Football is an extremely vicious and physical sport, which means every player and team must be prepared for the worst. In 2014, impact players went down and their team’s chances went down with them. Some of last year’s victims included Carson Palmer and Victor Cruz. The 2015 offseason had its share of injuries with players like Jordy Nelson, Kelvin Benjamin and No. 3 pick Dante Fowler Jr. all going down prior to the start of the season. The trend continued in the first two weeks of the regular season with multiple key injuries, with the Dallas Cowboys hit especially hard.
Let’s take a look at some of the most significant injuries this season.
5. Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay Packers
The starting right tackle in Green Bay went down with an apparent knee injury in practice earlier this week. The injury turned out to be a torn meniscus and sprained MCL in his left knee. Bulaga underwent surgery on Saturday and will be out at least six weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The loss of the former first-round pick is tough for the Packers, who will be starting Don Barclay in his absence. Barclay is a guard by trade, so the transition will be something to watch for one of the NFC favorites.
4. DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins
Jackson missed a majority of training camp and the preseason with a shoulder injury in 2015. After recovering, he had a disappointing start in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. Late in the first quarter of that game, Jackson pulled up after running a go route. He was later ruled out for the game with a hamstring injury. After being ruled out of the Redskins’ Week 2 matchup with the Rams, it does not look good for the speedster receiver.
Initial speculation was that Jackson would be out about 3-4 weeks, but the worries don’t end with his return to the field. Jackson is best known for his ability to stretch the field with his speed. Hamstring injuries tend to affect a player’s ability to accelerate, which means that DeSean may not be very effective even after he comes back for Washington.
3. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
A short completion to Bryant in the third quarter of the Cowboys’ Week 1 matchup against the Giants seemed to be harmless until he limped off the field and headed into the locker room, leaving Dallas fans with a terrible feeling in their guts. Bryant was soon ruled out for the remainder of the game with a foot injury. The injury was upgraded to a foot fracture, and it was determined that Bryant would need a bone graft. Initially the diagnosis meant that Bryant would be out 4-6 weeks. Then it was upgraded to about 8 weeks, and now it is believed that Bryant may be out 10-12 weeks for the Cowboys, though Dez himself disputes that.
After allowing DeMarco Murray to test free agency in the offseason, Dallas knew they would need Bryant to step up big in 2015. This injury will be a huge loss for the defending NFC East champions; Bryant led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 2014.
2. Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens
The indisputable leader of the Baltimore Ravens’ defense went down with an ankle injury during the first half of the team’s Week 1 matchup with the Broncos. Suggs ended up tearing his Achilles’ tendon for the second time in three years; he also suffered the same injury playing basketball in the 2012 offseason. The former Defensive Player of the Year is out for the entire 2015 season, which leaves the struggling Ravens shorthanded on defense. The team gave up more than 350 passing yards and 37 points against a suspect offense in Oakland, one week after holding Peyton Manning to zero touchdowns. Suggs will be sorely missed this season.
1. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys suffered a huge loss in Week 1 with the Dez Bryant injury, but that does not compare to the loss they suffered in their Week 2 game against Philadelphia. Tony Romo was driven to the ground on a sack/fumble late in third quarter of the Cowboys’ 20-10 win. He instantly rolled over in agony, grabbing at his left shoulder. He walked into the locker room to get X-rays, and it was later determined that he had suffered a broken clavicle. This is the same injury that ended his season in 2010. Reports have said that Romo will miss eight weeks, which would put him on track to return by Thanksgiving. Will the 2-0 Cowboys still be in the playoff hunt by then given that they will now have to turn things over to backup Brandon Weeden? That is the bigger question.
