Week seven of the 2024/25 National Football League (NFL) regular season saw the return of a number of players from injury, some of them very integral pieces for their respective teams. However it also saw a few injuries, one very horrific.

Quarterback (QB) for the Indianapolis Colts, Anthony Richardson returned last Sunday after a hip injury in September and, after a less-than-convincing performance (10 of 24 for 129 yards), managed a close 16-10 win over the Miami Dolphins. Returning running back for the Cleveland Browns Nick Chubb was not as fortunate as his pedestrian 22 yards after 11 carries (and a touchdown) did little to prevent a 14-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The rusher — 1,252 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022 — was injured in week two of last season when he suffered a catastrophic knee injury, tearing multiple ligaments and requiring several surgeries.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall made his NFL debut just over a month since he was shot in a failed robbery attempt near the end of August. Pearsall had 21 yards from three receptions but his team suffered their third defeat, falling 18-28 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Also, a now-healthy Russell Wilson played his first game for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and after a non-convincing start engineered a resounding 37-15 victory over the New York Jets last Sunday night. Wilson suffered a calf injury before the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons and missed the first six games, but his contribution in week seven — 264 passing yards with two touchdowns plus a rushing touchdown — was critical in the win.

However, week seven was also a brutal week for injuries in the NFL, which now has a few teams scouting the landscape as the November 5 trade deadline rapidly approaches. Cleveland’s QB Deshaun Watson is out for the season with a torn Achilles but there is a very good chance that the Cleveland offence will get better with him absent from the starting line-up, while standout rookie QB Jayden Daniels was forced out of the Washington Commanders’ blowout win over the hapless Carolina Panthers with a rib injury, which could result in missed play time.

Injuries to receivers were no less impactful as the 49ers face further frustration with Deebo Samuel Sr reportedly suffering from a bout with pneumonia, while Brandon Aiyuk is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL and MCL in the loss against the Chiefs on Sunday. Leading wideout for the Seattle Seahawks DK Metcalf is considered week-to-week with an MCL sprain suffered in a win over the Atlanta Falcons, and Kansas City’s JuJu Smith-Schuster aggravated a hamstring injury and had to leave the week seven win early. And if those weren’t enough, Monday Night Football saw two substantial injuries to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, during a 31-41 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Evans aggravated a hamstring injury in the first quarter and Godwin horrifically dislocated his left ankle in the game’s final moments, thereby ending his season.

Injuries aside, the Minnesota Vikings relinquished their undefeated status after losing 29-31 in a hard-fought battle against the Detroit Lions, and reigning champions the Chiefs remain unbeaten after taking down the 49ers. Kansas City, who have been decimated by the injury bug — like so many other teams — find themselves with an enviable 6-0 record to start the season. In an attempt to fill the gap left by injured receivers Rashee Rice, Marquise Brown and Smith-Schuster and provide a pair of proven, sure-hands for QB Patrick Mahomes to target, the Chiefs finalised a trade this week for DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans.

The Chiefs travel to Allegiant Stadium — where they won the Super Bowl in February — this Sunday afternoon to tackle the Las Vegas Raiders (2-5), with their opponents hoping to blemish their perfect record. With Kansas City being down so many receivers there will be a major push to get Hopkins ready to play this weekend, alongside Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, and Mecole Hardman, if Smith-Schuster can’t play. Last year the Raiders were the Grinch that stole Christmas from the Chiefs when they beat Kansas City 20-14 on Christmas Day, but they’ve won only four of the last 20 encounters.

This season the Chiefs have not looked like the team their record indicates: Mahomes has more interceptions than passing touchdowns (eight versus six), and tight end Travis Kelce has not yet scored a touchdown. But, the acquisition of Hopkins should make a difference. The Raiders have fallen behind by double digits in each of their first seven games of the season — the fourth team to do that in the last 30 years — and this has prompted JustBet to have them enter the weekend as the second-highest underdog, behind the Titans who visit Detroit to take on the Lions on Sunday.

While there is never truly a sure thing in sports, this matchup appears to be a stepping stone for the champions on their quest for the first three-peat in the Super Bowl era. The Raiders have a chance if they can win the turnover battle but, even then, that would be a stretch. While the Chiefs have not exploded offensively, their defence has not allowed 30 points in any game this season, while the Raiders have seen three such games — including 36 by the Panthers. The Chiefs are expected to go 7-0 but there are 14 other games slated for an exciting week eight.

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