National Football League

NFL preseason injury analysis

Published Aug. 30, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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Throughout the 2012 season, This Given Sunday will examine the biggest injury questions before each week of the NFL season. With the preseason thankfully behind us, it's time to examine the most important injury concerns heading into Week 1. These are superstar players who have battled preseason knocks, faced a history of sitting on the sidelines, and attempting comebacks from serious injuries.

Brian Urlacher

The Bears would have been a playoff team last year were it not for the late-season injury to Jay Cutler. This year, with the addition of Brandon Marshall and re-signing of Matt Forte, Chicago has been touted as a playoff -- and possible dark horse Super Bowl -- contender. Those hopes ride not just on the health of Cutler (and his offensive line keeping him out of the ICU), but also defensive quarterback Brian Urlacher. The eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker hasn't practiced since July 31 and had arthroscopic knee surgery in mid-August, missing the entire preseason. Urlacher's left knee problems date back to last year's season finale, when he sprained his MCL.

Bears coach Lovie Smith has remained persistently positive, insisting Urlacher will be ready for the 2012 season opener against the Colts. (Would you expect anything different from the man who walked to a microphone week after week professing faith in Rex Grossman?) The reality of the situation leaves Bears fans a bit more worried. Urlacher is 34 and "nagging knee problems" are never words you want to see next to your speedy All-Pro middle linebacker. Even at this stage of his career, Urlacher is one of the most important defensive players in the NFL. If his left knee is a problem throughout the 2012 season, it will greatly hamper Chicago's efforts to get to the postseason.

Andre Johnson

Seeing Andre Johnson's name on this list may be a surprise, but the Texans star receiver has seen two dreaded words begin to be attached to his name - injury prone. Heading into the 2012 season, Johnson's health is a question because of the variety of injuries he has dealt with the past two years.

Johnson missed nine games in 2011 as he was plagued with a hamstring injury. This summer, injuries continued to cause Johnson to miss time. First, there was a groin strain during the second practice of camp. Then, in the team's third preseason game against New Orleans, Johnson had to leave after having the wind knocked out of him. While neither injury should cause the former Hurricane to miss any regular-season time, the sight of No. 80 heading to the locker room prematurely is like a bad horror franchise that keeps coming back with sequels nobody wants to see. Johnson hasn't played a full season since 2009 and at 31 years old, it's fair to say the "fine china treatment" may not be a bad idea. Is the window closing on Johnson's prime? Can Houston contend if he spends another year in the training room instead of the end zone?

Michael Vick

The Philadelphia Eagles are under enormous pressure to succeed. It was a year ago the Eagles were dubbed the Dream Team and Michael Vick was signed to a six-year, $100 million dollar contract. An 8-8 season later, the Eagles and Vick need to deliver.

While Vick has suffered a variety of injuries throughout his career (even this preseason), it has been his ribs that have caused the most trouble in Philly, causing Vick to miss games in each of the past two seasons. Vick left a game against the Patriots on Aug 20 after just six plays thanks to a hit from Jermaine Cunningham. The CEO of Unequal Technologies can guarantee Vick's health and his ability to survive artillery fire all he wants with his new Kevlar vest, but history says Vick won't play a full season this year. He has played 16 games just once in his NFL career and missed three games last year. It's OK though, because Philly fans have already talked themselves into Nick Foles being the next Tom Brady ... no, better than Brady.

Adrian Peterson

Let's be real, this isn't about the Super Bowl or the Vikings' hopes in 2012. This is about your fantasy team and the man who has been the best and most productive running back in the NFL. Of the players on this list, he's the biggest doubt for Week 1 after his devastating knee injury on Christmas Eve 2011. Peterson tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee that day and hasn't been tackled since. The Vikings have been as delicate as possible with AP, only allowing him to be hit above the waist just recently.

Peterson has always been my favorite running back to watch ever since his freshman year at Oklahoma because of his violent and punishing running style. The questions of Vikings execs, coaches, teammates, fans and fantasy owners regarding Peterson's knee are one thing, but will Peterson himself ask those questions the first time he takes a live tackle this season? What about when his knee takes a hit or gets twisted under a pile? Will Peterson alter his aggressive running style in any way? Will Peterson be the same? Heading into the 2012 season, nobody knows for certain.

Peyton Manning

This list has to end with one of the greatest quarterbacks who has ever lived and one of the highest-profile injury sagas in sports. Manning hasn't taken a regular-season snap since 2010 after neck surgery caused him to miss the entire 2011 season and change the course of the entire NFL. Manning is now in Denver, the Andrew Luck era begins in Indianapolis, and Tim Tebow gets to run shirtless in the rain and bring ESPN to their knees. Manning looked at home in Denver in the all-important third preseason game against San Francisco after two less-than-vintage performances. Even so, Manning's arm strength, durability and ability to take a hit will be in the minds of everyone associated with the Denver Broncos organization each and every time he drops back in the pocket.