10 players who return from an injury

• Several important players who return from an injury will shape the 2025 NFL season: Stars such as Christian McCafrey, Aidan Hutchinson and DAK Prescott are expected to resume central roles after they missed a significant time in 2024, with everyone returning to teams who have to struggle in their absence.

• The health of these players could vibrate Playoff races and redefine team ceilings: From Tua Tagovailoa's brain coating in Miami to the long-awaited debut by JJ McCarthy in Minnesota, every comeback has important effects on the stability of the list, the offensive firepower and the post-season potential.

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Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

As Otas begins this week, teams and fans are officially relocating the squad building outside of the season to prepare for the 2025 season.

For players who recover from serious injuries, OTAs mark a decisive milestone in the rehab process. For some it is the first time that they navigate a serious setback. For others it is a familiar road that will hope that it will lead to a complete recovery and a new effect.

Here are 10 important players who want to recover from 2024 campaigns with entitled to injury in 2024.

1. RB Christian McCaffreyPresent San Francisco 49ers

McCaffrey missed the first eight games of the 2024 season with bilateral Achilles problems and later suffered an injury to the posterior cruciate ligament on his right knee against Buffalo, landed in an injured reserve and ended his season.

Without their all-pro back, the 49 fought and ended 6–11 after winning 35 games from 2021 to 2023.

In 2022 and 2023, McCafrey was most complete in football and earned over 90.0 PFF notes in both seasons, while he was forced 155 southern battles that the most in the league in this period. Last month he reported that the 49s started their program outside of the season.

He will be a critical piece for a team in San Francisco, which, after three appearances of the conference in the NFC, will be re -established in the NFC appearances.

2. Ed Aidan HutchinsonPresent Detroit Lions

Hutchinson was in the middle of a historical campaign before he had a broken tibia and fibula in week 6 against Dallas. The Pro Bowl Edge-Rusher worked in rare air and recorded 72 Pass-Rush victories ever in the PFF era in the first six weeks of a season. Remarkably, he achieved this sum in just five games, since Detroit had a goodbye in week 5.

Hutchinson is now completely recovered and is entering the top defensive player of the year in 2025 and as a cornerstone for a Lions team that is supposed to repeat itself as an NFC North Champions.

3. QB DAK PrescottPresent Dallas Cowboys

The cowboys missed the playoffs for the first time in 2020, mainly on the fact that DAK Prescott missed the last nine games of the season with a thigh injury in week 9. Since then, Prescott has explained that he is “almost 100%” and only have doubts The start of the season in Philadelphia.

Prescott was at its peak in 2023 and received a 90.0 -PFF class, which was fourth under 38 qualification quarters. He led the league with 38 big time throws and limited the errors and recorded a career of low sales rate of 2.0%.

To support his return The cowboys added Wide Receiver George Pickens by trade from the Steelers. Pickens with All-Pro-Kedee lamb brings with a dangerous vertical presence with 39 contested catches in its first three seasons one of the highest grades in the league.

4. WR Rashee ricePresent Kansas City chiefs

Rice suffered a torn ACL against the Chargers in a fluke game in week 4 when quarterback patrick Mahomes accidentally collided with his knee while both followed a fum. At that time Rice led the NFL with 24 receptions and took second place with 288 reception rooms, a breakout start that was abruptly broken off.

The chiefs still reached the Super Bowl, but their offenses clearly lacked the same blow without rice. As a unit, they only ended the 15th place in the PFF grade (75.3) and tried to create the explosive pieces that have defined their identity in recent years.

With the ongoing OTAS, the chiefs are expected to pursue a careful approach to Rice's recovery. If everyone progresses smoothly, he should return to full strength during the 1 -week -1 return.

5. QB Tua tagovailoaPresent Miami Dolphins

The dolphins seemed to be a team after securing their first 11-win season since 2008, but in week 2 the impulse was quickly discontinued when the quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was diagnosed in two years. Later in the season, he made a hip injury for the last two games and brought his overall games to six overlooked-another frustrating chapter in a career as a injury in Miami.

The best and only healthy season from Tagovailoa came in 2023 when he started all 18 games, including the playoffs. This year he led all quarterbacks with an 88.6 PFF degree and reported 36 large throws at 600 attempts and doubled his former career high of 2022.

With a roster that is already exposed to depth concerns, the dolphins cannot afford another season with quartersback injuries. Tagovailoa's health will be one of the defining factors in Miami's 2025 campaign, and another longer absence would raise serious questions about its long-term living capacity than $ 212.4 million.

6. QB JJ McCarthyPresent Minnesota Viking

One of the most fascinating strands of the 2025 season is how the Vikings with JJ McCarthy look in the center. The former election in the first round missed his entire rookie campaign after suffering a meniscus tear at the end of the season last August. Sam Darnold admired in his absence, led Minnesota to a 14:3 record and achieved a career best 80.7 PFF-Class-13. Among 42 qualified quarterbacks.

McCarthy was one of the country's best signal calls in Michigan last season and achieved an elite 90.6 PFF class and took sixth place in an adjusted share of final (80.0%).

McCarthy is now healthy and enters into a favorable situation in Minnesota with strong talent for skills and an improved offensive line. Although the Vikings play in a stacked NFC north, they are currently sitting at +100 to surpass 8.5 wins this season. According to Fanduel Sportsbuch – a bet that could prevent how quickly McCarthy finds his foot.

7. WR Chris GodwinPresent Tampa Bay Buccaners

Godwin had a strong start in 2024 and had 50 receptions for 576 yards and five touchdowns before a knuckle spoke early in week 7. Despite the injury, the Buccaneers confirmed their commitment to the veteran widoout and signed it an extension of $ 66 million in March ($ 44 million).

Godwin, a pillar of consistency in his eight-year career in Tampa, has never earned a PFF class below 75.7. In 2019 he headed all the broad recipients with a class of 90.7, the year in which he recorded career height in both in the reception stoves (1,333) and in touchdowns (nine).

The Buccaners entered one of the strongest receptive corps in the league with Godwin, the future Hall of Famer Mike Evans and the first round EMEKA EGBUKA, the dynamic rookie from the state of Ohio.

8. WR Chris OlavePresent New Orleans Holy

Olave's 2024 season was canceled by a few consequences, one in week 6 against Tampa Bay and one in week 9 against Carolina, which ultimately limited him to just eight games. In view of the circumstances, the saints made the decision to close him for the rest of the year.

Despite the setback, the earlier selection of the first round from the state of Ohio has already established itself as one of the best young recipients of the league. Olave landed 1,000 heter in each of his first two seasons. In 2023 he ranked in Yards Pro Route (2.07), contested catches (10) and yards after the catch (355) to the top 25 wideouts.

His return to the full strength will be of crucial importance for a criminal offense of Saints, which the rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is expected to begin with the rookie quarters back. To support the transition, New Orleans also brought Veteran Brandin Cooks back – originally designed by the team in 2014 – to strengthen the depth behind Olave.

9. Ed Bradley Chubb/Jaelan PhillipsPresent Miami Dolphins

During the loss of Tua Tagovailoa in Miami last season, the headlines dominated, the dolphins also suffered significant defense. Bradley Chubb missed the entire season when he recovered from a torn ACL in December 2023. In week 4, Jaelan Phillips was lost for the year after the crack of his ACL in less than 12 months.

Chubb was in the middle of a career best when he received an 88.8 PFF class in 2023, 12th, under 112 qualification Edge Defenders.

Phillips was an ascending star before injuries derailed his progress. In 2022, his second NFL season, he achieved a 90.1-pass rush note and made a massive leap in running defense, which improved from a grade of 44.8 as a rookie to 74.8.

With promising young pass-rusher Chop Chop Robinson, which ranked as a rookie among the top 20, the potential return of a fully glossy Chubb and Phillips Miami could give one of the most dangerous edge units in the league.

10. Tue Christian WilkinsPresent Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders invested a large investment in Christian Wilkins in March 2023 and signed him for a four-year contract of $ 110 million, which made him the second highest defensive tackle in the league. Unfortunately, Wilkins performed in just five games last season before suffering a season end jones fracture in his foot. There is speculation that he may need a second procedure that could delay his return to the 2025 season.

Before the injury, Wilkins was one of the most durable central defenders of the NFL. In seasons 2022 and 2023 on the defensive Tackles, he did not miss a game in the seasons of 2022 and 2023 1,990 in 2020.

To support the depth, the Raiders Tonka Hemingway (South Carolina) chose in the fourth round and JJ Pegues (Ole Miss) in the sixth. While both newcomers could contribute to this, the defense, which last season (57.3) took 30th place in team quality, urgently needs Wilkins in the line -up to return to the form.