The 2026 NFL season is not even a month old and already some teams have had their plans completely changed by injuries. A few stars are dealing with problems that should only cost them several games, while others have already been ruled out for the rest of the season. With that in mind, these are some of the worst injuries of the 2026 NFL season so far, based on the severity of the injury and how much the player means to his team.
Jaxson Dart’s injury might be the most damaging one so far because of what it does to the Giants at quarterback. Dart injured his left knee during New York’s 28-6 loss to the Rams. At first, the Giants believed they might be dealing with an MCL sprain. Further testing revealed damage to his MCL, PCL and meniscus, although his ACL remained intact. Dart will undergo surgery and miss the rest of the regular season. The expected recovery from the meniscus repair is around four to six months.
The timing makes it even worse. Dart had thrown three touchdowns in New York’s opening win over Dallas and was supposed to be the young quarterback John Harbaugh could build around. Instead, the Giants are now back to Jameis Winston while also trading for J.J. McCarthy.
De’Von Achane’s season ended after only three games when he tore the ACL in his left knee against Kansas City. Achane was tackled early in the game and immediately left with what Miami feared was a serious knee injury. The following day those fears were confirmed, and Miami placed him on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
This injury hurts even more because Achane was coming off the best season of his career. Achane rushed for 1,350 yards in 2025, finished with 1,838 yards from scrimmage and made his first Pro Bowl. Miami also gave him a four-year, $64 million extension during the offseason. The Dolphins entered 2026 expecting Achane to be one of the centerpieces of the offense. Instead, an already struggling team lost its most explosive running back before September was even over.
The Giants somehow ended up on this list twice. Brian Burns tore the ACL in his right knee during New York’s win over Tennessee and has already been ruled out for the rest of the season. Burns had been one of the leaders of the Giants defense and entered the year as a three-time Pro Bowler with more than 70 career sacks.
Losing him only days after Dart’s season-ending injury makes it much worse.
Myles Garrett’s injury initially did not look nearly this serious. Garrett struggled badly in his Rams debut against San Francisco and later admitted he felt like the “worst version” of himself. The reason became much clearer afterward. Garrett underwent knee surgery and was placed on injured reserve, with reports putting his recovery at around six weeks.
The Rams paid heavily to acquire him after he set the NFL single-season record with 23 sacks in 2025. Garrett was supposed to immediately become the centerpiece of the Los Angeles pass rush. Instead, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year lasted one game before needing surgery. The good news is that this is not expected to end his season.
A.J. Brown’s injury was one of the first major injuries of the season. Brown hurt his right ankle during New England’s opening loss to Seattle when Nehemiah Pritchett’s knee landed awkwardly on it. An MRI later confirmed a high-ankle sprain, and Brown was placed on injured reserve. The current expectation is that he will miss around six weeks.
New England traded for Brown because it wanted Drake Maye to have a true No. 1 receiver. Brown had only three catches for 26 yards before leaving, but he also drew a 34-yard pass-interference penalty that helped set up a touchdown. Losing him for more than a quarter of the season means Maye has to operate without the receiver who was supposed to make his life easier.
Baker Mayfield’s injury may not be season-ending, but quarterbacks automatically move high on a list like this. Mayfield dislocated his right thumb late in Tampa Bay’s loss to Minnesota. Initial X-rays showed no fracture, but Mayfield is expected to miss at least three games while rookie Jalon Daniels takes over the offense.
Tampa Bay is already 0-3, which makes missing several games much more dangerous. Three weeks might not sound serious compared with a torn ACL, but three losses in September or October can end a season just as effectively. The Buccaneers now have to survive without their starting quarterback while also dealing with injuries elsewhere on offense.
NFL injuries happen every year, but 2026 has already taken away several important players before the season has really settled in. Dart, Achane and Burns are done for the regular season. Garrett and Brown will miss large chunks of it, while Mayfield’s absence could put Tampa Bay even further behind.
Some of these teams built their entire offseason around the players who are now sitting on injured reserve. Miami paid Achane to be a centerpiece. Los Angeles traded for Garrett to transform its defense. New England brought in Brown to help Maye. The Giants were hoping Dart could take the next step.
Four weeks into the season, and already several of those plans are already gone.
That is the brutal part of the NFL. A team can spend an entire offseason building the perfect roster, and one harsh tackle can change everything.
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