The significant NFL players returning from injury in 2026

Borderline cursed at this point, the Chargers seemingly deal with major injury issues each season. They played all of last season without their Pro Bowl left tackle and most of it without their ascending right tackle. Slater suffered a patellar tendon tear days after signing a then-tackle-record extension. Alt battled a high ankle sprain, and while he returned briefly, the former top-five pick underwent season-ending surgery in October. Alt, who moved to left tackle (his college position) after Slater's injury, will slide back to his pro post while Slater -- who opted out of his final college season and missed almost all of the 2022 slate -- is back at LT.

The NFC's Chargers, from an injury standpoint, the 49ers at least make their healthier seasons count. Twice a Super Bowl entrant under Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco has relied heavily on Bosa, whose rookie year coincided with the team's 2019 breakthrough. Bosa has now suffered two ACL tears, the first coming in September 2020 and the second in September 2025. Drafted in the first round to complement Bosa, Williams went down with an ACL tear in Week 9 and is not certain to be back in time to start his second season. Bosa is due back to start the campaign, one that also features George Kittle and Fred Warner due back after major injuries.

Detroit had assembled a top-tier safety duo, using Day 2 picks on Joseph (2022) and Branch (2023). The team exited last season with significant injury concerns -- par for the course for this period of Lions defenses -- at the position. Branch suffered an Achilles tear in December, while Joseph -- whom the Lions extended at a then-record rate last year -- missed 11 games last season due to a knee injury. The NFL's 2024 INT leader (with nine) is navigating a degenerative knee condition and not certain to return by Week 1. Branch's injury may be delaying a Detroit extension, while Joseph's appears a bit more concerning presently.

Crosby played 15 games last season, and the Raiders shelving their best player for their final two contests brought an uproar. Decrying the rather overt tanking effort as a lack of interest in competing, Crosby made a quiet trade request. The Raiders received a monster offer from the Ravens, landing two first-round picks for the All-Pro. But Baltimore, depending on who you believe, voided the trade after expressing concerns with Crosby's knee through a long-term lens. Undergoing meniscus surgery after being shut down last year, Crosby is back with the Raiders. Will he be re-traded soon?

Daniels played every Commanders game in 2024 and led the franchise to its first NFC championship game since 1991. Three injuries marred the Offensive Rookie of the Year's follow-up effort. Daniels missed 10 games due to knee, hamstring and elbow injuries. The elbow issue proved to be the most significant, leading Daniels to IR. While he returned in Week 14, the Commanders shut him down henceforth. The dual-threat talent's absence was a major factor in a 5-12 season, one that cost offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury his job. Washington will bank on its centerpiece player reprising his 2024 form this season.

Dell has battled injuries for most of his career, and he missed all of last season. The explosive Texans wide receiver suffered brutal knee injuries -- headlined by an ACL tear and a dislocation -- on a touchdown catch in Week 16 of the 2024 season in Kansas City. An ambulance transported him off the field. Dell had already recovered from a fractured fibula that ended his 2023 season. Dell suffered what was deemed a minor gunshot wound at a nightclub in early 2024. The Texans are on track to have Dell back complementing Nico Collins this year, and sustained health will be pivotal to the former third-round pick's earning power.

The NFL's most injury-prone player probably resides in Denver. Counting playoff games, Dobbins has missed a staggering 59 games since entering the NFL in 2020. He has suffered ACL, Achilles and Lisfranc tears. The resilient running back, however, was among the league's top five rushing leaders when he suffered the foot injury last November. Dobbins rehabbed to the point the Broncos felt he could have played in Super Bowl LX, but the Patriots -- aided by a rather notable quarterback injury -- nixed that plan. Despite a host of injuries, Dobbins landed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Broncos that included $8M guaranteed at signing.

The Panthers have longtime starters Ekwonu and Taylor Moton signed for the 2026 season, but they added both Rasheed Walker and first-round pick Monroe Freeling this offseason. Carolina did so due in large part to Ekwonu suffering a patellar tendon tear in a wild-card loss to Los Angeles. One of the toughest injuries to surmount, the knee issue is expected to sideline Ekwonu for much of the season. It represented a bad break for the former first-round pick, who appeared an extension candidate. Walker may become the team's bridge left tackle, as Carolina may well wait until Ekwonu recovers to decide on an extension.

Hill's Dolphins tenure brought a rocky 2024. A wrist injury, contract pursuit, and a strange sequence in which the speed merchant refused to reenter Miami's Week 18 game commenced. Both sides attempted to salvage the relationship, but Hill suffered a severe knee injury in Week 4. The 10-year veteran tore multiple knee ligaments, including his ACL, to go with a meniscus tear. The Dolphins fired the GM (Chris Grier) who traded for Hill and then appeased him with a guaranteed influx two years later in October, and the team's new regime cut the likely future Hall of Famer in February. Hill is viewed as unlikely to be ready early in the season.

The Jaguars gave up a trove of assets in a three-spot trade-up for Hunter during the 2025 draft, but they did not receive a great return on investment. Hunter slogged through a clunky rookie season, playing more wide receiver than cornerback. The 2024 Heisman winner did not stand out, but he did produce a 100-yard game -- albeit in a blowout loss -- before the Jags' bye. The team was set to increase Hunter's usage, but an LCL injury -- which required season-ending surgery -- befell the two-way player during a November practice. Hunter is on track to return by Week 1, and he is expected to primarily play cornerback in 2026.

One of the most impactful tackles -- left or right -- of his generation, Johnson has built a Hall of Fame case. The Eagles' issues without their stalwart right tackle bolster his Canton argument, and they endured another late-season collapse in 2025. Johnson's season ended in Week 11 due to a Lisfranc sprain. A return to practice did not lead to a playoff activation from IR. Johnson considered retirement but will return for his age-36 season. The Eagles return all five O-linemen this season, though acclaimed position coach Jeff Stoutland is gone, and the unit will again rely on Johnson's health.

Not living up to his first-round pedigree through three seasons, Jones has been given a run of starts at right and left tackle. The Steelers switched him to LT, his primary college position, last season, but an injury interrupted his run. Jones has since undergone spinal fusion surgery, and a setback is believed to have occurred this offseason. Jones is not guaranteed to be ready by Week 1. The Steelers also used a first-round pick on a tackle -- Max Iheanachor -- for the third time in four years. If Jones is not ready for Week 1, the Steelers appear prepared to shift RT Troy Fautanu to the blind side.

Jones continues to follow Kirk Cousins' path as a shrewd negotiator. Unlike Cousins, Jones does not have a consistent body of work when healthy. Like the Giants in 2023, the Colts gave the quarterback a massive raise. After transition-tagging him, Indianapolis gave its top QB a two-year, $88 million extension. Jones, however, did not finish his first Colts season. He suffered an Achilles tear in Week 14. This led to the strange Philip Rivers unretirement. Jones, who has an ACL tear and neck surgery on his NFL medical sheet, is set to be ready for Week 1. But his injury history invites concerns.

Kittle missed six regular-season games, with multiple injuries -- including a hamstring issue that sent him to IR after Week 1 -- afflicting the All-Pro tight end. After returning from each regular-season injury, the 49ers' standout suffered an Achilles tear in the team's wild-card win in Philadelphia. Kittle, who had played through ankle ligament tears in that Philly matchup, is not certain to play in Week 1. The 49ers' season opener, requiring the longest flight an NFL team will have taken -- via the Australia trip the 49ers have booked against the Rams -- complicates Kittle's return timetable. 

Kraft was enjoying a breakout season when he suffered an ACL tear. The November injury did not derail the Packers' path to the playoffs, but it certainly hurt their offense. Kraft was averaging 61.1 receiving yards per game through eight contests. Catching 13 touchdown passes over the past two seasons, Kraft is poised for a big-ticket extension. The former Division I-FCS standout is on track to return in Week 1. With the Packers moving on from Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, their aerial hierarchy should be clearer in 2026. As long as he's healthy, Kraft will be the top option.

Questions about Madubuike's NFL future loomed after a Week 2 neck injury. The Ravens had franchise-tagged the quality interior defensive lineman in 2024, preceding a big-ticket extension. Madubuike has yet to prove his 2023 breakthrough wasn't fluky, but the Ravens received good news. The veteran defender is on track to return following neck surgery. That will be welcome news for a Ravens team making wholesale changes for the first time in nearly 20 years. Jesse Minter's first Baltimore defense would greatly benefit from Madubuike retaking his place on the defensive front.

Last season was quite strange for the Chiefs. Demons in close games in previous years, the AFC dynasty went 6-8 in Mahomes' starts despite finishing sixth in scoring defense. Kansas City lost its final three games, as Mahomes suffered ACL and LCL tears in Week 15. This represents the first significant rehab challenge for the superstar quarterback. As Mahomes enters an age-31 season, it will be interesting to see how the sublime improvisational artist recaptures his form. The Chiefs fully expect him back for Week 1. Based on the NFL scheduling three K.C. primetime games in the first six weeks, the league certainly believes he will return on time as well.

The Buccaneers saw injuries on offense play a big role in derailing their season. Nearly all of Baker Mayfield's skill-position cadre spent extensive stretches of the season unavailable, while multiple Tampa Bay offensive linemen missed considerable time. Mauch missed the most, going down with a meniscus tear in Week 2. The Bucs saw many of their offensive starters return from injury, but Mauch -- a 2023 second-round pick -- remained sidelined. He is on his way back to reprise a role as the Bucs' starting right guard.

An abysmal 2025 Raiders season will mark Pete Carroll's head-coaching swan song in the NFL. Part of the team's issues stemmed from woeful offensive line play, which significantly restricted Ashton Jeanty. The 2024 Heisman runner-up was without Miller for most of his rookie campaign. Miller was placed on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain and hairline fracture. The Raiders designated him for return but, as they targeted the No. 1 pick, no subsequent game action commenced. Miller joined Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers in finishing the year on IR; all three are due back for Week 1.

A curious stretch ensued for the Cardinals last season. Murray started the team's first five games but suffered a Lisfranc injury. That shut down the starter, who was not placed on IR for a few weeks after the issue emerged. Murray had previously returned to practice, but reports surfaced that Jacoby Brissett would remain the starter. The Cardinals then, somewhat awkwardly, placed Murray on IR and never activated him. Brissett went 1-11 as a starter, and Arizona cut Murray before more guarantees kicked in. Murray has been a full participant in Vikings workouts and resides as the frontrunner to start for Kevin O'Connell's team following a veteran-minimum deal.

Jaxson Dart's rookie-year form proved more impressive when considering how decimated the Giants were at the skill positions. The team played most of the season without Nabers and emerging starting running back Cam Skattebo, with Darius Slayton also missing a chunk of the campaign. Nabers suffered an ACL tear in Week 4, stalling the momentum the 2024 top-10 pick built as a rookie. The LSU product is not yet 100%, and his status for Week 1 appears murky. The Giants, who have added a host of WR help this offseason, have been cautious with the standout pass catcher's timeline. 

The Packers being given a pass for late-season stumbles makes sense. After all, they lost their most impactful pass catcher (Tucker Kraft) and defender (Parsons) to season-ending ACL tears. Parsons went down during a Week 15 matchup with the Broncos, representing his first major injury in the NFL. The former Cowboys All-Pro -- who is signed for four more seasons on a monster extension -- is not expected to return by Week 1. The Packers, who are consistently cautious with injury timetables, appear on track to redeploy their top player in October.

Penix managed two healthy seasons at a key point in his career timeline, with his two Washington slates driving a push into the top 10 of the 2024 draft. Beyond that and a rookie season spent mostly as an observer, the left-handed QB has struggled with injuries. Seeing three Indiana seasons cut short by maladies, Penix sustained an ACL tear that wrapped his second Falcons slate in November. The Falcons have since fired the GM and head coach in place when Penix was chosen eighth overall, and their new honchos have created the ultra-rare southpaw-southpaw QB competition by signing Tua Tagovailoa. Penix is on track for training camp, but he ceded plenty of work to the free agent signing during the offseason.

Amid another miserable Titans season, the team trotted out a basement-level receiving corps. Initially leading the group, Ridley suffered a broken fibula after already missing time prior to the Week 11 setback. The Titans changed coaching staffs and again restructured their front office. Neither the coach nor GM was in place when Ridley signed in 2024, and the team handed its nominal WR1 a pay cut. A release candidate coming into the season, Ridley participated in Tennessee's offseason program. With Wan'Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate here now, Ridley may soon become a trade chip for the rebuilding Titans.

Celebrating shirtless on Amazon's postgame show after an October upset win over the Eagles, Skattebo had taken over the Giants' backfield. His starter run became short-lived after a dislocated ankle ended his season in Week 8. The 2024 fourth-round pick is further along than Nabers in his rehab effort and expects to be ready for training camp. The Giants still roster Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary, but John Harbaugh is expected to use a backfield -- after Jeremiyah Love proved out of reach at No. 5 overall -- headed by Skattebo. 

Matt LaFleur's team ran into a rash of injuries last season, eventually facing the rival Bears without Tom, Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons. Both Parsons and Tom went down in a December Denver matchup, with the latter suffering a partially torn patellar tendon. Tom underwent surgery and missed Green Bay's offseason program. The recently extended right tackle is targeting a training camp reemergence, but the Packers are notoriously cautious in redeploying their injured players. With the Packers breaking in a new left tackle (ex-first-rounder Jordan Morgan), they will need their high-priced RT back for stability.

Trapilo's timeline should closely resemble Ikem Ekwonu's. Hours after the Panthers left tackle suffered a patellar tendon tear in the wild-card game, the Bears' blindside bastion went down with the same injury. Neither player will come close to returning in Week 1, and the Bears are expecting Trapilo -- who had taken over the LT job during the season's second half -- to miss much of the campaign. The 2025 second-round pick remains Chicago's long-term LT hopeful, but their previous blind-side regular -- Braxton Jones -- has another chance to hold down the job in the interim.

One of the more interesting free agent markets involved Vera-Tucker, who missed all of the 2025 season. Vera-Tucker has suffered triceps tears in both arms to go with an Achilles tear. The second triceps tear cost the former Jets first-rounder all of last season. The Jets let him walk in free agency, leading to a three-year, $42 million deal with the Patriots. He managed $21M guaranteed at signing, highlighting the impression made when available to play. The Pats are on track to use Vera-Tucker as a starting guard, and with guarantees into 2027, they will hope he can shake his injury trouble.

The Colts gave Ward a three-year, $54 million deal in March 2025. This brought a deviation from a team that had been stingy with outside free agents under GM Chris Ballard. Ward played well when available, but the former Chiefs and 49ers starter endured a scary season. Three concussions befell the veteran cornerback, who considered retirement as a result. Ward decided to return for his age-30 season, and Sauce Gardner's arrival moves the older corner down a peg. Now Indianapolis' No. 2 boundary CB, Ward will look to bounce back. His 2026 salary guarantee certainly brings good motivation to keep going.

Again beset by injuries to core players, the 49ers still trudged into the divisional round. They entered that Seahawks matchup down three of their best four players, with Warner joining Nick Bosa and George Kittle on IR. The 49ers had seen a fractured and dislocated ankle sideline Warner in October, and he was not viewed as a candidate to come off IR. The All-Pro linebacker made a surprising return to practice and was viewed as likely to return had the 49ers upset the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks in the divisional round. The team failed against the much healthier opponent, but Warner is poised to return to start his ninth 49ers season.

Watson now has two separate stretches of 1 1/2-season absences. The first came because of off-field issues, while the second -- from October 2024 through January 2026 -- stemmed from two Achilles tears. Suffering a second tear while he was rehabbing the first, Watson missed all of the 2025 season. Still on the Browns' roster due to his fully guaranteed contract -- the sunk cost to end all NFL sunk costs -- the wildly disappointing trade pickup improbably has moved into position to battle for a starting job. Todd Monken's coaching staff will pit Watson against Shedeur Sanders for the gig in training camp. 

The previous time the Jets finished a season without a 400-yard pass catcher: their disastrous Lou Holtz-led 1976 campaign. Wilson's midseason injury led to a shocking recurrence. The recently extended wide receiver suffered a hyperextended knee in Week 6 and damaged the knee further three weeks later. A sprain (and perhaps the Jets' draft aspirations) shut down Wilson for the season. He still somehow led the team with 395 receiving yards. First-round picks Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. are now involved, but the Jets will still center their passing attack around Wilson in 2026.