Worst Injuries from the 2025 Season: Top NFL Stars Knocked Down
The 2025 NFL season has already seen its fair share of devastating injuries. As the season progresses, some of the biggest stars in the league have been sidelined by unfortunate, game-changing injuries. In this blog, we’ll highlight the worst injuries from the 2025 season and explore their impact on their respective teams.
Joe Burrow (QB, Cincinnati Bengals)
Joe Burrow’s season came to a harsh halt early. In Week 2, he suffered a Grade 3 turf toe, a severe sprain of the big toe joint combined with ligament damage. The Bengals confirmed he’d require surgery, and his recovery is expected to take at least three months.
Why it’s brutal:
Turf toe may sound minor, but for a quarterback who needs to push off the foot, plant, scramble, and torque, it’s devastating. Missing three months means Burrow could be out until midseason, leaving the Bengals without their offensive anchor.
Tyreek Hill (WR, Miami Dolphins)
One of the more graphic and heartbreaking injuries of 2025: Tyreek Hill suffered a dislocated knee with multiple torn ligaments, including a torn ACL, during a game. Initial reports suggest the injury is season-ending
Impact:
Hill’s loss is enormous for Miami. He was a key vertical threat, and replacing his explosiveness and separation ability won’t be easy, at least not this year.
Malik Nabers (WR, New York Giants)
In Week 4, Nabers went down after landing awkwardly on a deep pass, immediately grabbing his knee. MRI results confirmed a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee.
Why it matters:
Nabers was one of the Giants’ few playmakers. Losing a rising star receiver reduces options for their young QB and hobbles their passing attack.
Najee Harris (RB, Los Angeles Chargers)
Najee Harris sustained a non-contact Achilles tear in Week 3. Imaging confirmed the full rupture, and the team announced he’ll miss the rest of 2025.
Why it matters:
An Achilles tear is one of the most dreaded injuries in football, long rehab, uncertain return, and potential for lasting loss of explosiveness. For Harris, it brings a major setback in his transition to a new team.
Austin Ekeler (RB, Washington Commanders)
Ekeler’s season ended early after he suffered a non-contact injury in a game, later confirmed as a torn Achilles. He was placed on injured reserve.
The blow:
Losing Ekeler removes a versatile, dual-threat running back who contributed heavily in both rushing and pass-catching. Makes it very hard to replicate midseason.
George Kittle (TE, San Francisco 49ers)
Kittle was placed on injured reserve following a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1. His absence is expected to last several weeks, possibly longer.
Why it hurts:
Kittle is more than a pass catcher, he’s a physical blocking presence and security blanket in tight windows. The 49ers offense must reconfigure without him.
Jayden Reed (WR, Green Bay Packers)
On Thursday night, Reed fractured his collarbone (clavicle) while catching a pass, and also underwent surgery for a Jones fracture in his foot. He’s expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks.
Why it’s rough:
Reed showed growth and playmaking ability. With him sidelined, the Packers lose a dynamic option and must reassign routes and targets without one of their top receivers.
Brock Purdy (QB, San Francisco 49ers)
Purdy has battled injuries since Week 1 — he suffered issues to his toe (turf-toe variant) and left shoulder. He’s been ruled out for 2 to 5 weeks as he recovers.
What’s at stake:
Purdy has been a rising star. Interruptions not only hurt his momentum but threaten the 49ers’ offensive rhythm, especially as they navigate around other injured players.
Final Thoughts: The Worst Injuries from the 2025 Season and Their Impact
The worst injuries from the 2025 season have already changed the trajectory for many NFL teams. Key players have been lost for the remainder of the season, altering offensive schemes and leaving fans and coaches to wonder how their teams will adapt. With the likes of Joe Burrow, Tyreek Hill, and Najee Harris out of the game for extended periods, teams must now lean on their backups and rework their game plans.
As we continue to follow the worst injuries from the 2025 season, it’s clear that injuries don’t just change individual careers but can also shake up entire franchises. Teams will need to find new ways to adapt to these unforeseen challenges, and fans will anxiously await updates on the injured stars’ recoveries. This season is a reminder that in the NFL, anything can happen, and no player is immune to the unpredictable nature of the sport.
