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The 2025 NFL preseason is only one full week old, yet rosters have already been rocked by a surge of high-profile training-camp injuries that threaten to reshape depth charts before a single regular-season snap.
Rashawn Slater, the Chargers’ All-Pro left tackle, was carted off Wednesday with what the team confirmed is a torn Achilles tendon, ending his season before it began. Justin Herbert, already playing behind a rebuilt interior line, now loses his blind-side anchor for the second time in three years—reviving speculation that Los Angeles could pivot toward a veteran such as Donovan Smith or explore a trade for the Jets’ Mekhi Becton.
Indianapolis suffered an equally devastating blow when rookie cornerback Justin Walley, slated to start opposite JuJu Brents, tore his ACL during kickoff coverage in the preseason opener. His loss further thins a Colts secondary that already ranked 29th against the pass last season. Look for second-year DB Darius Rush to see an immediate uptick in reps, while GM Chris Ballard scours the waiver wire once roster cut-downs begin.
Quarterback health is suddenly a storyline in both conferences. Colts signal-caller Anthony Richardson fractured a finger on his throwing hand after hitting it on a helmet during red-zone drills. Although Richardson is expected back within two weeks, the setback hands valuable first-team reps to veteran backup Sam Ehlinger and could slow the former first-rounder’s year-two development arc.
Meanwhile, Rams fans exhaled after an MRI on Matthew Stafford’s back revealed “no structural damage,” per head coach Sean McVay. Stafford remains day-to-day, but Los Angeles quietly elevated rookie Ty Thompson to QB2, a move that suggests caution as the 37-year-old star manages lingering soreness.
In Baltimore, the season-ending leg injury to rookie corner Bilhal Kone during Thursday’s joint practice with the Commanders deepens concerns about the Ravens’ already thin corner rotation. With Marlon Humphrey still on PUP, defensive coordinator Zach Orr may lean on Brandon Stephens and undrafted standout Shyheim Carter to hold the back end together during a brutal early-season stretch that features matchups against Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes.
Fantasy managers also felt the ripple effects. Reports out of Cowboys camp indicate that CeeDee Lamb tweaked his hamstring and exited Thursday’s session as a precaution. Dallas labeled him “day-to-day,” but soft-tissue injuries have a way of lingering in the late-summer heat. Expect Michael Gallup’s late-round ADP to climb if Lamb sits out next week’s preseason tilt versus Houston.
Beyond the headline injuries, several stealth storylines are emerging:
• Brandon Aiyuk (49ers) and Chris Godwin (Buccaneers) both returned to limited practice after ankle scares, easing fears of extended absences but underscoring each team’s razor-thin receiver depth.
• Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. broke his fibula and faces a 6-to-8-week recovery window, putting rookie Trey Taylor on the fast track for first-team reps.
• Rams rookie RB Omarion Hampton continues to impress with Stafford sidelined, ripping off a 48-yard touchdown run in Wednesday’s intra-squad scrimmage.
Historically, the first two weeks of camp produce the league’s highest soft-tissue injury rate, according to NFLPA medical data. Coaches attempt to mitigate risk by alternating high-intensity days with walkthroughs, yet joint practices—now more popular than full preseason games—create unpredictable collision environments.
For bettors, line movement has already begun: Caesars trimmed the Chargers’ Super Bowl odds from 18-1 to 25-1 following Slater’s injury, while the Colts slid from +210 to +260 in the AFC South outright market. Savvy gamblers will monitor Monday’s MRI results on Richardson’s finger; a clean bill of health could present a brief buy-low window before Week 1.
What’s next? The second slate of preseason games kicks off tonight with New England at Philadelphia, followed by Saturday’s nationally televised clash between the Chiefs and Saints. Coaches will likely sit most starters, but roster-bubble players know each snap doubles as résumé tape—especially now, when injuries are opening pathways to September playing time.
Bottom line: the 2025 NFL season hasn’t even reached Labor Day, yet front offices are already improvising around key losses. For contenders like Los Angeles and Baltimore, the coming weeks will test roster construction and cap flexibility. For fans, the reminder is stark: every rep counts, and every August headline has the power to echo into January.
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