Health can play a major role in how an NFL team performs, and several teams are already entering the 2026 season with significant injury concerns.

The Team SIC Score provides a numerical measurement of overall team health, accounting for injuries across the roster and the potential impact of unavailable players.

Here are the five most injured NFL teams entering the 2026 season based on Team SIC Score, along with some of the key injuries each team is dealing with ahead of Week 1.

1. Carolina Panthers — Team SIC Score: 80.4

The Panthers will begin the season without starting offensive tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton. Ekwonu is on the PUP list as he continues recovering from a knee injury, while Moton was placed on the NFI list due to a blood clot issue in his lungs. Both will miss at least the first four games.

Carolina has also lost Nic Scourton and Chris Brazzell II for the season. Scourton suffered a torn ACL during training camp, while Brazzell is sidelined with a torn LCL.

Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton will begin the year on PUP with a lingering neck injury, while running back Trevor Etienne and linebacker Bam Martin-Scott are on injured reserve with designations to potentially return later in the season.

2. Washington Commanders — Team SIC Score: 80.7

The biggest loss is five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who suffered a torn triceps during practice and was placed on injured reserve. Defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton is also on IR after undergoing surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.

Cornerback Trey Amos and running back Jeremy McNichols will also begin the season on injured reserve with ankle and quadriceps injuries, respectively, although both have been designated to return.

Washington is also monitoring several players ahead of the opener. Odafe Oweh is dealing with a calf strain, while K'Lavon Chaisson is recovering from a knee injury. Tight end Ben Sinnott has been managing an oblique issue, and Nick Allegretti recently returned to practice after missing most of training camp with a calf strain.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota has also returned to practice following an MCL sprain and is currently trending toward being available for Week 1.

3. New Orleans Saints — Team SIC Score: 81.6

The Saints enter Week 1 with a Team SIC Score of 81.6, giving them the third-lowest mark in the NFL.

Among the most significant losses are defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and guard Dillon Radunz, who both suffered torn ACLs during training camp and will miss the entire season. Running back Devin Neal is also out for 2026 after aggravating a hamstring injury during the preseason.

The Saints have additional season-ending losses in Ty Chandler, Moliki Matavao and Rejzohn Wright, while Mike Heldman, David Long Jr., Dalys Beanum and Barry Wesley were also placed on full-season injured reserve.

One of the biggest early-season absences is rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who was placed on IR with a designation to return because of a right hamstring injury. Tyson is expected to miss roughly two months. Linebacker Jaylan Ford was also designated to return from IR, while Mason Tipton will begin the season on the PUP list with a lingering leg/groin injury.

4. Detroit Lions — Team SIC Score: 81.8

Detroit enters the season fourth from the bottom with a Team SIC Score of 81.8.

The Lions will be without both starting safeties for at least the first four games. Kerby Joseph is on the PUP list while recovering from a knee injury, while Brian Branch will also begin the season on PUP as he rehabs an Achilles injury.

Running back Isiah Pacheco was placed on short-term injured reserve with a back injury and healing MCL sprain, making him eligible to return in Week 5. Detroit also has Payton Turner, Damone Clark and Michael Niese on injured reserve, while wide receiver Kendrick Law will miss the entire season after suffering a torn ACL.

The health concerns extend to the active roster, where Sam LaPorta is managing a lingering hip injury and his Week 1 availability remains uncertain. Seth McLaughlin, Derrick Moore, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Malcolm Rodriguez and Mekhi Wingo are also dealing with injuries entering the opener.

5. San Francisco 49ers — Team SIC Score: 83.6

San Francisco rounds out the bottom five with a Team SIC Score of 83.6.

The 49ers will be without Ricky Pearsall for the entire season following PCL knee surgery, while offensive linemen Brett Toth and Nick Zakelj are also on season-ending injured reserve.

Several others could return later in the year. Nate Hobbs and Nick Martin are on short-term IR with groin/calf and hamstring injuries, respectively, while Christian Kirk and Austen Pleasants were designated to return from IR. Defensive end Mykel Williams will miss at least four games on the PUP list with a knee injury.

San Francisco is also monitoring several key offensive and defensive stars ahead of Week 1. George Kittle is trending toward playing as he completes his recovery from a torn Achilles, while Nick Bosa continues to ramp up from an ACL injury. Mike Evans is managing a groin strain, and Christian McCaffrey was limited in practice Tuesday with a minor undisclosed issue.