Early-Offseason Injuries Sure to Impact the 2016 NFL Season

Now that we've turned the page on the 2016 draft, the NFL is officially steaming toward a new season. This is an exciting time for teams, players and fans, as the next few months will lay the foundation for the 2016 season.

Unfortunately, this can also be a stressful time of year because impactful injuries aren't just limited to the regular season. Just look back to last offseason, when third overall draft pick Dante Fowler Jr. tore his ACL on the first day of rookie minicamp and missed his entire 2015 campaign. His injury ultimately left the Jacksonville Jaguars without the prominent pass-rushing presence the team was counting on.

We've already seen a few potentially significant injuries occur this offseason. Some of them are sure to affect the product we see on the field in 2016—either by keeping players off it or by seriously impacting preparation during training camp and the preseason. These are the injuries we are going to examine here.

We'll be looking at both injuries and surgeries that have occurred since the end of the 2015 season that will affect at least the start of the 2016 season.

Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills

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Will Bills wideout Sammy Watkins be available for Week 1?

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins missed three games due to injury in 2015, but still managed to produce more than 1,000 yards receiving. He'll undoubtedly be hoping to increase his production with a full 16-game season in 2016.

However, Watkins will need to recover from offseason foot surgery in order to do so. He underwent surgery to help repair a fracture. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Watkins is likely to miss the preseason.

The Bills should definitely hope Watkins' recovery doesn't cut into the regular season, as he is one of their top offensive weapons and one of the brightest young receivers in the entire NFL. Pro Football Focus rated him 11th overall among all receivers for the 2015 season.

Getting him healthy has to be the immediate goal.

"We want on the field work obviously, but we’ll get that when the time comes," quarterback Tyrod Taylor recently told John Murphy of WGR 550. "The main thing is that he gets healthy so he can play at the level that we know he’s capable of playing at.”

Even if Watkins only misses training camp and the preseason, though, it could impact the Bills offense. Taylor is only entering his second season as an NFL starter and could use all the preparation time possible with his No. 1 target.

For Watkins, the injury could affect his ability to condition, run drills and practice routes in preparation for the coming season. Foot injuries are unpredictable, and this one could lead to a slow start for Buffalo's top pass-catcher.

Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints

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Offseason back surgery could affect Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan heading into the 2016 season.

Another player who underwent early offseason surgery is New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan.

Jordan battled through a lower-back injury throughout the 2015 season and underwent surgery shortly after the season to help correct the problem. Though Jordan seems optimistic about the coming season, he has yet to be cleared to return to the practice field.

“Still working up to (being full), sadly," Jordan recently said, per Nick Underhill of TheAdvocate.com. "As anybody knows once you get injured, you have to go through some rehab time. I’m still—quote, unquote—working up to it.”

Jordan racked up 45 tackles, 10.0 sacks and a forced fumble during the 2015 season, so it's safe to say New Orleans would like to have him on the field and at 100 percent this year. Getting Jordan healthy will be important, but so will preparing him for the season.

After a disastrous campaign that led to the firing of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan in 2015, the Saints will be looking to revamp their defense this offseason. New coordinator Dennis Allen could be installing several new scheme changes and will be looking to integrate new defensive lineman like rookie Sheldon Rankins and free-agent acquisition Nick Fairley.

If Jordan misses a majority of the offseason program, training camp and preseason, it could be difficult for him to find a fast start in the regular season.

Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, WRs, New England Patriots

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Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman have both undergone surgery this offseason.

Now potentially faced with the challenge of starting for the first month of the 2016 season, New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo would probably like to have a healthy receiving corps to work with all offseason.

Unfortunately, he won't.

Wide receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman have both undergone surgery this offseason. Amendola had surgery on his left knee and another to remove bone spurs from his foot. Edelman had another surgery to help correct the foot injury that cost him seven regular-season games in 2015.

According to Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com, Edelman shouldn't be in danger of missing the season opener. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports Amendola is "already moving well."

Still, the recovery time of these players is significant because it means Garoppolo won't have two of his top weapons for much of the offseason program. This will obviously affect the team's offensive chemistry and could hinder Garoppolo's development in preparation for the season opener.

Naturally, having either miss the opener due to complications would be even more devastating. Pro Football Focus rated Edelman 19th overall and rated Amendola 25th overall among wide receivers for the 2015 season.

Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars

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For the second year in a row, the Jaguars have seen their first-round pick suffer an early-offseason injury.

We already mentioned the Jacksonville Jaguars lost 2015 first-round pick Dante Fowler for his entire rookie year because of an early-offseason injury. Well, the Jaguars have seen this year's first-rounder suffer an similarly timed injury too, though the prognosis doesn't look quite as grim.

Former Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey suffered a slight meniscus tear in offseason workouts. The recovery time for a meniscus injury varies greatly and depends on its severity. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Ramsey will seek further evaluation from Dr. James Andrew this week, but the Jaguars expect him to be back in time for the season opener.

If Ramsey cannot get back in time for the regular-season opener, it will obviously be a disappointment for Jacksonville. Even if he can, any missed preparation time this offseason is going to jeopardize Ramsey's ability to start.

Though immensely talented, Ramsey is still a college player making the jump to NFL-level competition. In addition, the Jaguars are hoping Ramsey can make the transition from safety to cornerback.

Jacksonville is a team Pro Football Focus only rated 30th in pass coverage for the 2015 season. Getting Ramsey on the field and having him be effective will be important for the Jaguars' playoff hopes. Thanks to Ramsey's injury, Jacksonville is going to have a more difficult time accomplishing this goal.

Joe Haden, CB, Cleveland Browns

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Browns corner Joe Haden hopes to be fully recovered from ankle surgery in time for Week 1.

Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden underwent surgery on his left ankle back in March, and his status for the regular-season opener could be in doubt.

Haden, though, seems to believe he'll be ready to go in Week 1.

"I don't really know about training camp," Haden recently said, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. That's the goal—try to get back—but I just know for sure that my whole thing is...I'm not missing any games.''

Having Haden miss games would obviously impact the Browns dramatically and negatively. He is one of the only Pro Bowl talents remaining on the roster after this offseason's free-agency exodus, and he is one of the centerpieces of Cleveland's defense.

However, Haden could also have his season impacted just by having his recovery cut into training camp and the preseason. Cleveland is looking at another rebuild and another new coaching cadre. Though defensive coordinator Ray Horton has coached Haden before, he is dealing with a new set of circumstances and a different group of players.

A late integration of Haden into that group could lead to some major issues for him and for the Browns defense early in the 2016 season.

Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals

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Patrick Peterson is still in the process of recovering from offseason ankle surgery.

Haden isn't the only star cornerback trying to make a return from offseason surgery. Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals finds himself in a similar situation after undergoing an ankle procedure back in April.

According to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com, Peterson has had his stitches and protective boot removed, but he's only recently started to run "a little."

Peterson could be back in time for training camp.

“For the most part, just getting a lot of mental reps,” Peterson said of his recent OTA appearance, per Winfuss. “Just making sure I’m more than ready and prepared for when July rolls around.”

If Peterson is back to 100 percent in time for camp, then great. However, there is no guarantee this will be the case. Being able to run a little doesn't mean Peterson is anywhere near being ready to run at full speed.

As is the case with many of the players on our list, missed preparation time could cause Peterson to stumble early in the regular season. It's difficult enough for an NFL player to stay in game shape when he can run, cut and work out at full capacity.

Ian Williams, DT, San Francisco 49ers

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Ankle surgery cost Ian Williams a long-term deal this offseason and could cost him games in 2016.

Offseason ankle surgery could impact the coming season for defensive tackle Ian Williams and the San Francisco 49ers in a couple of ways.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Field Yates, Williams underwent an ankle procedure following the 2015 season that has "has left his status for the 2016 season opener in question."

Because of the surgery and because Williams couldn't pass a team physical, the 49ers rescinded a five-year offer and signed Williams to a one-year, $3 million deal instead.

Obviously, the fact that Williams might miss playing time is significant. Williams was the centerpiece of San Francisco's defensive front a year ago and is expected to be a central player in 2016. He racked up 65 tackles in 2015, and Pro Football Focus rated him ninth overall among defensive tackles for the season.

The coming season will also be affected because Williams and the 49ers now find themselves on opposite sides of a one-year prove-it deal. Williams has to show he can get and stay healthy and productive after his breakout 2015 campaign.

Last season marked the first time Williams has ever appeared in all 16 regular-season games.

Shaq Lawson, DE, Buffalo Bills

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Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson could potentially miss half his rookie season.

Rookie Shaq Lawson was drafted to add some punch to the front of the Buffalo Bills defense and to help improve a pass rush that Pro Football Focus rated last in the NFL for the 2015 season.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Bills will be getting much help from Lawson anytime soon.

Lawson recently underwent surgery to help correct a shoulder issue. According to a statement released by the Bills via the team's official website, Lawson could have played through the issue, but he chose to have it taken care of now:

"

The Buffalo Bills are taking measures to prevent the possibility of Shaq Lawson aggravating a pre-existing shoulder condition during the season. While he could continue to play, the Bills medical staff has determined that surgery is the best course of action for the overall health of his shoulder moving forward. He had an occurrence of the condition last week, but that would not preclude him from participating in the offseason program.

"

According to NFL Media's Albert Breer, Lawson was flagged for the shoulder issue at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The surgery will prevent Lawson from preparing for the coming season, and it could cause him to miss a large portion of it. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Lawson is likely to miss "five to six months."

This is obviously a big blow for Buffalo, which was counting on having Lawson's double-digit sack potential from day one.