OT: Increase in NFL Injuries?

[pheenix11]

I've seen articles on this before and especially this week it definitely hits home but is it just me or are there more injuries in the NFL now than ever before? It seems like every week someone else goes down and a lot of them are knee injuries. I don't have any data for this year and it may be anecdotal but it seems like the NFL is almost getting to the point where success hinges more on which team can avoid injuries than which team has the most talent.

Players keep getting bigger and faster and they keep tweaking the rules forcing players to go low rather than high and it just seems like it's getting ridiculous. You can have a brilliant GM and brilliant coach with a roster full of talent only to see it go up in smoke when your superstars go down.

I know injuries are part of the game but its nerve wracking watching a game and praying your favorite player gets up after every play.

Will it eventually get to the point where teams will stop investing big bucks in superstars and instead go after multiple cheaper and interchangeable mid range players in the pursuit of depth over talent? The running back position is a perfect example of this. Years ago you had workhorses who ran 400 times a year, now most teams have some kind of committee with 3-4 backs splitting the carries.

 

[Joey007]

Nope.

Knee tackles will soon be illegal. Thanks Goodell!

 

[jmt57]

I don't recall another single week with so many injuries to key players in the NFL

Patriots
LB Jerod Mayo (knee) -- season
RB Stevan Ridley (ACL, MCL) -- season
OL Dan Connolly (concussion) -- ??

Jets
CB Dee Milliner (Achilles) -- season
LG Brian Winters (knee) -- season

Dolphins
RB Knowshon Moreno (knee) -- season

Browns
C Alex Mack (leg) -- 8-10 weeks min/season
DE Armonty Bryant (ACL) -- season

Bengals
RB Giovanni Bernard (shoulder) -- unknown
LB Vontaze Burfict (head) -- if concussion, that would be third of season
WR A.J. Green (toe) -- not a new injury, but likely out again next week

Broncos
LB Danny Trevathan (knee) -- paced on IR with designation to return

Chargers
WR Eddie Royal (ribs) -- may be able to play next week

Giants
WR Victor Cruz (knee) -- season
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (back) - and an unexcused absence from practice Wednesday

Eagles
RB Darren Sproles (MCL) -- 1-3 weeks

Washington
CB David Amerson (concussion) -- must go through concussion protocol

Lions
WR Calvin Johnson (ankle) -- 1-3 weeks
RB Theo Riddick (hamstring) -- doesn't matter since Reggie Bush will return this week

Packers
CB Tramon Williams (ankle) -- questionable for next game
CB Sam Shields (knee) -- questionable for next game

Vikings
WR Cordarelle Patterson (hip) -- should be able to play, but slowed down

Panthers
RB Fozzy Whittaker (quad) -- questionable
TE Greg Olsen (ankle) -- uestionable

Bucs
WR Vincent Jackson (ribs) -- on a bye this week

Niners
LB Patrick Willis (toe) -- doubtful for next week

Seahawks
CB Byron Maxwell (high ankle sprain) -- probably 2-4 weeks

 

[Kontradiction]

Nope.

All tackles will soon be illegal. Thanks Goodell!

Your post has been edited for accuracy.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

The lack of two a day practices probably has something to do with it. Blame the union.

 

[JayNM]

Part 1 : Injury avoidance was, is and will always be a predominant factor in a team's success. Football is the most explosive and physical sport there is. Even more than Pro-Fighting, since most athletes fight once every 4 months if they are in a hurry.

On football, you have games in 20 consecutive weeks of Pre-Season and Regular Season (plus the Post Season). It takes a toll on ANY and EVERY player. There's a reason why most of them only last 10 years as a Pro.

Part 2: Let's look at the facts. There was a huge emphasis on removing the "head" as a factor in the game. It's only natural that, considering that the hit area got lower than before, more tackles were made low. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but it makes sense.

Part 3: Now about the numbers. It is known that before health was prioritized in the NFL, there were many injuries that weren't officially released or considered, especially concussion injuries. Now, although concussions have been lowered (according to some sources), other maladies are going to be documented and counted.

Part 4: Every sport is on a constant evolution. The players get faster, stronger,etc; it's just the way it is. This could cause for some ill-intended coaches or agents to under-prepare and cause bad influence on players, so their natural evolution is not as well done as it should be. In other words, there's documented cases where players get so strong in such a short-span of time that some areas that were neglected (especially the knees and ankles) suffer from an overload of work.

In conclusion: yes, I agree that there are more injuries now - but I don't agree that the only reason is the change of the rules per se. I think there should be a balance between superstars and mediocre guys (that's why there's a Salary Cap in the first place). Also, that's why drafting is such an important part of team's chances of getting a SB. Being able to count on elite players for almost nothing in their first years as a pro-athletes makes you able to spend a lot of money throughout the rest of the Depth Chart. The Seattle championship club is a prime example of this.