NFL training camp is the time for players to warm up, learn the system, and get back into “football shape”. The unfortunate part of that is sometimes the injury bug strikes early.
With some players set to miss the season already, teams are already rethinking their strategy. Here are the latest NFL training camp injuries and the implications of them.
The Commanders traded for Laremy Tunsil earlier this offseason in an effort to improve the offensive line. He suffered a triceps injury and will now undergo surgery to repair it.
Tunsil is expected to miss several months, and quite possibly the entire season. Brandon Coleman will serve at left tackle for Washington in Tunsil’s absence.
Coleman started 12 games for the Commanders during their 2024 NFC Championship run. He’s capable, but the loss of Tunsil will certainly be felt, especially considering Washington gave up multiple Draft picks to acquire him.
The Panthers were hit with a painful duo of NFL training camp injuries. Rookie wide receiver Chris Brazell suffered a torn LCL and has undergone surgery. He’s expected to miss the entire season.
On the defensive side, second-year edge rusher Nic Scourton suffered a torn ACL and will also miss the entire season.
Scourton had an impressive rookie season. He appeared in all 17 games and started eight, finishing with 47 combined tackles, five sacks, nine QB hits, and seven tackles for loss (TFLs).
Brazzell was taken in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Panthers were hoping for him to mesh with Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette. The Tennessee product will now have to wait a year, and Carolina’s receiving corps lost a big name before he even got started.
The Bears have an impressive loadout of offensive weapons. Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift, Colston Loveland, and Luther Burden make up an exciting group for quarterback Caleb Williams.
Burden, unfortunately, suffered a groin injury in practice. The bright side: he’s expected back for Chicago’s regular season opener. The second-year receiver will miss the entirety of preseason.
In his rookie campaign, Burden logged 47 receptions for 652 yards and two touchdowns. He was building momentum late in the year and will be a terrific piece of head coach Ben Johnson’s offense.
Burden missing preseason shouldn’t hurt Chicago too much. If he’s on pace for a Week 1 debut, he’ll likely start slow. He’ll settle back in sooner rather than later, and could still have a breakout season.
The biggest story of the 49ers has been health. For the better part of the last decade, they’ve dealt with injuries to stars at nearly every position. That doesn’t seem to be stopping this season.
Third-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is out for the season after suffering a PCL injury. He’s simply been dealt a bad hand since his first offseason in San Francisco. He has shown his talent when he’s on the field, so maybe a full year off can refresh him ahead of 2027.
The Niners’ star defensive end Nick Bosa did not participate in Monday’s practice. He’s coming off a torn ACL and has been cautious in training camp. Tight end George Kittle is on the PUP list in his recovery from a torn Achilles.
To top it all off, the wide receiver trio of Christian Kirk, Mike Evans, and De’Zhaun Stribling have been dealing with minor injuries. Running back Christian McCaffrey also sat out on Monday due to “tightness”. The team is not overly concerned, but remaining cautious.
Some players are on the right side of recovery, but they’re still worth keeping an eye on. The New York Giants’ star receiver Malik Nabers has been practicing and running well. There is hope for a Week 1 return, but that’s not set in stone yet. He did not make the PUP list ahead of camp, so he’s not expected to miss the minimum of four games.
The Indianapolis Colts are expecting wide receiver Alec Pierce back in the coming weeks. He signed a four-year, $114 million extension in March, and expectations are high this year. He’s expected to return in Week 1.
New York Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq underwent hernia surgery in the offseason. He suffered a setback and is expected to “miss some time”. There’s still hope for a Week 1 debut, but in the meantime, Mason Taylor is the number one tight end.
In Detroit, the Lions’ backup running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a sprained MCL. Head coach Dan Campbell expects him back by Week 1, but it hinders the rushers’ ramp-up with his new team.
The Denver Broncos’ newest wide receiver addition, Jaylen Waddle, is dealing with a muscle strain in his leg. He missed practice on Monday, but the injury isn’t believed to be serious. He’s expected back any day now, but the high-profile receiver’s status is certainly worth keeping an eye on.
| Player | Team | Injury | Timeline | Week 1 |
| Laremy Tunsil | Commanders | Triceps | Several Months | Out |
| Nic Scourton | Panthers | ACL | Season | Out |
| Luther Burden | Bears | Groin | Preseason | Expected |
| Ricky Pearsall | 49ers | PCL | Season | Out |
| George Kittle | 49ers | Achilles | TBD | TBD |
The 2026 NFL season is just weeks away. With preseason kicking off this weekend, fans will get a first look at rookies and backups in action. Considering the injuries that strike every year, being familiar with your team’s entire roster will be helpful later in the year.
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