Latest Pre-Camp Roundup of NFL's Top Injured Stars

The 2012 NFL season hinges on their health. 

Players like Rob Gronkowski, Jamaal Charles, Matt Schaub, Darren McFadden and Adrian Peterson suffered injuries over the last 12 months and have been on the road to recovery ever since. 

Some injuries were worse than others, but each respective organization has taken a variation of precautionary measures in an attempt to ensure their hobbled stars will be ready go to when the regular season begins in September. 

Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski suffered a severe ankle injury in the New England Patriots' AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens this past winter. 

When rolled up on by Bernard Pollard, Gronkowski's ankle significantly bent in an awkward direction; everyone thought the worst. 

The 6'6'', 265-pound mammoth of a man limped off the field, but he was ready for the Super Bowl. 

However, the former second-round pick was not himself in the biggest game of his career, showing a noticeable limp when running routes throughout the epic battle against the New York Giants. 

He had surgery to repair the damaged ankle following the Super Bowl loss. 

To check up on Gronkowski, ESPNBoston.com's Mike Rodak recently sent out this tweet, one that didn't include the Patriots tight end:

"

The Patriots have placed Mankins, LB Brandon Spikes, T Sebastian Vollmer, TE Daniel Fells, DT Myron Pryor and TE Jake Ballard on Active/PUP

— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) July 23, 2012"

Also on Twitter, former Boston Herald reporter and current NFL.com writer Ian Rapoport, sent out a tweet stating that "the Patriots have no concerns about the health of TE Rob Gronkowski going into camp."

Sounds like great news for New England and, well, horrible news for linebackers and safeties who'll try to cover the All-Pro tight end in 2012. 

Kenny Britt

Kenny Britt is one of many NFL players who has experienced an offseason to forget in 2012. 

Via 1045 The Zone out of Nashville, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com, the hobbled Titans receiver was busted for DUI at Fort Campbell last week. 

Also last week, Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean reported the shocking news that Britt underwent another knee surgery, the third in the last 10 months. 

"

#Titans WR Kenny Britt recently had another arthroscopic knee surgery - this time on his left knee, sources say. He's rehabbing at facility

— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) July 17, 2012"

The former Rutgers standout appeared to be on the fast track to superstardom. In 2010, his second professional season, Britt reeled in 42 passes for 775 yards with nine touchdowns. 

Through three games last year, Britt had 17 grabs for 289 yards with three receiving touchdowns before suffering his devastating knee injury. 

There's no telling when he'll see the field again or if he'll receive a suspension from the league for his DUI, which is his latest of several run-ins with the law that have occurred since he joined the NFL in 2009. 

Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson totally blew out his knee on December 24th, but not surprisingly, the physical freak of nature was running and cutting at full speed at the Vikings' team facilities only six months after reconstructive surgery, per TwinCities.com. 

What did come as a surprise was Peterson found himself amid the slew of NFL players who have been arrested this offseason when he was charged with resisting arrest outside a Houston nightclub in early July. 

He and his attorney are vehemently denying any wrongdoing and are stating Peterson was actually the victim, via Josina Anderson on Twitter. 

In regards to his recovery, signs are pointing to the punishing runner starting the preseason on the PUP list, according to Tom Pelissero of ESPNTwinCities.com. 

"

The smart money says it'll be at least a couple of weeks—perhaps after the first exhibition game on Aug. 10 at San Francisco—before he's activated from the camp/physically unable to perform list. That still would give him plenty of time to ramp up and play some role in the Sept. 9 opener.

"

Jamaal Charles

Because Jamaal Charles went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of the 2011 season, it should come as no surprise that he told the Kansas City Star he could play in a game today and that he will be cleared for training camp. 

The 2010 All-Pro has experienced what seems to be a rather conventional rehabilitation process, and all signs are pointing to him making a full return by, at the very latest, the start of the regular season. 

Hakeem Nicks

Victor Cruz emerged from obscurity in 2011 and set a New York Giants record with 1,536 receiving yards. 

However, Hakeem Nicks' 76 receptions and 1,192 and seven touchdowns also played an integral role in the G-Men's second Super Bowl triumph in five years. 

The North Carolina alum fractured a bone in his foot during the team's minicamp. Initially, the injury was said to sideline him for 12 weeks. But a source close to the situation told ESPN's Adam Schefter that "it was more like a '4- to 6-week' injury."

Speaking at the ESPY awards, Cruz spoke about Nicks' recovery and was quoted by Matt Ehalt of ESPN.com as saying,

"

"He looks good. He's walking again on his own so that's definitely a good sign. [...] He told me he'll be ready and he told me he'll take training camp to continue rehabbing and continue to get his foot back right, but I definitely expect him to be ready by game one."

"

The Giants will need their established wideout when they square off against the divisional rival Dallas Cowboys in the NFL opener on September 5. 

Matt Schaub

Matt Schaub was experiencing one of his most successful seasons as an individual and as a part of the Houston Texans in 2011 before a freak foot injury suffered on a quarterback sneak simultaneously ended his season and the hopes of the Texans advancing to the Super Bowl. 

Based on a July 12 report filed by ESPN.com, Schaub has been given the "green light" by team doctors to participate fully in training camp. 

There's no telling how light his workload will be, or if it'll be affected at all, but the foot of Houston's gun-slinger looks to be fully healed. 

Darren McFadden

In order for the Oakland Raiders to make any noise in the AFC West in 2012, Darren McFadden must be healthy. 

He was leading the NFL in rushing yards through six games in 2011, but he fell victim to a foot injury that put an end to his season. 

In a video recorded with NFL.com, the Raiders' brute running back said, "I've been full go with everything at OTAs and minicamp."

Though lisfranc injuries can be nagging, it seems as if McFadden is ready to be a full participant in the team's training camp and beyond.