We were only days into the start of the 2013 training camps for the NFL before hearing about some season-ending injury news, plus other injury-related news that could have a big effect on teams throughout the year.
It starts with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. The news that Maclin would be lost for the entire 2013 NFL season just days into the Philadelphia Eagles training camp certainly dealt a big blow to the offense. Maclin was no doubt going to be a centerpiece to the infamous Chip Kelly hurry up offensive system. The fourth-year receiver had 69 receptions for 857 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the team in 2012.
Now the question is what to do next?
The Eagles still have DeSean Jackson to target. Jackson is an explosive receiver, albeit less consistent than Maclin. Together, the two were quite the duo. Jackson hauled in 45 receptions for 700 yards and two touchdowns in 2012. Jackson now moves into the primary option with Maclin out.
The only good news is that the injury happened very early in training camp, which gives Kelly, the ultimate schemer, plenty of time to implement players in a role to try to compensate for the production. The logical choice appears to be Riley Cooper. The former Florida Gator is the third option on the team, but the minute Maclin went down he immediately saw his future role increase. Cooper is the biggest of the three receivers by far, which can definitely give the offense an added element on the outside.
Of course the injuries didn’t stop at Maclin. The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens had problems of their own. It’s bad enough that they have lost players to free agency and retirement, now an injury doesn’t help. Tight end Dennis Pitta will be out for the entirety of 2013 with a hip dislocation.
Pitta had the best season of his career in 2012, hauling in 61 passes for seven touchdowns on the season. Then in the Super Bowl, Pitta came up huge with four catches and a touchdown.
Baltimore wasted no time in trying to replace Pitta, signing Visanthe Shiancoe to come in. Shiancoe has played on three teams in his career prior to joining the Ravens, with a 2012 stint in New England.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will now be without two of his top-three leading receivers from the championship season.
Continuing the theme of pass catchers getting injured is Seattle Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin. It’s been unfortunate with the injuries that Harvin has had in his career, highlighted by the migraines he notably suffers from. Harvin partially tore his hip labrum, and is expected time to be out could be lengthy. He won’t be there in Week 1 and might even miss the entire season, which would be a blow to the team because they brought him in hoping to beef up the offense even more. Seattle is perceived as legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Harvin inked a six-year deal worth $67 million for the Seahawks in the offseason, $25 million of which is guaranteed. Seattle will do everything they can to get him on the field.
It’s not all about skill positions either, as the Denver Broncos will be without offensive lineman Dan Koppen, who tore his ACL and will be out for the entire 2013 season. Koppen came over to Denver from New England in 2012, and started 12 games for the Broncos. Koppen was certainly an asset to quarterback Peyton Manning, as the team will try to restructure that offensive line to form the best protection packages.