15 Injuries That Drastically Changed the Outcome of the 2015 NFL Season

By Jason Fletcher

While injuries affect every team in every sport, there are some that completely change the course of a team’s season. Whether it’s a star, or a vital role player, there are certain players who are so important to their team that their absence can take a promising season and flush it down the drain. Here are the 15 most impactful injuries from the 2015 NFL season.

Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

15 Injuries That Drastically Changed the Outcome of the 2015 NFL Season

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CB Orlando Scandrick, Dallas Cowboys — The Cowboys have actually been pretty good defensively this season, as the unit is the No. 5 defense in the NFL in both total defense and pass defense. Where Scandrick's absence has been felt the most is in the turnover department where the Cowboys rank dead-last in the NFL with only eight takeaways.

WR Kevin White, Chicago Bears — There have been rumors circling the White may return before the end of the season, but the damage has already been done. Without a consistent second option behind Alshon Jeffery in the passing game, the Bears have struggled to score all season long and currently sit at 5-7 as a result, two games out of a playoff spot.

WR Steve Smith Sr., Baltimore Ravens — Granted, the Ravens were only 2-6 when Smith went down, but one of those losses was a 33-30 home overtime loss to the Browns that Smith missed due to a rib injury. Since going down, the Ravens have lost two more games by two points each. Take away those three losses without Smith and the Ravens would be 7-5 and right in the thick of the AFC Playoff race.

DT Johnathan Hankins, New York Giants — Since Hankins went down, the Giants have lost three straight games, a streak which has taken them from 5-4 to 5-7. Although they still have a shot at winning the weak NFC East, their chances would be much better with the disruptive Hankins in the middle of the defense.

LB DeAndre Levy, Detroit Lions — Levy has missed the entire season with a hip injury, and his absence has been felt with the Lions' 4-8 start. He led the defense in tackles with 151 last season, and he was the unit's best coverage linebacker as well. The Lions have definitely missed their best playmaker on defense.

RB Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers — The Steelers may be 4-2 in 2015 without Bell, but their playoff chances would look slightly better with him healthy. It's hard to envision the Steelers winning the AFC with DeAngelo Williams carrying the load, although he has had a nice year.

WR Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers — Allen was on a record-setting pace for most receptions in a season prior to lacerating a kidney against the Ravens. While the Chargers were headed for a down year prior to Allen getting hurt, the offense has been nonexistent without him.

LB Jon Beason, New York Giants — With Beason on the field in 2015, the Giants are 4-1; without him, they're 1-6. Not only is Beason still one of the best linebackers in the NFL, but he's one of the greatest leaders as well. Without him on the field, the Giants' defense has struggled mightily.

DE Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins — When the Dolphins signed Ndamukong Suh last offseason, it was expected that the defense would be able to create more pressure on the quarterback with Wake and Olivier Vernon receiving more one-on-one blocking. Prior to going on injured reserve, Wake had seven sacks in seven games, but all seven came in the three games he played in under Dan Campbell. Without Wake, the Dolphins' defense has struggled to get that same pressure.

WR Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys — Although Bryant is having a terrible season by his standards, the Cowboys are 3-4 in games that he's played and 1-4 without him on the field. Had he been healthy the entire season, it's very possible the Cowboys would have control of the NFC East.

WR Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears — Jeffery has missed five games this season due to various leg injuries. In the seven games he's played in, he has 690 yards receiving which means he would be on pace for a 1,500-yard season had he not missed any time. Without him on the field, the Bears have struggled on offense which has led to their 5-7 record.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers — The Steelers are 5-3 with Roethlisberger and 2-2 without him in 2015. While they're still right in the thick of the AFC Playoff race, they could be right there with the Bengals had Roethlisberger been healthy all season long. In the two losses without their quarterback, the Steelers lost 23-13 to the Chiefs and 23-20 to the Ravens. You'd have to think both of those would've been wins with Roethlisberger on the field.

LB Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens — It's hard to know what the Ravens' record would be had Suggs not torn his Achilles in the season opener, but it would certainly be better than 4-8. Not only does the Ravens' defense miss his ability to sack the quarterback, but the absence of his leadership on that side of the ball has been apparent as well.

RB Arian Foster, Houston Texans — The Texans have zero offensive weapons outside of DeAndre Hopkins, and I'm sure they would kill to have a healthy Foster right about now. He's such an important part of the Texans' offense that the team has gone from one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL to one of the worst without him.

QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys — Romo's broken collarbone has not only changed the shape of the Cowboys' season, but the entire NFC East has been affected as well. Without him on the field, the Cowboys are 1-7 and their first win came this past Monday night against the Redskins. Romo's absence has opened the NFC East race as no one in the division has better than a 5-7 record. The Cowboys would have locked up the division already if Romo had been healthy.

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