract-related speculation.
Panic level: High 🚨🚨🚨
Newly crowned the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman on a per-year basis, Slater was carted off the field during practice Thursday with what was later determined to be a season-ending torn patella tendon. The two-time Pro Bowler, who headlines Justin Herbert’s front, will be sorely missed as Herbert’s blind-side blocker. Right tackle Joe Alt could be in line to shift to the left side.
Panic level: Low 🚨
An interception machine in his 2024 Packers debut, McKinney aggravated a calf injury during camp this week, telling reporters he expects to miss the remainder of summer practices, as well as all three of Green Bay’s preseason contests. It’s a precautionary measure, however, as McKinney also declared full confidence in his regular-season availability.
Texans S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (leg)
Panic level: High 🚨🚨🚨
A fiery addition to Houston’s secondary via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, Gardner-Johnson suffered a right leg injury while trying to tackle receiver John Metchie III in a team scrimmage Thursday. The Pro Bowl ballhawk, who helped Philadelphia advance to two Super Bowls in two separate stints with the team, was then carted off the field. He previously missed extensive time in both 2022 and 2023, appearing in just three games for the Detroit Lions after suffering a non-contact leg injury in camp.
Panic level: Medium 🚨🚨
It’s tough to discern the appropriate panic level here because the injury itself is relatively minor (a dislocated pinky) but Richardson’s history of injuries is at this point a five-alarm fire. So we’re going with medium panic level because that splits the difference between the two extremes. Hopefully Richardson can get back into practice soon without missing much time, but even if he does, this is yet another reminder of his fragility. And we know the Colts only have Daniel Jones and rookie Riley Leonard behind him, which isn’t great.
Panic level: Medium 🚨🚨
Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Williams “hopefully” just hyperextended his knee but that he would be undergoing tests to determine the severity of the injury. The Niners’ first-round pick is an important piece of their rebuilt defensive front under Robert Saleh, so they definitely will be closely watching the results of those tests. If Williams has to miss significant time, it could be a big issue. We don’t yet know the results, though, so it’s hard to get too high on the panic meter at the moment.
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