Why are more NFL players injured this year? NFL analyst explains the reason behind the growing number of injuries
The injuries keep piling up in the NFL and we’re only in Week 6. Are there more this year than in the past or is it an illusion? NFL expert breaks it down.


Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, running backs James Conner and Bucky Irving, wide receivers CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill, and Malik Nabers...these are the names of just some of the key NFL players who are currently injured as we enter Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season. Every year, it seems like we see more and more injuries, but have we really seen an increase in injuries this year? And if so, why?
ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler addressed the issue on the Rich Eisen Show and provided some interesting insight.
Fowler explains the rise in NFL injuries
Fowler said the surge in NFL injuries this season isn’t due to any single new cause, but rather part of a larger, ongoing trend. Every few years, the league seems to go through stretches where star players drop with injuries, and 2025 happens to be one of those rougher years.
He pointed out that the lack of physical training camps and reduced contact, a result of changes to the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) 15 years ago, has likely contributed. Players’ bodies no longer get “calloused” through repeated contact as they once did, making them more susceptible to soft-tissue injuries like hamstring and calf strains.
“Most people around the league believe that that has had an effect on injuries and that you kind of have to live with that, you know, and that was a concession that the owners were willing to give up in, exchange for more money, essentially,” Fowler explained.
💻 @JFowlerESPN
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) October 7, 2025
It keeps getting worse in Baltimore, which dropped to 1-4 after getting spanked by Houston on Sunday — how high is #RavensFlock panic level?#NFL pic.twitter.com/mQ4q6xSPqJ
Fowler also emphasized that today’s athletes are more explosive and faster than ever, which naturally puts greater strain on muscles and joints. In addition, teams now have more advanced medical data and are more cautious about holding players out to prevent minor issues (like calf strains) from turning into major ones (like Achilles tears).
As the years go on, the NFL is working to make the game safer, and though it may seem like we’re seeing more injuries than ever, it’s not necessarily because there actually are more than ever. Football will always be a dangerous sport by nature, but the league is putting rules in place to prioritize player safety as much as possible.
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