Early NFL Offseason Injuries That Could Have a Big Impact in 2015

Injuries can have a major impact on an NFL season. In fact, they can completely derail one.

Just ask the Arizona Cardinals, who lost quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton to injury last season and then floundered in the playoffs. OR ask the Cleveland Browns, who jumped out to a 6-3 record but couldn't maintain momentum without starting center Alex Mack.

Unfortunately, serious injuries don't just occur during the regular season. Due to the physical nature of the NFL offseason, injuries can also happen in early offseason drills, non-contact workouts and in the weight room. 

The current offseason is no exception, and a number of notable NFL players have already found themselves on the injury report. Over the next few pages, we'll examine some of the early offseason injuries that could have an impact once the regular season gets underway.

Will Beatty, New York Giants

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New York Giants left tackle Will Beatty suffered a torn pectoral muscle while weight lifting and could be out of action for at least the first half of the 2015 season.

Beatty was ranked 14th overall among offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus last season and started all but one game over the past three seasons. His presence will clearly be missed.

Beatty's injury likely means that rookie offensive tackle Ereck Flowers will be thrust into a starting role somewhere along the line. If the inexperienced rookie ends up at left tackle, it could spell trouble for quarterback Eli Manning and the Giants offense.

“Some of the worst technique I’ve ever seen in a player drafted that high,” one veteran NFL line coach recently said of Flowers, per Greg Bedard of TheMMQB.com. “He played for one of the best coaches, Art Kehoe, and his technique was terrible.”

Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos

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Eli isn't the only Manning brother to have already lost his starting left tackle this offseason. Peyton Manning finds himself in the same situation after Denver Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady suffered a torn ACL.

The Broncos have already placed Clady on injured reserve. His season is over. 

This obviously creates a continuity problem, though Manning was forced to play without Clady for 14 games in 2013 and the Broncos reached the Super Bowl. 

Denver recently signed veteran right tackle Ryan Harris and could turn to rookie second-round pick Ty Sambrailo at left tackle. Harris spent time with the Houston Texans with new Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak.

Jeff Heuerman, Denver Broncos

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The Broncos have also lost rookie tight end Jeff Heuerman for the season with a torn ACL. Heuerman suffered the injury during rookie minicamp.

Though Heuerman wasn't on the team a season ago, his injury will have an impact because the third-round selection was drafted to help replace some of the production of former Denver tight end Julius Thomas.

Thomas signed a five-year, $46 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. Thomas was responsible for 1,277 yards and 24 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

With Heuerman out, the Broncos will likely look to Owen Daniels and Virgil Green at tight end. Daniels previously played for head coach Gary Kubiak in both Houston and with the Baltimore Ravens.

Dante Fowler Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

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Like Heuerman, Jacksonville Jaguars rookie pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. suffered a torn ACL in rookie minicamp.

Fowler's injury occurred in his very first NFL practice.

Again, this is a case where a player wasn't with a team last season, but where the injury will still have an impact. The Jaguars made Fowler the third overall pick in this year's draft for a reason. They need help in the pass-rushing department.

According to Pro Football Focus, Jacksonville ranked just 24th overall in pass rushing a season ago. The 6'3", 261-pound Fowler was expected to play a big role in making an improvement this season.

Fowler produced 8.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss with the Florida Gators. 

Caleb Sturgis, Miami Dolphins

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Not all offseason injuries are the result of workout mishaps. 

Miami Dolphins place-kicker Caleb Sturgis suffered a quadriceps injury to his plant leg during a team organized kickball game.  

Sturgis is expected to miss the rest of Miami's organized team activities, but he is expected to return at some point in training camp. The problem for Sturgis is that an inconsistent career (field-goal accuracy of just 77.5 percent) could have him on the hot seat.

“Listen, that position in general is one where the target’s always on you and the spotlight’s always on you,” said Dolphins special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi recently, via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. “When there’s only one of you on the roster, you have to perform.”

If a guy like undrafted rookie Andrew Francks can step up and make an impression during Sturgis' absence, the two-year veteran may have a hard time keeping his job.

Junior Galette, New Orleans Saints

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The New Orleans Saints may be without one of their best pass-rushers when the regular season opens, depending on which course of action he decides to take.

Veteran linebacker Junior Galette suffered a pectoral injury and may be forced to undergo surgery. According to NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport, doctors are currently undecided on whether to do the surgery.

"

Waiting on a Junior Galette (pec) update? It’ll likely a week or so. Docs split on surgery, awaiting 1 more opinion from a doc on vacation

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 5, 2015"

If Galette opts for surgery, he could miss most or all of the regular season. The recovery time for pectoral surgery is usually five to six months.

Galette plays outside linebacker and defensive end in coordinator Rob Ryan's hybrid defense. His versatility there would be sorely missed. He logged 10 sacks last season and was ranked fourth overall among 4-3 defensive ends by Pro Football Focus.