Zachary Engberg
2 min read • July 28, 2022
Posted in
2021 record: 12-5, lost AFC Championship | 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 10.5
The Chiefs weathered an early-season slide in 2021, winning the division for the sixth consecutive season and advancing to their fourth straight AFC Championship game.
Kansas City saw established stars Tyreek Hill, Tyrann Mathieu, and Charvarius Ward leave for massive pay-days, but added solid replacements around Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
The perennial contenders grade out as one the healthiest teams in the NFL with an SIC score of 94.
Speaking of Edwards-Helaire, the third-year running back spent less than a day on the PUP list while he completed his entry conditioning test. Edwards-Helaire missed five games last season with an MCL sprain but he figures to be ready for a big campaign.
The most notable new face is former pro-bowler Juju Smith-Schuster, who came to KC on a one-year deal after suffering a dislocated shoulder last October that sent him to the hospital and prematurely ended his regular season. He was able to return for the Steelers' playoff matchup against the Chiefs, but his shoulder was not yet at 100%.
Defensive linemen Chris Jones and Frank Clark each missed three games in 2021 after suffering early-season injuries, but both have been active during offseason programs.
Jones missed two games after suffering torn ligaments in his wrist Week 2 but played through the injury with a hard cast in 10 of his final 11 games. The 28-year-old didn’t undergo surgery for the injury over the offseason but has been active at OTAs and training camp.
Clark, meanwhile, missed three games in 2021 with early-season hamstring injuries that won’t carry into 2022. The edge-rusher has played 14-or-more games in each of his first seven seasons.
The lone training camp concern for the Chiefs is cornerback Rashad Fenton, who is on the PUP list after undergoing a cleanup surgery on his shoulder that doesn’t appear to be related to any 2021 injury. The Pro Football Docs expect him to be activated sometime during training camp.
Smith-Schuster has struggled in the last three seasons while dealing with injuries and a rotating door of less-than-stellar quarterback play.
The 25-year-old missed the last 11 regular season games with a dislocated shoulder, but the injury won’t impact his performance in 2022 and the Docs project him to be healthy. He should be ready to make an impact with the boatload of opportunities he will have this season.
2021 record: 9-8 | 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 9.5
The Chargers spent big on their defense this offseason after Justin Herbert nearly took the team to the playoffs in his second season.
Los Angeles added veteran All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack and shutdown cornerback J.C. Jackson to an already talented roster that is expected to contend this season.
The Chargers will be healthy enough to take that leap, coming in with an SIC score of 94.3, one of the best in the NFL and the best in the division.
Mack missed the final 10 games of the 2021 campaign after undergoing foot surgery in late November to address an injury he suffered in Week 3.
His pro-bowl teammate, Derwin James, is on the PUP list to open camp as he recovers from a February shoulder surgery and negotiates a long-term extension heading into his fifth season.
The most concerning issue on defense is third-year linebacker Kenneth Murray, who is still 4-to-6 weeks away from the practice field after undergoing left ankle surgery in April to repair a lingering injury that ended his season in early October.
On the other side of the ball, Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams, and Keenan Allen all come in healthy after each star played 16 games and had near-career seasons in 2021.
Justin Herbert played in all 17 games and has yet to miss a game in his career.
The 31-year-old sack connoisseur suffered a foot injury Week 3 and, after initially playing through the injury, he underwent season-ending surgery the last week of November.
Despite his injury and rising age, the Chargers dealt for Mack, who the Docs believe will be clear of the foot issue as he creates one of the most dangerous pass-rush duos alongside Joey Bosa.
Mack has notched 40-or-fewer tackles and single-digit sacks in each of the last three seasons after averaging 54 tackles, 16 TFL, and 11 sacks in his first five.
James underwent shoulder surgery in February to repair a torn labrum that he picked up sometime in 2021, similar to fellow pro-bowlers Jalen Ramsey and Tee Higgins.
Like those two stars, James will be able to play Week 1, so long he can come to terms on a long-term extension with the Chargers.
James played in 15 games in 2021 after missing all of 2020 with a torn right meniscus and the first 11 games of 2019 with a right Jones fracture.
The all-purpose all-star missed only one game in 2021 – coming in Week 16 after landing on the COVID-19 list – despite suffering hamstring, hip, finger, and ankle injuries.
None of those injuries were significant and Ekeler comes into his sixth season with a clean bill of health, according to the Pro Football Docs.
The 27-year-old logged career-highs with 276 touches, 1,558 yards, and 20 touchdowns and there is no reason to believe that he isn’t capable of putting up similar production in 2022.
2021 record: 7-10 | 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 9.5
The Broncos had one of the busiest offseasons among all NFL teams both in roster and ownership turnover, and come in with the biggest collection of injury concerns in the contentious division.
Denver traded for future HOF quarterback Russell Wilson, who missed the first games of his career in 2021 after suffering a gruesome right finger fracture in Week 5.
Wilson will be throwing the ball to a quartet of pass-catchers who are each dealing with the fallout from significant injuries.
Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Albert Okwuegbunam, and KJ Hamler have combined for three torn ACLs, one high-ankle sprain, and one hip surgery in the last 21 months, but only one of the bunch is unavailable as camp begins.
One of the key linemen expected to protect the new QB, Graham Glasgow, is active at training camp after missing most of 2021 with a combination of a fractured leg and irregular heartbeat.
Right tackle Billy Turner was placed on the PUP list and has been mostly unavailable for the Broncos while dealing with an unspecified injury, opening up the right tackle spot for a competition at training camp.
Denver is likewise in a major transition on defense after trading away Von Miller last season.
Bradley Chubb struggled through a career-worst season in 2021 after suffering an injury in Week 2, while his new pass-rush partner, Randy Gregory, was placed on the PUP list after undergoing shoulder surgery in March.
Wilson missed three games with a fractured right middle finger with associated ligament damage that required a pin and multiple screws.
The injury – the first significant one of Wilson's career – will have no impact on the upcoming season, according to the Pro Football Docs, and actually points to how healthy and productive the 33-year-old has been in his career.
Sutton is primed for a repeat of his 2019 pro-bowl season as he will be two years removed from a torn ACL. The Pro Football Docs say he will be fully healthy in his first season playing with a pro-bowl caliber quarterback.
Jeudy's high-ankle sprain stalled his sophomore season, but the injury won't linger into 2022 and Jeudy will be healthy and available for Week 1 in what may be a prove-it season for the talented 23-year-old.
Young speedster KJ Hamler, unfortunately, comes into camp with the lowest SIC score this season after suffering a torn ACL and LCL and hip injury going up for a pass in Week 2. The multi-ligament repair alone complicates his recovery, but the added hip component makes Hamler unlikely to be effective or available in 2022.
The starting left guard went down with a fractured left ankle and associated ligament damage in Week 9 and missed the rest of the season.
Glasgow was able to avoid the PUP list and is on track to return in Week 1, but the Pro Football Docs will maintain healthy, if moderate, concern due to the aggressive nature of the injury and his bout with A-fib.
Chubb's 2021 season was derailed by a high-ankle sprain in Week 2, which kept him on IR for eight games. He was able to return for six of the last seven games, but posted only 20 tackles and one interception while going sackless.
Luckily, the Docs say, the sprain won't linger into 2022 and Chubb will be healthy and in a place to return to his pro-bowl 2020 form.
Gregory, who came over from the Cowboys on a $70 million contract, is another in a line of stars opening camp on the PUP list after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. The Docs say Gregory will be activated soon and fully recovered by Week 1.
2021 record: 10-7, lost AFC Wild Card | 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 8.5
The Raiders snuck into the AFC playoffs last season despite posting a minus-65 net point differential.
The offense struggled somewhat in the second half of the season after Henry Ruggs was arrested and released and star tight end Darren Waller suffered a nebulous knee injury on Thanksgiving.
All-Pro wideout Davante Adams is likely to remedy any lack-luster offensive output, as he combines with Waller, slot star Hunter Renfrow, and bruiser Josh Jacobs to give Derek Carr a dangerous set of offensive weapons.
Veteran right guard Denzelle Good won't be a part of the offensive revolution, as the 31-year-old retired from the NFL on Monday. Good suffered a torn ACL Week 1 last season and was set to re-take the starting right guard spot on the line that was sub-par in 2021.
The defense will look to repeat a somewhat surprising campaign with a mostly healthy depth chart.
Cornerback Trayvon Mullen Jr. was placed on the PUP list as he recovers from an unspecified surgery in May. Mullen Jr. suffered a toe injury in Week 4 and missed 11 of the final 12 games, but should be ready for Week 1.
The two major additions on defense – linemen Bilal Nichols and Jonathan Hankins – were placed on the PUP list for an undisclosed reason but are expected to be activated soon.
Waller suffered a left IT band strain on Thanksgiving that, according to the Pro Football Docs, was minor enough to avoid missed time.
Waller, however, missed five games with the IT band strain and a back injury that was later reported on the injury report.
While the Docs are steadfast his 2021 injury was minor, they are confounded enough by his lengthy absence to drop his SIC score by 10-plus points.
Written by Zachary Engberg
