Last week, I wrote about running backs and wide receivers who possess numerous risk factors for injury entering the 2025 season. Today, I present 6 tight ends with high risk for injury in 2025 based on scientifically backed risk factors for injury. When evaluating injury risk, we are NOT attempting to predict injury. As a doctor of physical therapy, my job is to help people return to sport as quickly as possible and reduce the risk of future injury. I sincerely hope that each player listed below will enjoy an injury-free season.
The reality is, however, there are numerous intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for injury that have been scientifically researched. I have collected many of these risk factors and created individual player profiles for over 200 players available in the Fantasy Injury Team Injury Draft Guide, available now. Here is a sneak preview of the tight ends that are ranked as high risk for injury based on their individual risk factors. If you find this helpful, feel free to purchase the Injury Draft Guide and subscribe to weekly injury analysis articles!
George Kittle: ADP TE3/OV40
Age: 31 Position: TE Height: 6’4 Weight: 250 Exp: 8
Injury Risk Rating
Fresh off a new $76 million contract, the 31-year-old Kittle comes in as a “high risk” for injury in 2025. Kittle presents with numerous risk factors for injury. Age is one of the biggest risk factors for sports injury, and at 31, age is not working for Kittle. Kittle has numerous injuries on his resume, many of which have high re-injury rates. Four hamstring injuries will greatly increase the likelihood of another hamstring injury, and three groin injuries will do the same. Add on multiple knee sprains and foot injuries, and we have over a dozen lower-body injuries. Lower body injuries are highly influential on future injury due to their ability to alter movement mechanics and athletes’ inability to avoid loading through the lower body. Additionally, while a younger body can often properly regenerate new muscle tissue, as we age, the ability to fully regenerate new muscle declines. This also occurs when there are repeat injuries to the same muscle; rather than new muscle tissue forming, scar tissue can take its place, increasing the risk for more injury.
Mark Andrews: ADP TE7/ OV105
Age: 30 Position: TE Height: 6’5 Weight: 250 Exp: 7
Injury Risk Rating
For much of Andrews’ productive career, he remained largely healthy with just a few mild injuries, capturing a game here and there. In 2023, Andrews was the victim of a hip-drop tackle, leading to a major ankle injury. A fractured fibula with significant ligament damage requiring surgery. Andrews remarkably returned to play in the playoffs that year and played all of 2024, but these injuries can be a lingering problem.
Such a significant injury requiring surgery often does not regain full range of motion and strength, which can cause mechanical compensations that put excessive strain on the rest of the limb. Andrews was fortunate to avoid major injury in 2024, but he will be 30 years old when the season starts. He has both age and a significant ankle injury, working as risk factors for future injury.
Evan Engram: ADP TE8/ OV108
Age: 31 Position: TE Height: 6’3 Weight: 240 Exp: 8
Injury Risk Rating
Engram enters 2025 with numerous risk factors to talk about. At 31 years old, age is an independent risk factor for injury. His injury history is also concerning. Engram finished 2024 on the injured reserve after undergoing a season-ending shoulder labrum repair on December 16th. Labrum repair return to sport timelines are 5-6 months, so Engram will be ready to go week one, and failure rates are around 10-20%, so it’s unlikely his most recent injury is a lingering problem, but re-tear is possible. What concerns me more are the two concussions, two hamstring injuries, two calf injuries, and two MCL injuries. Each of these injuries increases the risk of future injury. NFL players experience a 15-30% re-injury rate for hamstrings, and similar numbers for calf injuries. These numbers are higher in-season, and an off-season to train will help, but an aging tight end with a history of multiple soft tissue injuries is a recipe for future injury.
David Njoku: ADP TE9/ OV114
Age: 29 Position: TE Height: 6’4 Weight: 246 Exp: 8
Injury Risk Rating
No stranger to missing time with injury, the now 29-year-old Njoku comes in at a “high risk” for injury in 2025. Age is technically not a risk factor yet, but it is just on the edge and is not working in his favor. Njoku has missed time with two high ankle sprains in the past three seasons. High ankle sprains have been shown to have a 29% increased rate for another high ankle sprain within one year in NFL players, and also increase risk for lateral ankle sprains and often lead to chronic instability in the ankle, which can influence compensatory injuries such as hamstring, quad, groin, and calf injuries.
In some instances, past high ankle sprains will impact player performance; Njoku, however, has been able to play well despite his rich injury history. He will be drafted as a starting tight end, but fantasy players need to understand the inherent risk.
Dallas Goedert: ADP TE14/ OV134
Age: 30 Position: TE Height: 6’5 Weight: 256 Exp: 7
Injury Risk Rating
Even as an Eagles fan, I didn’t realize until writing this post how many injury risk factors Goedert has. Goedert is 30 years old, which alone is one of the most common risk factors. Goedert also has a substantial injury history, including four fractures, two hamstring injuries, two calf injuries, and a few additional lower-body injuries that have forced him to miss time. Goedert has missed substantial time in each of the past three seasons.
Muscles’ ability to keep it’s elastic properties diminishes with age and repeated injury; therefore, Goedert’s hamstrings and calf injuries will be risk factors for future injury. His upper body fractures are less likely to be problematic going forward, but are still worth noting. Overall, Goedert has a comprehensive injury list, many of which can influence future injury. He is a decent fantasy asset, but understand the injury risk that comes with him.
Zach Ertz: ADP TE19/ OV164
Age: 34 Position: TE Height: 6’5 Weight: 250 Exp: 12
Injury Risk Rating
Ertz has a legit case to be a Hall-of-Famer one day. The 34-year-old continues to produce in the NFL despite numerous injuries throughout his career. These injuries, however, in combination with his age, create numerous risk factors for injury in 2025.
Being 34 years old is absolutely an independent risk factor for injury. Add in a history of ACL/MCL tear, three concussions, and numerous lower body muscle injuries, and the list of injuries that increase rates for future injury compounds quickly. Ertz can be a nice option if you choose to punt on the tight end position, just know he may not log a full season for you.