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NFL injuries to watch going into 2017

The health of many NFL players yields question marks heading into 2017 training camp, with everything from injuries last year to "offseason maintenance" surgeries. The following 25 players are some of the biggest concerns going into 2017 NFL training camp.

 
1 of 25

Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals

Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals
Aaron Doster / USA Today Sports Images

Bernard had ACL surgery in November, and is questionable for the start of the season. The Bengals drafted Joe Mixon in the second round, so they certainly have a fallback.

 
2 of 25

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Vikings

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today Sports Images

Bridgewater suffered a catastrophic knee injury before last season, and his status for the 2017 season is in doubt. The Vikings are set with Sam Bradford at quarterback.

 
3 of 25

Deone Bucannon, LB, Cardinals

Deone Bucannon, LB, Cardinals
Jim Dedmon / USA Today Sports Images

A key part of Arizona's defense, Bucannon underwent ankle surgery late this offseason and is questionable for the start of the season. He suffered a high ankle sprain in December.

 
4 of 25

Jake Butt, TE, Broncos

Jake Butt, TE, Broncos
Logan Bowles / USA Today Sports Images

Butt could take a proverbial medical redshirt season after tearing his ACL in the Orange Bowl with Michigan. He will be nine months removed from surgery at the start of the season.

 
5 of 25

Jamaal Charles, RB, Broncos

Jamaal Charles, RB, Broncos
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

Charles had surgery on both knees last year and had a quiet market in the offseason. Denver signed him as part of their potential running back committee, but his status for the start of the season remains in question.

 
6 of 25

Tyler Eifert, TE, Bengals

Tyler Eifert, TE, Bengals
Aaron Doster / USA Today Sports Images

The oft-injured Eifert had back surgery early in the offseason, and he's questionable for training camp. The tight end only played eight games due to injuries last season.

 
7 of 25

Junior Galette, OLB, Redskins

Junior Galette, OLB, Redskins
Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports Images

Galette last played a down in 2014, missing the last two seasons due to torn Achilles tendon injuries. He had a total of 22 sacks in 2013-14 with the Saints, but is questionable for training camp in Washington.

 
8 of 25

Clayton Geathers, DB, Colts

Clayton Geathers, DB, Colts
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Geathers underwent neck surgery in the offseason, and his status for the start of the season is unclear. The safety had 59 tackles in nine games for Indianapolis last season.

 
9 of 25

Ladarius Green, TE, Free Agent

Ladarius Green, TE, Free Agent
David Kohl / USA Today Sports Images

Green was finally cut by the Steelers after playing only six games last season due to concussion issues. It remains to be seen if he will be able to continue his football career.

 
10 of 25

DeAngelo Hall, DB, Redskins

DeAngelo Hall, DB, Redskins
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

Hall played only three games last season and could start the 2017 season on the reserve/PUP list due to a torn ACL. His potential contribution is in question at age 33.

 
11 of 25

Derrick Johnson, ILB, Chiefs

Derrick Johnson, ILB, Chiefs
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images

Johnson insists he will be ready for the start of the season after suffering a torn Achilles in early December. He has been through the injury before, but the speed of his recovery remains a question mark at age 34.

 
12 of 25

Julio Jones, WR, Falcons

Julio Jones, WR, Falcons
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Jones played through a nagging foot injury late last season that required offseason surgery. He could take it slow in training camp but should be ready by Week 1.

 
13 of 25

Sidney Jones, CB, Eagles

Sidney Jones, CB, Eagles
Kyle Terada / USA Today Sports Images

Jones suffered a torn Achilles during Washington's Pro Day, dropping him out of the first round of the draft. The Eagles are hoping to get anything out of him in 2017.

 
14 of 25

Ryan Kalil, C, Panthers

Ryan Kalil, C, Panthers
Jeremy Brevard / USA Today Sports Images

Kalil's status is uncertain after undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason. He played only eight games last year due to the injury.

 
15 of 25

Demarcus Lawrence, DL, Cowboys

Demarcus Lawrence, DL, Cowboys
Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images

Lawrence has had back problems for more than a year and was largely ineffective for the Cowboys last season. Following back surgery, his status for the start of training camp is up in the air.

 
16 of 25

Kyle Long, OG, Bears

Kyle Long, OG, Bears
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Long underwent ankle surgery last November, and had complications following the procedure. Due to the issues, his status for the start of the season is questionable.

 
17 of 25

Ryan Mathews, RB, Eagles

Ryan Mathews, RB, Eagles
Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images

Mathews missed Week 17 with a herniated disc in his neck, and he's rumored to be on the chopping block in Philadelphia after the Eagles made several running back additions. His health status could cloud his market if he's released.

 
18 of 25

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports Images

Newton was battered and bruised for much of last season, and underwent shoulder surgery on March 30. He could see less play during training camp and the exhibition season but should be ready for Week 1.

 
19 of 25

Mike Pouncey, C, Dolphins

Mike Pouncey, C, Dolphins
Jake Roth / USA Today Sports Images

A significant hip injury allowed Pouncey to play only five times last season, and he could sit out all of the preseason. The Dolphins are being cautious so that he's healthy for Week 1.

 
20 of 25

Deshawn Shead, CB, Seahawks

Deshawn Shead, CB, Seahawks
Jason Getz / USA Today Sports Images

Shead tore his ACL in the playoffs, making his status questionable for the start of the season. It's a major loss but one the Seahawks had time to prepare for this offseason.

 
21 of 25

Sam Shields, CB, Free Agent

Sam Shields, CB, Free Agent
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Shields was released by Green Bay in February after playing only one game due to a concussion last year. The former top cornerback hasn't been mentioned much in free agent rumors.

 
22 of 25

Jaylon Smith, LB, Cowboys

Jaylon Smith, LB, Cowboys
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images

After suffering a major knee injury in his final college game and missing all of last year, Smith is still far from a sure thing to help the Cowboys this season. The team used the 34th overall pick on the linebacker in 2016.

 
23 of 25

Danny Trevathan, LB, Bears

Danny Trevathan, LB, Bears
Dennis Wierzbicki / USA Today Sports Images

Trevathan ruptured his patellar tendon in November and is unlikely to be ready for training camp. His status for the early part of the NFL season is also in doubt.

 
24 of 25

Max Unger, C, Saints

Max Unger, C, Saints
Jeremy Brevard / USA Today Sports Images

Unger had foot surgery late in the offseason, so his status remains up in the air. The Saints are hopeful he will be ready by the end of the exhibition season though missing the start of the regular season is a good possibility.

 
25 of 25

Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills

Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills
Cary Edmondson / USA Today Sports Images

Watkins has been plagued by a foot injury for the last two seasons - an issue that likely made the Bills pass on his fifth-year option for 2018. After another foot surgery in January, he's hoping to be ready for training camp.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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