The 2025 NFL season is heating up after Week 4, but several teams are dealing with critical injuries to star players. From season-ending setbacks to short-term absences, here’s the full rundown of the latest NFL injury news and what it means moving forward.
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New York Giants: Malik Nabers Faces Major Setback
Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is feared to have suffered a likely ACL tear. The non-contact nature of the injury suggests a cleaner recovery outlook, but the average return timeline for ACL surgery is about 10 months. Early data projects a comeback around Week 1 of the 2026 season, with an additional six-week ramp-up period expected.
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Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson Hamstring Update
The Ravens received a scare when Lamar Jackson exited with a hamstring injury. Severity remains TBD, but the average recovery time is 2–3 weeks. With Baltimore’s bye scheduled in Week 7, the team may play it safe and rest Jackson until after the break.
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San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall’s Knee Re-Injury
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall left the game due to a knee issue, suspected to be a mild re-aggravation. Encouragingly, he was seen on the bike on the sidelines, suggesting it’s not serious. His Week 5 status is TBD, but he leans slightly toward playing.
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Minnesota Vikings: JJ McCarthy Timeline
Quarterback JJ McCarthy is progressing from injury, but comments from the team imply a conservative approach. While he could return as early as Week 5, the Vikings are more likely to hold him out until Week 7, with Week 6 serving as their bye.
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Washington Commanders: Terry McLaurin and Jayden Daniels
- Terry McLaurin avoided injured reserve but considered surgery, a sign of high severity. He’s expected to miss 2–3 weeks, with Week 5 status trending doubtful.
- Rookie QB Jayden Daniels will play in Week 5 with no performance dip projected.
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Dallas Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb Recovery Outlook
The Cowboys will be without star wideout CeeDee Lamb for the short term. While he avoided IR, data suggests he will return around Weeks 6–7, with Week 7 being most likely.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Godwin’s Ramp-Up
Chris Godwin saw 58 snaps and 10 targets in Week 4 but only managed 3 catches. He’s still ramping up from injury, with the average full recovery window set at 6 weeks. Expect stronger production in the final third of the season.
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Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy’s Risk Factor
Rookie receiver Xavier Worthy posted 121 yards in Week 4 and continues to impress. However, medical data suggests a 40–50% chance of re-injury over the course of the season.
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Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt High Ankle Injury
Rookie tackle Joe Alt suffered a high ankle sprain. X-rays came back negative, and most cases don’t require surgery. While the average timeline is around 3 weeks, the fact that he was carted off could indicate higher severity. Week 5 availability is doubtful.
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Philadelphia Eagles: Lane Johnson Monitoring
Veteran tackle Lane Johnson exited with a shoulder injury. There is no indication of severity yet, and the Eagles will monitor his practice participation leading into Week 5.
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Houston Texans: Hot Streak Continues
While the Texans avoided major injury news this week, they remain on a hot streak heading into Week 5. With fantasy football managers battling for wins, Houston’s surge is an encouraging storyline.
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Final Thoughts
The NFL injury landscape after Week 4 of the 2025 season is shaping playoff outlooks and fantasy football decisions alike. From Malik Nabers’ season-ending ACL to Lamar Jackson’s hamstring watch and CeeDee Lamb’s timeline, teams must adjust quickly as they head deeper into the season.