The NFL is a brutally tough sport, with success or failure heavily determined by whether a team can keep its best players healthy and on the field.
NFL rules only allow teams to have 53 players on their roster (48 of which will suit up for games) plus 16 players on the team’s practice squad (eligible to be called up to the 53 man roster). Further, the 53 players on the roster must have their combined salaries be under the 2025 NFL salary cap of $279.2 million per team.
Given these NFL roster limitations, having a healthy team should result in more wins. Moreover, a roster that has more players injured, will likely underperform.
Through week 6 of the 2025 NFL season, we examined NFL injury reports for the total number of distinct players who have had the most players listed on official NFL injury reports.
2025 MOST INJURED NFL TEAMS
The San Francisco 49ers have had the most injured players in 2025 with 72 different players appearing on injury reports. They’re followed by the Dallas Cowboys (58), Buffalo Bills (57), and Detroit Lions (56).
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13)
Top 10 teams with most injured players in 2025:
San Francisco 49ers: 72 players
Dallas Cowboys: 58 players
Buffalo Bills: 57 players
Detroit Lions: 56 players
Philadelphia Eagles: 52 players
Washington Commanders: 52 players
Green Bay Packers: 51 players
Los Angeles Chargers: 50 players
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 50 players
New York Giants: 50 players
This Sumersports data represents the total count of distinct players who have appeared on injury reports for each NFL team during the 2025 season through Week 6.
The Denver Broncos have been the healthiest team with only 28 injured players reported.
Despite some teams not making the most injured number of players list above, teams with their top players out are at a significant disadvantage. See the Baltimore Ravens with QB Lamar Jackson listed as out for several recent games or the Cincinnati Bengals with QB Joe Burrow out for the season.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson tries to avoid Buffalo Bills cornerback Dorian Strong and cornerback Taron Johnson
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson tries to avoid Buffalo Bills cornerback Dorian Strong and cornerback Taron Johnson – Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
2025 TEAMS WITH MOST PLAYERS ON INJURED RESERVE
Being listed on an injury report (above) is not the same as being officially designated on the injured reserve list and ruled unable to play.
NFL Injured Reserve (IR) is a list of players that have a football-related injury that identifies the player as unable to retrun to the roster for at least four weeks. Players on IR do not count against the 53-man active roster, allowing the team to replace them, but their salaries continue to count against the salary cap. Teams can designate a certain number of players (typically up to eight during the regular season) to be eligible to return from IR later in the season once they are healthy.
As of October 12, 2025, the team with the most players on Injured Reserve (IR), Physically Unable to Perform (PUP), or Non-Football Injury/Illness (NFI) lists in the NFL is the Detroit Lions, with 22 players.
The list below shows the teams with the most players on Injured Reserve or related lists
Cleveland Browns: 22 players
San Francisco 49ers: 19 players
Arizona Cardinals: 17 players
Detroit Lions: 17 players
Houston Texans: 16 players
COORELATION BETWEEN INJRIES AND WIN-LOSS RECORD
Despite being named on both list, the Niners have persevered and maintained a solid record through week 6, going 4-2 and leading the NFC West division. The Eagles, Bills and Lions have also overcome a myriad of player injuries to be competitive, post more wins than losses, and remain at or near the top of their divisions.
Its an 18 week season in the NFL. Its likely that every team will go through bouts of injuries during the long 5 month season. Ability to have strong back-ups, quick injury recovery times, and avoid significant injuries to their most impactful players will determine if a team can get into the NFL playoffs.
patrick mahomes
Patrick Mahomes leads the Kansas City Chiefs to Super Bowl LIV win | Al Bello/Getty Images
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