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NFL Camps Enter Live‑Pad Phase as Injuries Mount

Rising practice injuries are forcing teams to change workouts, speed roster decisions, shore up depth ahead of preseason.

Overview

  • The first wave of full‑pad practices has increased on‑field contact and intensity, producing scuffles and harder hits during sessions reported across multiple camps.
  • A season‑ending torn ACL for 49ers rookie defensive end Mikail Kamara was disclosed after a weekend practice and the team waived him with an injury designation.
  • San Francisco’s padded practices have produced a long injury list that included All‑Pro receiver Mike Evans missing a session with a quad strain while Chicago’s Coby Bryant suffered a knee injury that is expected to cost him about eight to ten weeks.
  • Detroit’s first padded practice saw several players leave early for evaluation — including Lawrence Keys, Anthony Firkser and Sione Vaki — highlighting how live drills are revealing depth and durability issues.
  • Teams are responding by trimming workload, using jog‑throughs or lighter practice formats and making early roster moves, a shift that could force decisions on special‑teams battles and reduce preseason evaluation windows.