From behind-the-scenes practice injuries to gruesome scenes on primetime television, the NFL has seen some of its biggest names fall to injury in just the first two weeks of the season. New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has already missed time, while Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb is set to miss the rest of the year. These injuries are huge blows for each of their teams but also for the NFL as a whole, as the league could be set to lose millions in advertising revenue in key matchups.
The injuries all started on the opening Monday night game of the season. The Bills made the trip down south from Buffalo to take on the league’s rising team, the New York Jets. The Jets made a blockbuster trade for four-time MVP and former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It was the final piece to the Jets’ franchise rebuild after going from a 13-loss team in 2021 to having both the offensive and defensive rookie of the year in 2022. Metlife Stadium in New York was set to explode as Aaron Rodgers took the field to lead the Jets to glory. Or at least that’s what was supposed to happen. On just his third play as a Jet, Rodgers was sacked, and as he was brought down, his ankle twisted in just the wrong way, causing Rodgers to tear his Achilles tendon.
The Jets went on to win that game with a walk-off punt return touchdown, but the mood in New York that night was somber. The face of head coach Robert Saleh in his post-game interview said it all, as Saleh told the world that “it’s not good.” The Jets went on to lose by 20 points to the Cowboys in their second game. The implications for the team’s season are huge. The Jets went from having a former MVP as their QB to Zach Wilson, a QB whom Saleh benched multiple times just last year. While you can’t write off that Jets defense, many have begun to speculate if that’s that for the Jets playoff hopes.
On Sept. 18, Monday Night Football saw yet another season-ending injury. Running back Nick Chubb received a handoff, and after running for a couple of yards, he was brought awkwardly to the ground among a pile of players. His teammates tried to help him up, but Chubb immediately took off his helmet, and as the commentators were telling America that the replay was too gruesome to show on TV, the fans in the stadium could be heard audibly gasping at what was being shown on the big screen.
Doctors believe that Chubb tore his MCL and, luckily, only stretched his ACL. This incident is the second time in his career that Chubb has had a significant and gruesome-looking left knee injury, previously tearing his LCL, PCL, MCL and hamstring in his Georgia Bulldog days. The Browns’ offense is completely built around Nick Chubb, and their quarterback, Deshaun Watson, has not looked good since his return from suspension less than a year ago. The Browns’ offense struggled for the rest of the game, desperately trying to fill the hole left by Chubb. The road to the playoffs was already tough for the Browns, and Chubb’s absence will make it all the more difficult.
Across the league, there have been other detrimental injuries to more star players. Star Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp reaggravated his hamstring injury from last season just a few weeks before the season began. This injury placed him on injured reserve and he will miss at least through week four, possibly more. The Rams have started 1-2 without Kupp.
Giants running back Saquon Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain in a week two game against the Cardinals. There were originally questions about whether Saquan would make an immediate return before news broke that the injury was as severe as a high ankle sprain. The face of the Giants franchise hopes to be back for week four, but high ankle sprains have kept others out for upwards of six weeks. The Giants lost their first game without Barkley on Thursday night football against the San Francisco 49ers.
Finally, Cowboys star corner Trevon Diggs tore his ACL last week during practice. Diggs is just one of many star defensive players on the Dallas team, but the Cowboys’ defense saw a season low, allowing 28 points to the formerly winless Cardinals in their first game without Diggs.
When injuries happen like these, we, as fans, often think about their effects on the teams. But what do these teams’ effects have on the league? The Jets are set to be on primetime an astounding five more times this season, while the Browns still have one left. Without the faces of each franchise and the promise of success, the NFL could lose viewership in five huge games. These injuries could be detrimental to their teams and to NFL viewership as the season moves forward into week four and beyond.
