Every NFL fan is full of anticipation and expectations before each new season begins. But the NFL is a brutal sport and injuries are a big element of the game that no one can control. In that sense, professional football is a true meat grinder. Every week, key players suffer injuries that seriously affect a team’s fortunes. There’s nothing worse than losing a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers in Week One or a key tight end like Travis Kelce.
So today we’ll look at some of the best players whose injuries ruined games and maybe even seasons. In many of these situations, there was a ton of hype behind them or their franchise had postseason dreams. In the end, their bodies betrayed them and ruined their hopes of achieving glory.
Christian McCaffrey
The NFL of today doesn’t usually pay running backs, and never has that been more true than now, but McCaffrey was a rare exception. He became the highest-paid player ever for his position when the Panthers signed him to a massive extension. In the end, it was a disaster for the franchise because he barely played the following season.
McCaffrey suffered multiple injuries that seemingly had no end. He endured multiple hamstring trains including problems with his joints and his ankle. It seriously affected the Panthers’ season because they lost their main weapon. In the end, they went 5-11 as McCaffrey’s body let him down and he was eventually shipped to San Francisco (via Sporting News).