Missing stars: NFL's all-injury team is stacked with top talents
Injuries are the worst. And while the NFL is no stranger to them, this season has been particularly cruel, especially when it comes to the league's biggest names.
In fact, the 2017 campaign's storm of ailments has been so severe that you can actually form an amazing roster from those who've sustained either season-ending or significant long-term injuries:
| Position | Player | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| QB | Aaron Rodgers | Collarbone |
| RB | David Johnson | Wrist |
| RB | Dalvin Cook | Knee |
| WR | Odell Beckham Jr. | Ankle |
| WR | Allen Robinson | Knee |
| SWR | Julian Edelman | Knee |
| TE | Greg Olsen | Foot |
| LT | Taylor Decker | Shoulder |
| LG | Jack Mewhort | Knee |
| C | Forrest Lamp | Knee |
| RG | Marshal Yanda | Ankle |
| RT | Zach Strief | Knee |
| DE | J.J. Watt | Leg |
| DL | Haloti Ngata | Biceps |
| DL | Sharrif Floyd | Knee |
| DE | Derek Rivers | Knee |
| LB | Jerrell Freeman | Pectoral |
| LB | Whitney Mercilus | Pectoral |
| LB | Denzel Perryman | Ankle |
| CB | Ronald Darby | Ankle |
| CB | Jason Verrett | Knee |
| SCB | Tavon Young | Knee |
| S | Eric Berry | Achilles |
| S | Clayton Geathers | Neck |
| K | Sebastian Janikowski | Back |
| P | Kasey Redfern | Knee |
Aaron Rodgers was the latest superstar to go down, breaking his collarbone in Week 6 and radically altering the complexion of the NFL. But even before then, this team could've had Andrew Luck under center.
The offense boasts some of the NFL's most electric players, headlined by arguably the game's best wide receiver - Odell Beckham Jr. - and running back - David Johnson. Rookie Dalvin Cook was already looking like a star before a torn ACL ended his first season.
On the defensive side of the ball, J.J. Watt looms large. The future Hall of Fame defensive end suffered another injury after missing nearly all of 2016, and it'll be a tragedy if we never see him perform at his never-before-seen standard again.
Likewise, seeing all-world safety Eric Berry, who successfully beat cancer and won Comeback Player of the Year in 2015, fall to an Achilles tear was brutal.
This starting lineup would likely be a Super Bowl contender, which highlights just how much the NFL is missing in terms of star power this season.
Again, injuries suck.