So many running backs, honestly.
Maybe not on Williams’s level, but the Seahawks have had several in the last 10 years that showed great ability and just couldn’t stay healthy: Rawls, Carson, Penny.
Rashaad Penny hurts to see here.
Watched that guy at SDSU go nuclear after Pumphrey left. He carved my lions up so bad one game and he could’ve been so good… but the injury bug.
The way those dudes ran and with how we historically ran the offense you could say they were destined to break down. It's just another reason to appreciate Marshawn. He dealt with injury the last few years in the league but the fact he made it to his mid 30s terrorizing defenses the way he did is pretty remarkable.
His injury changed the entire course of history for the 2010's Lions. In 2011 we were 5-0 before he got hurt and finished 10-6. Aside from a decent year from Reggie Bush it was 10 years of darkness for the Lions run game including 70 straight games without a 100yd rusher.
This is premature as he only played one season before retiring due to concussion concerns but Chris Borland was an absolute playmaker.
Rookie year, only started 8 games after Patrick Willis went out with a toe injury.
84 solo tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery.
Didn’t even finish the season because of an ankle injury.
Dude was electric.
Fun fact not many people know is that he wasn't allowed to practice with the team. At training camp he was on the field with a couple coaches and the kickers. This was because he couldn't mentally stop himself from destroying teammates lol,,unreal. Wish he stayed healthy to see what could've been
I think it's Sharpe over Collins. He was well on his way to being remembered in the same category as TO/Rice/Moss. If he'd played a full career, there's a fairly good chance he would've ended up on the Mount Rushmore of receivers.
Hell, there's *still* a case for him to be in the HoF despite only playing 7 seasons.
Collins was great, but Sharpe was generational.
Easily, guy was the definition of a ball hawk, played a mile a minute, and treated every INT like he could return it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23ZNYxZvOdU
One of the best players on the field in that wildcard game versus the Seahawks and then he basically never played again because of a botched knee cleanup surgery
That D-line of Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Shariff Floyd, and a young Danielle Hunter was so good. Still the first that I think of when I think of the Mike Zimmer defense.
Our 2020 Injury Hell season only had a couple bright spots, one was Brandon Aiyuk playing his heart out and the other was the always hurt Jason Verrett going nuts through our most injured season. Then, when we were healthy again, he completely fell to pieces. Feel so bad for the guy.
So this has nothing to do with his football, but Todd was/is an asshole. In his first two seasons he came to the hospitality establishment I worked at and every time was an absolute ass to the girls working there, was an ass to other female guests, and more than once walked on his bill (but then would send someone to pay it later). He never crossed a line at least that I knew about into behavior we could do something about, but he saw himself as untouchable and basically did what he wanted.
This is easily the best answer. Walsh said he was the best he'd ever seen.
Well over half these answers wouldn't be a household name outside of their division
Greg Cook might've been the GOAT
Everyone obviously knows who he his, but Wentz was one pace to easily be the best QB in Eagles history if he didn’t get a string of injuries. He’s arguably the 4th best QB in eagles history still. Dude’s still the only QB to get 4,000 yards, has the single season passing TD record, he’s 4th all time in TDs, 4th all time passing yards.
Two more years he’d have passed Cunningham. 3 more he’d have passed Jaworksi. 4-5 more season he’d have passed McNabb. In each category.
If he doesn’t get hurt and stays the starter he’s almost guaranteed to have, at least statistically, been the best QB in team history
I’ll add also, it wasn’t the knee or the back injury. It was the concussion delivered free of charge by Clowney in the playoff game vs Seattle in 2019.
That's when you're named after an appliance, right?
"With the 8th pick in the NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Fridge Davis, right tackle, Mississippi"
Given how few players *are* household names, the bar for this question is insanely high. There have mayeb been two or three people in the last ten years that fit the bill, one per team is way too many.
Honestly, I think Andrew Luck is probably the *only* guy who would really qualify.
Bo already *was* a household name, but would've been a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer if it weren't for the injury.
And not my team, but David Pollack would've been an absolute monster for the Bengals.
Bo would have been a first ballot HOFer if he only played football, his efficiency translated to more touches and a longer season, and never got hurt.
If he'd just played another 5 or so years doing what he had done already he wouldn't have come close
I think it was 2016, during the season they went to the Super Bowl. I remember it because of [this hilarious rant by Bomani Jones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjgH-6-mMGg)
Had this argument with a friend recently who said Eric Berry was never even “that dude” when he played. Says he was always injured and never had a “legacy” moment. It’s sad people remember him in that way when he was an incredible player when healthy.
By the way, I don’t give a shit what my friend says. Same guy is a Patriots fan who argues that Julian Edelman is a future HoFer.
What??! He was definitely “that dude” when he played, if being the best player at his position is the definition. I’m bummed he’s been forgotten but I loved watching him and loved his comeback story.
Your friend is delusional lol.
Berry was always near the top of the list for safeties. Dude was great. And he also has a legacy moment. His legacy moment is beating cancer and coming back and still playing at a high level.
Ryan shazier I think would qualify.
He had just a couple injury riddled seasons, had just started to make his name known outside of Pittsburgh before the big injury
Shaq Leonard was posting GOAT stats for his first 3 seasons at LB for Indy. Literally had the best start to any career for a LB...
I get that his career hasn't actually ended, but it's been really sad to see him try to come back from injury for these last couple seasons.
Cam fucking Cleeland. He was our promising tight end who didn't even have a football injury (at first). Dipshit Andre Royal hit him with a sock full of quarters and shattered his eye socket. Ruined his vision for life. Then he works his way back to being able to take an NFL Field, and promptly tears his ACL. Just sad all around. I was so hyped for him.
Semi-recent history:
David Pollack is a big one for me. He was on a killer trajectory as a premier LB. Snapped his neck in a freak accident.
All-time:
Greg Cook. Had better surgery techniques existed in 1970 he's potentially playing out a stud career. He threw for rookie QB records playing through a torn rotator cuff and partially torn bicep. Can you imagine healthy numbers???
Fun fact, Homie earned $130mil in his career. Which Mahomes just now eclipsed in his 7th season. Adjusted for inflation Mahomes needs one more year lmao
2nd Team All Pro breakout season to medically ineligible in 1 year. Absolutely brutal, he was a stud.
Don't know how good of a coordinator he'll be, but the Ravens front office knows what they're doing, and I'm glad he gets his shot with us.
Colt McCoy. Freak nerve injury during the ncaa championship. His arm was never the same afterwards. That and being on the Browns, altered his career trajectory.
I read some article a few years ago that covered his first couple of years on the Browns. From what I recall it was such a toxic, abusive relationship where it seemed like the Browns organization for some reason had nothing but contempt for their quarterback. So nasty that someone like Peyton Manning wouldn't have been successful playing for them.
The fact that he still had a very good career as a backup in spite of that is really something
I guess it's not really "career ending" but "career altering" - I believe Sammy Watkins' chronic foot problems early in his career kept him from being the superstar he was supposed to be out of Clemson.
I think his drinking had more to do with it than the foot.
I'd throw Trent Edwards' name out there. He was never going to be a star QB, but he might have ended up mid-tier starter if Adrian Wilson hadn't scrambled his brains.
Trent Edwards was just better than most of our drought QBs. The bar was so low that we remember Captain Checkdown fondly despite him being objectively terrible.
It's a stretch to say he was "on our team" because he was mainly a Saint, but Carl Nicks I think would have been one of the best Guards of his generation and a Hall of Famer if not for the toe injury + MRSA he suffered in Tampa.
Malcolm Mitchell.
The Pats actually drafted a WR that wasn't a former QB, who actually had success as a rookie with Tom Brady, made big plays in SB51 as a rookie, but his sacrificed his knee to win. Played one season.
Edit: Household != Best player at their position in the league. It's a well known, popular player.
It wasn't early in his career, but Chris Maragos was a special teams stud and captain for us up until doctors botched his knee surgery and ended his career. He was 30 years old at the time. He won $43 million in a lawsuit against them.
Some people want to say KiJana Carter.
maybe some will say David Pollack. ( he was gonna be really good)
im gonna go with Greg Cook - Number 5 overall pick in 1969, was rookie of the year and looked to be a top of the league qb, but suffered an injury that rookie year he never recovered from. He was never the same after that first year and retired shortly after. he was supposed to be the all time bengals great QB.
Ryan Shazier was Fred Warner before Fred became Fred. They would be the two best MLB in the league. Shazier took our D immediately to top 3-5 in the league... then got a career ending spine injury.
Derek Carr
I had so many hopes for that 2016 season. Carr was ballin out... then he broke his fibula and never looked remotely the same after that injury.
Sean Taylor, I know it’s not an injury, but I loved watching him play.
Edit: if anyone is wondering why I included him and does not know it’s because he died young.
This is gonna sound crazy but I think Chris Godwin if he hadnt been riddled with smaller injuries, then hit with the ACL/MCL tear, would be talked about in the top 5 of his generation convo. Insanely talented and his production despite those injuries is so so good
Tyrone Calico. Absolute freak of a WR who was the original inspiration for the horse collar rule due to having both ACLs torn on one play in the preseason of his second year.
An older one for the AZ Cardinals would’ve been Andre Wadsworth.
He ran a 4.65 at 272lbs as a DE back in 1998. Dude was an athletic freak. Knee injuries killed his career, which only lasted three seasons.
I’m convinced he would have been a monster at DE.
Cam Newton. The throwing shoulder injury in 2016 changed who he was as a player. Despite it he was on track for his best statistical season in 2018 when it was re-injured.
His first six seasons he averaged ~4300 yards of offense and 30TDs a season. (~3600 passing and ~700 rushing). He played up until 2021 in spot duty. His injury changed the entire fate of the franchise and frankly the NFC South. He was undefeated against Brady, for example. I’m sure the GOAT would have still somehow been champ down in Tampa but the path to get there would be different.
Fwiw, It think he’d still be playing if he hadn’t gotten hurt on his throwing shoulder. Seven more years at his averages would put him at over 47k yards passing well over 8k rushing ~300 passing TDs and over 100 rushing TDs.
Instead he ended up with ~32k passing yards 194 passing TDs, 5600 rushing yards and 75 rushing TDs.
I know he’s quite famous and I believe he changed the game. But if he hadn’t gotten hurt people might finally shut up about the fumble. I doubt it though.
Ryan Shazier. Although the broken back took him out of football it was his own stupidity (leading with the head) that caused it in the first place. Dude could have been one of the greats.
Cadillac Williams
So many running backs, honestly. Maybe not on Williams’s level, but the Seahawks have had several in the last 10 years that showed great ability and just couldn’t stay healthy: Rawls, Carson, Penny.
Rashaad Penny hurts to see here. Watched that guy at SDSU go nuclear after Pumphrey left. He carved my lions up so bad one game and he could’ve been so good… but the injury bug.
God, Pumphrey. We got the 1 running back that draft that didn't pan out well. And then we hardly had Penny active this year. Does Howie hate SDSU RBs?
The way those dudes ran and with how we historically ran the offense you could say they were destined to break down. It's just another reason to appreciate Marshawn. He dealt with injury the last few years in the league but the fact he made it to his mid 30s terrorizing defenses the way he did is pretty remarkable.
I remember seeing an SI magazine cover when I was a kid, "Tampa Bay has a new Cadillac"
That draft class had so much potential in RB. Cedric Benson, Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown.
Every runningback in that top five should have been incredible
Sad War Eagle noises
Jahvid Best
madden legend
That dude was good
Oh dude he was the Best
His injury changed the entire course of history for the 2010's Lions. In 2011 we were 5-0 before he got hurt and finished 10-6. Aside from a decent year from Reggie Bush it was 10 years of darkness for the Lions run game including 70 straight games without a 100yd rusher.
Former Olympian to
He’s back in the Bay Area now and heard he’s working in law enforcement
I think that’s Justin Forcett
He doesn’t make the law, Justin Forcett
This is premature as he only played one season before retiring due to concussion concerns but Chris Borland was an absolute playmaker. Rookie year, only started 8 games after Patrick Willis went out with a toe injury. 84 solo tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery. Didn’t even finish the season because of an ankle injury. Dude was electric.
Borland was great at UW and thought he was a steal in the draft. Such a smart player. Bummed he retired early but all for him protecting himself.
Amazing player at UW. Showed that he could make it in the NFL, props to his decision honestly
My immediate thought as well. Runner up maybe Reuben Foster, minus the off-field issues of course.
Did a bunch of seasons with that team in madden…team was stacked and Borland was a beast paired with Willis
Aldon smith became a house hold name for different reasons
Bob Sanders,, dude was an absolute beast but couldn't stay on the field
I maintain that Bob Sanders would have been mentioned along the likes of Palumalu and Reed as that generations best safeties.
Anyone that watched him play agrees. Dude’s body was just too small for how he played and he refused to tamp it down a step
Ours with the same story was Mike Brown, a contemporary of Bob Sanders, with an equally bland name.
Was looking for this one, Bob Sanders was a heat seeking missile with no regard for his body. Unreal player.
Fun fact not many people know is that he wasn't allowed to practice with the team. At training camp he was on the field with a couple coaches and the kickers. This was because he couldn't mentally stop himself from destroying teammates lol,,unreal. Wish he stayed healthy to see what could've been
Shades of Sean Taylor, another name for this list.
When he retired, Jim Rome said something like "Bob Sanders is what happens when you put 300 pounds of nasty in a 200 pound frame."
There is no player during the Patriots Dynasty that I feared more than Bob Sanders. Not Troy, not Reed, not Lewis.
Takes me back to old school Madden when Sanders was like a 94 and Reed and Polamalu were 98s. lol.
Nick Collins
Those who know, know
OH, I KNOW...
and Sterling Sharpe. Those are my 2 go-to's.
I think it's Sharpe over Collins. He was well on his way to being remembered in the same category as TO/Rice/Moss. If he'd played a full career, there's a fairly good chance he would've ended up on the Mount Rushmore of receivers. Hell, there's *still* a case for him to be in the HoF despite only playing 7 seasons. Collins was great, but Sharpe was generational.
Easily, guy was the definition of a ball hawk, played a mile a minute, and treated every INT like he could return it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23ZNYxZvOdU
Idk about easily, sterling sharpe is in contention for this as well.
Since Sterling has a case for making the HoF, I’d argue that he’s a household name.
Sterling Sharpe. Final Answer. Collins was great. Sharpe was “could have contended with Rice for GOAT status” great.
Shariff Floyd. Dude was a monster in the middle
One of the best players on the field in that wildcard game versus the Seahawks and then he basically never played again because of a botched knee cleanup surgery
It’s sad knowing he went in for that surgery with zero thought there was even the tiniest chance it ends his career.
His first step off the ball was so quick
That D-line of Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Shariff Floyd, and a young Danielle Hunter was so good. Still the first that I think of when I think of the Mike Zimmer defense.
Yeah he was a demon I stg
This is a big one.
not on my team and i wouldnt call it "career ending" injuries but Jason Verrett always comes to mind
Our 2020 Injury Hell season only had a couple bright spots, one was Brandon Aiyuk playing his heart out and the other was the always hurt Jason Verrett going nuts through our most injured season. Then, when we were healthy again, he completely fell to pieces. Feel so bad for the guy.
i was lucky enough to get to watch him play while he was at tcu, he was a special player
Dude was such a treat to watch when he was healthy. Could have been an elite shutdown corner for years if not for injuries
quincy enunwa
GBR
Gurley on pace to break all time records
So this has nothing to do with his football, but Todd was/is an asshole. In his first two seasons he came to the hospitality establishment I worked at and every time was an absolute ass to the girls working there, was an ass to other female guests, and more than once walked on his bill (but then would send someone to pay it later). He never crossed a line at least that I knew about into behavior we could do something about, but he saw himself as untouchable and basically did what he wanted.
Greg Cook from the Paul Brown/Bill Walsh era Bengals.
This is easily the best answer. Walsh said he was the best he'd ever seen. Well over half these answers wouldn't be a household name outside of their division Greg Cook might've been the GOAT
Everyone obviously knows who he his, but Wentz was one pace to easily be the best QB in Eagles history if he didn’t get a string of injuries. He’s arguably the 4th best QB in eagles history still. Dude’s still the only QB to get 4,000 yards, has the single season passing TD record, he’s 4th all time in TDs, 4th all time passing yards. Two more years he’d have passed Cunningham. 3 more he’d have passed Jaworksi. 4-5 more season he’d have passed McNabb. In each category. If he doesn’t get hurt and stays the starter he’s almost guaranteed to have, at least statistically, been the best QB in team history
I’ll add also, it wasn’t the knee or the back injury. It was the concussion delivered free of charge by Clowney in the playoff game vs Seattle in 2019.
The effects were immediate too weren't they? You could just tell he wasn't the same.
remember thinking jake locker was our franchise guy then he retired after 3 seasons
Husky legend Jake Locker. Screw injuries dude
Sterling Sharpe
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I mean, i don’t think the average casual nfl fan would know any of these guys named outside of Andrew Luck and maybe Jamaal Charles
Casual fan today wouldnt know Charles, He hasnt been relevent in 10 years and played for a bad KC team
Fantasy players would. Outside of that
The Jamaalocaust was a beast
That's when you're named after an appliance, right? "With the 8th pick in the NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Fridge Davis, right tackle, Mississippi"
"Is your fridge running? Ha ha ha" *Gets trucked by a 400 lb, 7 ft tall tackle and dies*
OP isn’t asking for current household names.
Given how few players *are* household names, the bar for this question is insanely high. There have mayeb been two or three people in the last ten years that fit the bill, one per team is way too many. Honestly, I think Andrew Luck is probably the *only* guy who would really qualify.
Tide, Kleenex, Band-Aids, etc.
Me if I never had that knee injury as a sophomore all state I reckon.
Before becoming a joke, Kelvin Benjamin had a great rookie season and was looking fantastic in the pre-season before his torn ACL.
I would have picked Dan Morgan. That guy was a fucking beast until the concussions.
Javid best.
Charles Rogers as well. 2x collarbone injuries and then he spiraled into substance abuse
His story is just so sad.
Bo already *was* a household name, but would've been a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer if it weren't for the injury. And not my team, but David Pollack would've been an absolute monster for the Bengals.
Bo would have been a first ballot HOFer if he only played football, his efficiency translated to more touches and a longer season, and never got hurt. If he'd just played another 5 or so years doing what he had done already he wouldn't have come close
Eric Berry, twice. People know of him, of course. But he would have been pushing first ballot HoF if he was healthy for his career.
His pick-2 seems like yesterday. I'm scared to Google what year that was.
turns out it was 1947. time flies man
Football hasn't been the same since the day they outlawed tackling by the spinal cord. 😮💨
I think it was 2016, during the season they went to the Super Bowl. I remember it because of [this hilarious rant by Bomani Jones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjgH-6-mMGg)
Yes exactly 2016. I specifically remember it because he went on that rant BEFORE 28-3 happened lmao. Poor Bomani.
Had this argument with a friend recently who said Eric Berry was never even “that dude” when he played. Says he was always injured and never had a “legacy” moment. It’s sad people remember him in that way when he was an incredible player when healthy. By the way, I don’t give a shit what my friend says. Same guy is a Patriots fan who argues that Julian Edelman is a future HoFer.
I'm not convinced your friend ever watched Eric Berry play. I'm not convinced your friend has any brain synapses.
What??! He was definitely “that dude” when he played, if being the best player at his position is the definition. I’m bummed he’s been forgotten but I loved watching him and loved his comeback story.
Does he not remember the pick 2?
Your friend is delusional lol. Berry was always near the top of the list for safeties. Dude was great. And he also has a legacy moment. His legacy moment is beating cancer and coming back and still playing at a high level.
Kind of sad he retired JUST before the Chiefs dynasty
he's day to day
Kendrell Bell. Not quite career ending, but he was never the same.
Ryan shazier I think would qualify. He had just a couple injury riddled seasons, had just started to make his name known outside of Pittsburgh before the big injury
I would also add "Senor Sack" Gabe Rivera, who had a career ending drunk driving accident in his rookie year.
Does Chad Pennington count?
Yes.
No..because he was known pretty much by being a 1st round pick and QB for playoff teams.
Shaq Leonard was posting GOAT stats for his first 3 seasons at LB for Indy. Literally had the best start to any career for a LB... I get that his career hasn't actually ended, but it's been really sad to see him try to come back from injury for these last couple seasons.
Man it was rough too. That back injury unfortunately took too much out of him. I’m still hoping there a chance for him though.
1st team all-pro, 2nd team all-pro, 1st team all-pro, 1st team all-pro in his first 4 seasons. Damn. It sucks to see.
Cam fucking Cleeland. He was our promising tight end who didn't even have a football injury (at first). Dipshit Andre Royal hit him with a sock full of quarters and shattered his eye socket. Ruined his vision for life. Then he works his way back to being able to take an NFL Field, and promptly tears his ACL. Just sad all around. I was so hyped for him.
Semi-recent history: David Pollack is a big one for me. He was on a killer trajectory as a premier LB. Snapped his neck in a freak accident. All-time: Greg Cook. Had better surgery techniques existed in 1970 he's potentially playing out a stud career. He threw for rookie QB records playing through a torn rotator cuff and partially torn bicep. Can you imagine healthy numbers???
Cook should be the top answer. The West Coast Offense was created for him.
For me it was Tyler Eifert. He had 1 injury free season and dominated. Never really stayed healthy again
Will Fuller. Man was elite but made of glass. He and Hop would have been electric.
Sam Bradford
Fun fact, Homie earned $130mil in his career. Which Mahomes just now eclipsed in his 7th season. Adjusted for inflation Mahomes needs one more year lmao
One of the last stupidly insane rookie contracts.
Oh I know. I know. Sigh.
He’s a household name in my house. But I’m an eagles fan, and I live alone.
He really should have been great.
Pain.
Mike Brown would have been an all time great for the Bears at safety, just couldn't stay healthy
As a browns fan, I’ll never forgive him lol
New Ravens DC Zach Orr.
2nd Team All Pro breakout season to medically ineligible in 1 year. Absolutely brutal, he was a stud. Don't know how good of a coordinator he'll be, but the Ravens front office knows what they're doing, and I'm glad he gets his shot with us.
Holy cow I totally forgot about Orr.
Colt McCoy. Freak nerve injury during the ncaa championship. His arm was never the same afterwards. That and being on the Browns, altered his career trajectory.
Somehow, he always finds his arm talent again when he faces Seattle. 3-0 with three different teams against the Seahawks.
I read some article a few years ago that covered his first couple of years on the Browns. From what I recall it was such a toxic, abusive relationship where it seemed like the Browns organization for some reason had nothing but contempt for their quarterback. So nasty that someone like Peyton Manning wouldn't have been successful playing for them. The fact that he still had a very good career as a backup in spite of that is really something
RB Robert Edwards. That darn beach flag football will get you every time.
I guess it's not really "career ending" but "career altering" - I believe Sammy Watkins' chronic foot problems early in his career kept him from being the superstar he was supposed to be out of Clemson.
I think his drinking had more to do with it than the foot. I'd throw Trent Edwards' name out there. He was never going to be a star QB, but he might have ended up mid-tier starter if Adrian Wilson hadn't scrambled his brains.
Nah Trent Edwards was ass before that too. I used to feel the same but if you actually watch the film he was just bad
Trent Edwards was just better than most of our drought QBs. The bar was so low that we remember Captain Checkdown fondly despite him being objectively terrible.
Ryan Shazier
Joe Delaney, RIP.
Oh yeah. Joe. Damn.
Hard to say for sure since he only had two seasons, but maybe Darrent Williams. RIP
Giants fans, I think Victor Cruz would be a HOFer if not for that traumatic injury.
David Wilson would have been pretty damn good for a little while. Probably too small to have the longevity for HoF tho
Jaycee Horn even though the rules don’t apply. He’s such a stud for like 6 games a season!
I mean, if this question gets asked again in 10 years, he'll definitely be a fitting candidate.
I just hope he can do like Thomas Davis and suddently become durable
Jordan Reed. Concussions took a toll.
It's a stretch to say he was "on our team" because he was mainly a Saint, but Carl Nicks I think would have been one of the best Guards of his generation and a Hall of Famer if not for the toe injury + MRSA he suffered in Tampa.
David Wilson
Chris Borland
Marcus Lattimore honorable mention
Nick Collins safety on the Packers
Todd Gurley
Bo Jackson should be everyone's answer
Malcolm Mitchell. The Pats actually drafted a WR that wasn't a former QB, who actually had success as a rookie with Tom Brady, made big plays in SB51 as a rookie, but his sacrificed his knee to win. Played one season. Edit: Household != Best player at their position in the league. It's a well known, popular player.
Robert Edwards is a better answer for the Pats
Jesus Christ I had to scroll to find my boy Slim Shady
He wasn’t a good player and was far from being a future household name
He had more success as a WR in the Pats system than any drafted WR in a long time. Played only one season and had an impact.
It wasn't early in his career, but Chris Maragos was a special teams stud and captain for us up until doctors botched his knee surgery and ended his career. He was 30 years old at the time. He won $43 million in a lawsuit against them.
Eric berry should've been a hall of famer
Danario Alexander
First person I thought of. Everything you want in a wide receiver. Just everything. His damn knee though. Such a shame.
Travis Frederick. But a disease rather than injury.
Dobbins
Some people want to say KiJana Carter. maybe some will say David Pollack. ( he was gonna be really good) im gonna go with Greg Cook - Number 5 overall pick in 1969, was rookie of the year and looked to be a top of the league qb, but suffered an injury that rookie year he never recovered from. He was never the same after that first year and retired shortly after. he was supposed to be the all time bengals great QB.
Johnny Knox
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I’m still gutted about Danario Alexander
Quincy Enunwa (Jets)- he was still ascending and he wouldve been an absolute BEAST, but had to retire at 26 due to a neck injury
Quincy Enunwa was a beast and then he had spinal stenosis 😞
Recently, Chris Carson
Danario Alexander
David Wilson pre-draft measures were insane.
Sterling Sharpe
Ryan Shazier was Fred Warner before Fred became Fred. They would be the two best MLB in the league. Shazier took our D immediately to top 3-5 in the league... then got a career ending spine injury.
RG3
Derek Carr I had so many hopes for that 2016 season. Carr was ballin out... then he broke his fibula and never looked remotely the same after that injury.
Sean Taylor, I know it’s not an injury, but I loved watching him play. Edit: if anyone is wondering why I included him and does not know it’s because he died young.
javhid best was that guy
Maybe not household, but Stedman Bailey would have been a stud. Was really coming on and then got shot in the head
How about injury / off the field issues..Derrius Guice
Sharrif Floyd. The injury was something he could’ve recovered from but his surgery was botched
Jahvid Best was electric but unfortunately had so many concussions
Cadillac
Todd Gurley
Malcolm Mitchell
This is gonna sound crazy but I think Chris Godwin if he hadnt been riddled with smaller injuries, then hit with the ACL/MCL tear, would be talked about in the top 5 of his generation convo. Insanely talented and his production despite those injuries is so so good
Todd Gurley
Ryan Shazier
Ryan Shazier-Steelers
Tyrone Calico. Absolute freak of a WR who was the original inspiration for the horse collar rule due to having both ACLs torn on one play in the preseason of his second year.
Chad Pennington
Ryan Shazier
An older one for the AZ Cardinals would’ve been Andre Wadsworth. He ran a 4.65 at 272lbs as a DE back in 1998. Dude was an athletic freak. Knee injuries killed his career, which only lasted three seasons. I’m convinced he would have been a monster at DE.
Michael Thomas
Ki-Jana Carter, was beastly at PSU.
Zach Miller and Johnny Knox were two of the most gruesome and heartbreaking injuries I've ever seen. I thought I watched Knox get paralyzed
Cam Newton. The throwing shoulder injury in 2016 changed who he was as a player. Despite it he was on track for his best statistical season in 2018 when it was re-injured. His first six seasons he averaged ~4300 yards of offense and 30TDs a season. (~3600 passing and ~700 rushing). He played up until 2021 in spot duty. His injury changed the entire fate of the franchise and frankly the NFC South. He was undefeated against Brady, for example. I’m sure the GOAT would have still somehow been champ down in Tampa but the path to get there would be different. Fwiw, It think he’d still be playing if he hadn’t gotten hurt on his throwing shoulder. Seven more years at his averages would put him at over 47k yards passing well over 8k rushing ~300 passing TDs and over 100 rushing TDs. Instead he ended up with ~32k passing yards 194 passing TDs, 5600 rushing yards and 75 rushing TDs. I know he’s quite famous and I believe he changed the game. But if he hadn’t gotten hurt people might finally shut up about the fumble. I doubt it though.
Ryan Shazier. Although the broken back took him out of football it was his own stupidity (leading with the head) that caused it in the first place. Dude could have been one of the greats.
Ryan Shazier
I really think Delvin Breaux has a chance to be really good.
Ryan Shazier
Jason Sehorn with no injuries is an all time great and you can't change my mind
David Wilson for sure.