Aidan Hutchinson, Other Injured NFL Stars We Can't Wait to See Back in Action in 2025

While football may be the ultimate team sport, the NFL is still a star-driven league. The games don't stop when the biggest stars are injured, but they're better when the best players are on the field.

Unfortunately, many of the NFL's biggest difference-makers were unavailable late in the 2024 season, including Detroit Lions standout pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson. The good news for the Lions—and their fans—is that he appears to be closing in on a return.

"I'm there. I'd say I'm good," the 24-year-old told ESPN's Marty Smith at The Masters (h/t Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk).

The 2023 Pro Bowler should be back on the field and wrecking game plans for the Lions in 2025, and we can't wait to see it. He isn't the only star in recovery we're excited to see, though.

Let's dive into some of the most noteworthy players returning from 2024 injuries, any relevant offseason updates and what sort of impact they could have early in the 2025 season.

Lions Edge Aidan Hutchinson

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

The Lions finished last season with an NFC-best 14-2 record. However, they were bounced from the postseason in the divisional round, in part, because they had too many defensive injuries to overcome.

The 2023 Pro Bowler wasn't the only key Lions defender to suffer a significant injury last season, but he was the biggest. The second-overall pick in the 2022 draft racked up 7.5 sacks and 27 quarterback pressures in only five games before suffering a season-ending broken fibula.

Fortunately, Hutchinson told Smith that he's nearing the end of his recovery journey.

"I'm gonna finish those evals and once I knock them out of the park, I'll be on my way and done with rehab," Hutchinson said. "It was a long process, I'll tell you that."

The potential impact of his return cannot be overstated. He's the centerpiece of Detroit's potent defensive front and the only top-tier sack artist on the roster.

Despite missing more than two-thirds of the season, Hutchinson still led the Lions in sacks. Za'Darius Smith—who was acquired at the trade deadline and released this offseason—was second with four sacks.

If Detroit is going to see enough of a defensive turnaround to make a legitimate Super Bowl run in 2025, Hutchinson is bound to play a big role. His return also means fans will get to see one of the league's most dynamic young defenders disrupting plays once again.

Based on the way he was playing before his injury, Hutchinson should be a legitimate 2025 Defensive Player of the Year Candidate.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

The Kansas City Chiefs did make it to the Super Bowl in 2024, but they fell flat against the Philadelphia Eagles.

While a lack of offensive playmakers didn't directly lead to Kansas City's 40-22 defeat—poor defense and shaky offensive line play largely bear the blame—it certainly didn't help.

By Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs were relying heavily on rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, trade acquisition DeAndre Hopkins and 35-year-old tight end Travis Kelce in the passing game. Early in the year, though, second-year wideout Rashee Rice was the star of the show.

In less than four full games, Rice caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He appeared to be well on his way to being the sort of dynamic No. 1 receiver Patrick Mahomes has lacked since Tyreek Hill was on the team.

Then, a torn LCL ended Rice's season.

However, there's a good chance the 24-year-old will be back for the start of the regular season.

"They just cleared the kid for the route tree!" Rice posted to Instagram earlier this month (h/t Ed Easton Jr. of Chiefs Wire).

During his absence, Worthy emerged as an explosive, if inconsistent option. Having those two—along with Marquise Brown, who was re-signed this offseason—could help give the Chiefs the high-powered passing attack they haven't since Hill's 2022 departure.

That's noteworthy because, over the past two years, Kansas City has learned to win with a stout defense (fourth in points allowed last season) and more of a methodical and balanced offense.

If the big play is consistently back in Kansas City next season, the Chiefs will remain the team to beat in the AFC.

Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven't reached the Super Bowl since Tom Brady's first season with the franchise in 2020, but they have remained an NFC contender, even after his 2023 retirement.

That offseason, the Buccaneers stumbled into a new franchise QB when they signed Baker Mayfield. The former Cleveland Browns castoff has kept Tampa's offense humming while regularly playing at a Pro Bowl level for the first time in his career.

Of course, a strong supporting cast has aided Mayfield tremendously. Wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin form one of the best duos in the league. But Mayfield and the Bucs spent the second half of last season without Godwin.

The 29-year-old was on a tear, too. In only seven games, he racked up 50 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns. That had him on pace for a 121-catch, 1,399-yard, 12-touchdown season.

Unfortunately, Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle in Week 7 and was done for the year. The Bucs did a good job of adjusting—thanks, in part, to a resurgent rushing attack—but it's fair to wonder how far Tampa might have gone with him in the fold. Its season ended with a close wild-card loss to the Washington Commanders, who went on the reach the NFC title game.

The Buccaneers fully expect to have Godwin back and at 100 percent next season.

"I'm feeling very good about it," general manager Jason Licht told WDAE's The Drive with TKras in March (h/t NFL.com's Bobby Kownack). "He's hitting all of his milestones."

With Godwin healthy, Tampa should have one of the NFL's top offenses in 2025. The Buccaneers, who beat both the Eagles and the Lions during the 2024 regular season, could also become legitimate title contenders.

Plus, watching Mayfield regularly dial up big plays with Godwin and Evans is a whole lot of fun.

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey doesn't need any introductions. He is electric when healthy, regularly slicing through defenses as a runner and a receiver.

In 2023, the three-time Pro Bowler earned Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the NFL in rushing yards (1,459), scrimmage yards (2,023) and touchdowns (21, tied with Raheem Mostert). He also helped San Francisco reach Super Bowl LVIII.

However, some fans could probably use a reminder of just how sensational McCaffrey can be after he barely saw the field in 2024.

The 28-year-old began the season sidelined by bilateral Achilles tendonitis. He returned in Week 10 but only appeared in four games before landing back on injured reserve with a PCL injury.

It was a forgettable 2024 campaign for McCaffrey and the 49ers, who dealt with other significant injuries, like Brandon Aiyuk's ACL tear and Trent Williams' season-ending ankle injury.

The good news is McCaffrey should be ready for the start of the season. He was "definitely close" to a full recovery in January, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, and expected then to be ready for offseason organized team activities.

The Stanford product is a joy to watch, and his return will be critical for the 49ers. San Francisco traded wide receiver DK Metcalf this offseason and may not have Aiyuk back for the start of the season.

"It's too early to tell," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said at the NFL Annual Meeting earlier in April, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

If San Francisco is going to get back in the playoff mix, it needs McCaffrey to be the centerpiece of its offense once again.

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

OK, so second-year Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy isn't an NFL star yet. However, the 2023-24 national champion and 2024 first-round pick is still a player we can't wait to see on the field next season.

The Vikings traded up to snag the Michigan product with the 10th overall pick, and he appeared to have a legitimate chance to start as a rookie.

McCarthy, who completed 72.3 percent of his passes with the Wolverines in 2023, shined during his brief preseason action.

Unfortunately, the 22-year-old never made it past the preseason opener, as he then underwent surgery for a torn meniscus. Sam Darnold ended up starting all 17 games for Minnesota instead, led the Vikings to 14 wins and made the Pro Bowl.

Now, Darnold is with the Seattle Seahawks, and McCarthy appears on track to take the reins in 2025.

"He's been in a great spot. Every checkpoint he's exceeded," Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero in early April.

It'll be exciting to see if McCarthy can replicate Darnold's 2024 success under head coach Kevin O'Connell and with talented pass-catchers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.

And the possibility McCarthy could be even better is very intriguing.

"He’s different here. He’s a competitor. He wants to be great and he’s hungry," Vikings running back Aaron Jones told Good Morning Football on Thursday (begins around the 1:34 mark. "So, I think you’ll see it when he steps on the field."

Vikings fans are certainly eager to get a longer look at the player who could be their quarterback of the future. The rest of us want to see if McCarthy can be the next signal-caller from an impressive 2024 class to become a star.