The NFL regular season has yet to begin, but for three franchises, the optimism of training camp has already been replaced by a sense of dread. What was supposed to be a period of clarification and preparation has instead introduced new complications that threaten to derail their campaigns before the first whistle blows. The Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and Washington Commanders each entered the summer with legitimate hopes, but a series of misfortunes has left them scrambling.

Start with the Lions. Their situation is not defined by a single catastrophic injury, but by a slow accumulation of setbacks that together erode their margin for error. The team released former first-round cornerback Terrion Arnold after his June arrest on felony charges involving an alleged kidnapping and armed robbery. Arnold has pleaded not guilty, but the Lions moved quickly to cut ties, a decision that was both understandable and costly. The young cornerback was expected to play a significant role in the secondary, and his departure creates a hole that must now be filled by less proven options. Meanwhile, running back Jahmyr Gibbs missed early camp work while negotiating a contract extension, eventually agreeing to a record-setting deal. He has since returned on a limited basis, which eases some concern but cannot recover the lost reps and timing with the offense. The Lions also saw veteran backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater abruptly leave the team, forcing them to sign Joshua Dobbs to serve as insurance behind Jared Goff. While Goff is firmly entrenched as the starter, the backup quarterback position is always one snap away from becoming everyone’s problem. Detroit remains a talented roster, but the cracks are beginning to show.

The Chicago Bears entered camp with legitimate expectations after winning the NFC North last season. Their defense, however, has already taken a significant hit. Coby Bryant, a versatile defensive back signed to provide flexibility across the secondary, hyperextended his knee during practice and suffered a bone bruise and small fracture. He is expected to miss eight to ten weeks, meaning he will likely be unavailable for the early part of the regular season. The injury is especially concerning because Chicago’s defensive line was already viewed as a potential weakness. Without Bryant, the remaining defensive backs will face increased pressure, particularly if the pass rush fails to generate consistent heat. The Bears’ offense, led by Caleb Williams, may indeed be improved, but the team might now have to win more high-scoring shootouts than they originally planned. That is a dangerous game to play.

No team on this list, however, has absorbed a more damaging individual loss than the Washington Commanders. Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps during a practice session and is expected to miss a significant portion of the season. The five-time Pro Bowl left tackle was supposed to protect rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ blind side and help the Commanders rebound from a miserable 5-12 finish. Instead, Washington is now forced to reorganize its offensive line before Daniels has taken a single meaningful snap. The team has replacement candidates, including Brandon Coleman and Andrew Wylie, but none of them are Tunsil. The Commanders needed nearly everything to break right to return to contention. Losing their best offensive lineman before Week 1 is a brutal start, and it stands as the biggest preseason warning sign among these three teams. These early blows may not define the season, but they have already made the path forward much steeper.