For a professional football player, 18 weeks of a NFL season, feels like a lifetime lived at full speed. There’s no hiding, there’s no shortcuts, there’s no off switch. Those 18 weeks aren’t just games, their grind measured in sweat, sacrifice and seconds. Players train endlessly day after day with relentless discipline training to not only be better; but the best. Years of hard work and infinite hours of training could be destroyed by one thing: a season ending injury.
Are Injury Rates Going Up?
The nature of football involves high speed collisions, intense physical contact and complex moves. All of these factors make NFL players extremely prone to injuries. But in recent seasons injury rates have made a staggering increase and are causing concern to the league. A study by National Library Of Medicine found that there has been a significant increase in the amount of injuries in the 2025-2026 season then in the past 3 NFL seasons. A study by Science Direct showed starting in 2021 the injury rates were extremely elevated compared to the 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons and are still further increasing now.
Player Injury Report
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphin’s Wide Receiver, suffered a graphic season ending knee injury against the New York Jets in Week 4. Hill dislocated his knee and tore several ligaments including his ACL leaving his NFL future uncertain and a significant blow to Dolphins offense.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, sustained a Grade 3 Turf Toe in Week 2 which required surgery and made his return uncertain. Burrow is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league, his injury causing the Bengals offense to struggle without its star player.
Running back for the New York Giants, Cam Skattebo suffered a gruesome season ending ankle injury after being tackled during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Skattebo dislocated his ankle causing a compound fracture and several ligament tears resulting in emergency surgery.
Wide Receiver for New York Giants, Malik Nabers, suffered a season ending torn ACL and meniscus in a non-contact play mid air while trying to catch a pass during the game against LA Chargers in Week 4.
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver, landed on his shoulder and head while attempting to catch a deep pass during the game against the Detroit Lions. Evans broke his collarbone and sustained a concussion, ending his season and putting his team in desperate need of a new wide receiver.
Rashawn Slater, left tackle for the LA Chargers is out for the entire 2025 season after sustaining a awful ruptured patellar tendon in practice. His season ending injury left a huge hole in the Chargers offensive line.
Why Are Injury Rates Increasing?
The new age of the NFl is a much more competitive league. Players are faster, stronger, and bigger. Talent is showcased in every game, their strength, speed, and size shown off. But these attributes may be one of the reasons injury rates are increasing. Every tackle is more intense, every collision is more explosive, and every sack is more powerful. Another possible reason for higher injury rates may be the play style and game speed of the NFl. The league has shifted towards more complex and high speed plays, causing players to work harder than ever and causing more opportunities for injuries.
