More than any other sport, football sees injuries alter the fortunes of teams every season. Sure, baseball and hockey teams have key guys go down, but in the National Football League it is a weekly battle to avoid a crushing blow. This year has been no different, with some teams seeing more than their fair share of attrition.
Below are the 10 players lost to injuries that most altered the 2014 NFL season:
10. Jairus Byrd
The New Orleans Saints made a huge splash in the offseason in an attempt to bolster their defense, inking safety Jairus Byrd to a six-year, $54 million deal. Byrd was supposed to anchor the currently 29th-ranked pass defense, but instead played four games before being placed on the Injured Reserve list with a knee injury. Byrd made 22 tackles and did not record an interception.
9. Vontaze Burfict
Burfict is one of the best middle linebackers in football, but only played five games this season before being placed on IR this week with a knee injury. Burfict has left a major gap in the Cincinnati Bengals’ run defense, which checks in 27th in yards allowed. Without the former Arizona State star, Cincinnati is without its best defender outside of Geno Atkins for the playoff push.
8. Kiko Alonso
Alonso was a star for the Buffalo Bills in his rookie season of 2013. Alonso racked up 159 tackles and four interceptions at the middle linebacker spot, only to suffer a torn ACL during the offseason. With Alonso behind a terrific front four of Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and Jerry Hughes, perhaps he would have been the difference in another win or two, putting the Bills in the playoffs.
7. Robert Griffin III
The Washington Redskins would have been awful with or without Griffin starting, but his ankle injury in Week 2 simply put the wheels in motion. Griffin returned after missing six weeks and failed to record a win in four starts before being benched. The injury set Griffin back and he, nor the Redskins, have recovered.
6. Nick Foles
When a first-place team loses its quarterback, that would normally qualify for top-of-the-list status. However, Foles going down has not killed the Philadelphia Eagles. Still, the broken collarbone has slowed Philadelphia, with Mark Sanchez throwing 10 touchdowns against seven interceptions in six games. Foles is projected to be healthy around playoff time, making for some high drama.
5. Derrick Johnson
The Kansas City Chiefs have allowed 4.9 yards per carry, worst in the NFL this season. A major reason for that failure is the absence of Pro Bowl middle linebacker Derrick Johnson, who was lost in Week 1 with a torn Achilles tendon. Johnson had four-straight seasons of 100+ tackles, and without him Kansas City might miss the playoffs.
4. Sam Bradford
Bradford went down in the preseason with a torn ACL, the second consecutive year he sustained the season-ending injury. Without their quarterback, the St. Louis Rams have a 6-7 mark thanks to excellent defense and solid special teams. With a healthy Bradford, the Rams might have made a push in the NFC West.
3. Patrick Willis
The San Francisco 49ers are 7-6 and almost certain to miss the postseason for the first time in four years, and you can trace the downfall to Willis’ toe injury. With Willis in the starting lineup, the 49ers were 4-2 but since are 3-4. Without Willis, San Francisco is lacking leadership on defense and the most versatile inside linebacker in football.
2. NaVorro Bowman
Speaking of San Francisco inside linebackers, Bowman has been another massive loss on the interior. Without Bowman, who has been rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered in January during the NFC Championship Game, San Francisco is without 145 tackles, two picks and five sacks worth of production. It has proven too much to overcome.
1. Carson Palmer
The Arizona Cardinals are the NFC’s top seed, but they don’t appear a threat for the Super Bowl. With Palmer starting under center, the Cardinals were rolling and 9-1. Since he tore his ACL three weeks ago against the Rams, Drew Stanton has muddled through three starts with a 1-2 record. Arizona will likely make the playoffs but won’t go far.
