Injured Players Who Could Swing NFL Playoff Races

At this point in every NFL season, there's a laundry list of players and teams fighting through major injuries.

This year, it seems like we've witnessed more injuries to more prominent players, doesn't it? 

Let's take a look at the sidelined players who could ultimately swing NFL playoff races in both conferences. 

Aaron Rodgers

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Aaron Rodgers is the NFL's current career leader in quarterback rating by a wide margin, and he's arguably the league's most effective all-around signal caller. 

The Green Bay Packers will be replacing an unquestionably elite player at the game's most vital position—there's no doubt the fractured collarbone Rodgers suffered on Monday Night Football in Week 9 against the Chicago Bears could swing the NFC playoff race. 

The former MVP said the following on his weekly radio show, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky: "I think we'll know more as the week goes on, but I do have a fractured collarbone. Significant injury. More about timetable later."

So while it isn't known when Rodgers will be able to return to the field, the Packers will have to scramble to remain competent on offense in an extremely competitive NFC North, a division in which three teams already have five wins. 

Luckily, their running game has become one of the most efficient ground attacks in the league. Heading into Week 10, Green Bay is tied with the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders—teams with running quarterbacks—for the highest yards-per-carry average in the NFL at 5.0.

However, Rodgers' replacement, Seneca Wallace, hindered the Packers offense in the loss to the Bears. He completed only 11 passes for 114 yards with an interception. 

Rodgers is such a prolific passer, Green Bay's bound to experience a precipitous drop-off at the quarterback position while he's sidelined. 

The Packers would love to get Rodgers back for the Thanksgiving showdown against the Lions in Detroit on November 28. 

Percy Harvin

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Percy Harvin has been off the IR/designated to return list for a few weeks now, but he isn't expected to be on the field for the Seattle Seahawks' Week 10 clash with the Falcons in Atlanta. 

Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweeted the following about Harvin's availability:

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Pete Carroll says not counting on Percy Harvin playing this week.

"

Ever since Seattle signed the electric Harvin to a six-year, $67 million contract in mid-March, Seahawks fans have been anxiously awaiting to see him on the field at the same time as Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and Golden Tate. 

Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell are likely anxiously awaiting Harvin's Seahawks' debut as well. 

Seattle has accumulated the 27th-fewest passing yards per game in the NFL through its first nine games. 

When Harvin returns, he'll add a much-needed element to the Seahawks offense that, coupled with their stingy defense, could very well make them extremely difficult to beat down the stretch. 

Geno Atkins

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Geno Atkins tore his ACL in Week 9's Thursday night game against the Miami Dolphins, which means he's done for the remainder of the Cincinnati Bengals' season. 

Although Marvin Lewis' team has a deep and athletic defensive line, Atkins is the undisputed best player on that side of the football. 

In 2011, the former Georgia Bulldog totaled 34 quarterback pressures (sacks, hits and hurries)—the fourth-highest of any defensive tackle, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Last year, Atkins accumulated a whopping 78 quarterback pressures. Cameron Wake of the Miami Dolphins was the only defensive lineman or 3-4 outside linebacker who had more pressures than the Bengals' defensive stalwart. 

Cincinnati is still two games up in the AFC North, but it's impossible to recreate the sheer havoc Atkins creates on the defensive interior.

Before he was lost for the year, Atkins had six of the Bengals' 25 sacks. 

DeMarcus Ware

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The Dallas Cowboys have been without DeMarcus Ware for the last three games due to a quad injury, but fortunately, they've gone 2-1 in those outings, and the defense has been stingy. 

Per Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com, Ware should be back for Week 10:

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Jerry Jones said DeMarcus Ware is ready.

"

There's no doubt that Dallas is more ferocious defensively with Ware in the lineup. Although the former Troy product is now 31 years old, he's still one of the most disruptive edge-rushers in the NFL. 

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Ware had the third-most quarterback pressures at the 3-4 outside linebacker position in 2012. 

At 5-4, Dallas sits atop the NFC East by one game, but the remaining schedule features some challenging, intraconference contests:

• Week 10—at New Orleans Saints 
• Week 12—at New York Giants
• Week 14—at Chicago Bears
• Week 15—vs. Green Bay Packers
• Week 16—at Washington Redskins
• Week 17—vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Cowboys boast an explosive offense—only the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers average more points per game—but they'll need a healthy Ware over the last two months of the season to get back to the playoffs. 

Lance Briggs

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Lance Briggs is the heart and soul of the Chicago Bears defense. Heck, it seems like he's the only veteran left. 

Before he fractured his shoulder in Week 7's loss to the Washington Redskins, the Brian Urclacher's long-time linebacker mate was leading the team in tackles with 64 and tackles for loss with eight. 

The injury occurred on October 20, and Pro Football Talk tweeted out this initial timeline for Briggs to return:

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Bears LB Lance Briggs out 4-6 weeks with shoulder injury, per league source. No surgery needed.

"

However, via Nick Wilder of CSNChicago.com, the linebacker said the following: “The way injuries go, the doctors said I’m supposed to be out 4-6 weeks. I feel more like I’ll be out 2-3 (weeks). We’ll meet somewhere in the middle.”

Although the Bears are riding high after their 27-20 win over the Packers in Green Bay, their defense needs Briggs back on the field. 

Linebacker Jon Bostic was picked in the second round of the 2013 draft, but Chicago would like its experienced leader patrolling the middle of its defense.

Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions would mark the third week removed from the occurrence of his injury. 

Russell Okung

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Seattle Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung suffered a toe injury in Week 2's win over the San Francisco 49ers and was placed on IR/designed for return after it was discovered that he tore a ligament in that toe.

Without him, Seattle's offensive line been pretty porous. 

Quarterback Russell Wilson has been under pressure on a league-high 48.3 percent of his dropbacks this season, compared to 39.2 percent in 2012, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Also per PFF, the Seahawks have graded out as the fourth-worst pass-blocking offensive line thus far in 2013.

Fortunately for Wilson and Seattle's offense, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Twitter, Okung is back on the practice field: 

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For the #Seahawks OT Russell Okung returned to practice, per the NFL transaction notice, after being on IR to return. Window is 3 weeks

"

Wilson would love to get his starting blind-side protector back for the last seven games of the season as the Seahawks look to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. 

Clay Matthews

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Clay Matthews has appeared in only four games this season, and the Packers need him badly, especially with Aaron Rodgers ailing. The menacing pass-rusher amassed three sacks in those four outings.

According to Ty Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Matthews could see the field in Week 10, although he's not fully recovered from his fractured thumb:

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McCarthy on Matthews: Clay's going to try to go this week at practice. With the club. See how it goes in practice.

"

Suddenly, with Rodgers out, the Packers must rely on their running game and defense. 

Against a Josh McCown-led Chicago Bears offense in Week 9, Green Bay allowed 442 yards of offense, 6.6 yards per play and 25 first downs in defeat. 

With the quarterback position in flux with Rodgers out, Matthews' presence is vital.

Ryan Clady

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Denver Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady was lost for the season after he endured a Lisfranc injury in Week 3's win over the New York Giants. 

Protecting Peyton Manning is clearly of the utmost importance, and Clady was extremely good at doing that in 2012. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the former Boise State Bronco allowed only one sack all season. 

In his place, Chris Clark has already surrendered four sacks, per PFF. 

With two of the next four against the sack-happy Kansas City Chiefs, there's a chance the loss of Clady could ultimately have a major impact on the AFC West division title race. 

Jay Cutler

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Josh McCown has turned in two relatively solid performances standing in for the injured Jay Cutler, which could buy the typical starter more time to rest the groin muscle he tore in Week 7's loss to the Washington Redskins. 

Fox Sports' NFL insider Jay Glazer tweeted the following about when the quarterback would be able to return:

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Jay Cutler has a muscle tear in his groin. Out at least four weeks

"

Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune tweeted this quote from Cutler himself about his availability this week against the Detroit Lions:

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Jay Cutler on groin recovery: "I don't think we can say I'll be out there for Detroit." (per chat w @WaddleandSilvy)'

"

McCown has completed 59 percent of his passes at 7.8 yards per attempt with three touchdowns and no interceptions as Cutler's replacement. His combined QB rating is 100.2.

But Cutler is the unquestioned leader of the offense. 

Before getting injured, the former first-round pick of the Denver Broncos had only one game with a QB rating less than 90, and he was completing nearly 65 percent of his passes in Marc Trestman's offense. 

Michael Crabtree

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A torn Achilles' tendon has kept Michael Crabtree off the field for the San Francisco 49ers this season after a breakout campaign in 2012. 

But on November 5, 49ers.com reported that Crabtree had been cleared to practice.

The former first-round pick hadn't drifted into the bust realm, but he hadn't truly "arrived" until his fourth NFL season. 

ESPN's Mike Sando did the research on the Colin Kaepernick-Crabtree connection a year ago, and provided the following statistics:

• "Kaepernick threw eight touchdown passes with one interception last season when targeting Crabtree. He had one touchdown pass with four picks when targeting other wide receivers." 
• "Kaepernick targeted Crabtree on 39.6 percent of the receiver's pass routes from Weeks 11-17, the second-highest figure in the NFL over that span (Brandon Marshall, 44.2)."
• "Counting playoffs, Kaepernick targeted Crabtree more than three times as frequently as he targeted any other 49ers player on third down and in the red zone."

Although the 49ers are a run-first, defensive-minded team and are winners of five straight, they'd like to add more spark to their passing offense that currently averages the fewest yards per game in the NFL. 

Crabtree set career highs across the board last season with 85 catches, 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns.

Think the 1,000-yard wideout will benefit Kaepernick when he returns?

Vince Wilfork

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Vince Wilfork was lost for the season when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4. 

Since then, the New England Patriots have actually held it together rather nicely with the unknown defensive tackle grouping of Chris Jones and Joe Vellano. Veteran Tommy Kelly has also been a key cog on the interior. 

Unfortunately for Bill Belichick's team, the Boston Herald reported Saturday that Kelly was placed on season-ending IR with a knee injury. 

Though the Patriots have a two-game lead in the AFC East, they'll be fighting for playoff positioning over the next two months and might be a bit more vulnerable on defense with the 6'2'', 325-pound Wilfork and 6'6'', 300-pound Kelly sidelined.