Although the NFL is known for its excitement, it’s unfortunate that it’s not without injury. Have you heard how many injuries there have been this year in the NFL? It’s been a challenging season for the players and, sadly, injuries have been a major road block in the 2020 NFL season.
I’m not sure you know just how serious some of the injuries have been this year, but I’ll tell you. It’s been heartbreaking to see some of the great players on the sidelines, missing out on the season due to major medical issues and surgeries. As of December 24, 2020, there were somewhere around 1,558 reported injuries the NFL has seen this year, and let me tell you—some of them have been pretty severe.
Over a third of these injuries were diagnosed as concussions, with over 20% being been torn ACLs and MCLs. Some of the remaining injuries include broken bones, hernias, muscle strains, and dislocated joints. The most common of the major injuries, however, are the ACLs and MCLs, accounting for 16% of the total injury count.
This is a huge blow to the NFL, since some of the best players have had to be taken off the field due to separated shoulders. Some of the players affected are household names you would know—Von Miller, the star defensive end from the Denver Broncos is out for the season due to a dislocated peroneal tendon. Similarly, Odell Beckham Jr., one of the most popular and talented wide receivers in the league, has been out since Week 7 due to a torn ACL.
The news has been nothing but grim this year when it comes to injury reports across the NFL. One far too familiar headline reads “Another Star Out For The Season With a Torn ACL,” followed by another saying “Trent Williams Out For the Season Following Elbow Injury.” These cases have been popping up all season, and they are becoming increasingly common.
It’s been a difficult road for all of the teams in the NFL, as they are forced to play without star players who cannot make it out onto the field due to significant injuries. But nothing proves this more than the New York Giants, who are currently missing 15 of their total players due to injury. It’s been a tough year, especially for teams like this, who have had to watch the best of their team disappear until the next season.
The term “game-changer” takes on a whole new meaning this NFL season. We’ve seen star players sit out due to injury, which has left teams scrambling to make up for the absence of their prized possession. I certainly hope that the NFL can work out ways to reduce the number of injuries in the league, because what lies ahead if it doesn’t?
That being said, the economic impact of all these injuries is huge. Teams have started to invest more in medical and insurance costs due to the sheer quantity of concussions, broken bones, and muscle tears players are enduring every day. It’s been estimated that medical insurance costs for the NFL have soared to around $1 billion annually, accounting for 15% of all NFL expenditures.
It’s not just the money that’s been affected, though. There’s a certain cost to human life and wellbeing due to the high number of injuries in the NFL. I hate to mention it, but the physical and mental trauma resulting from these injuries can have a long-term effect on not just the players, but also their families.
The news of shootings and violence in the NFL community has been sadly common news recently. Allow me tell you, it all comes down to the sheer number of injuries in the NFL. A combination of catastrophic injuries, stress, and trauma can drive a player to a breaking point, and push them to do things they would have never done without being prompted by their injury. I don’t like to say it, but this is a real and tangible risk that comes with playing in the NFL.
There have been too many teams affected by these incidents in the NFL. Take the Buffalo Bills for example—they had to take out their starting quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, in the middle of their season due to a laceration on his lung. They barely managed to keep up with the other teams in their division.
The trend of injuries in the NFL doesn’t look like it’s going to end anytime soon, either. Slow start of play, constant physical contact, and hard hits are just some of the risks that NFL players must face every day. Who knows how many more injuries there might be by the end of the season? It doesn’t matter if it’s a rookie or a ten-year veteran, no player is safe from the dangers of the NFL.
It’s has been a rough year for both players and fans alike. The NFL is a game we all love to watch, cheer, and support … but it’s important to remember what the athletes are going through as well. Millions of viewers all over the world are watching their favorite teams and players, but how sure can we be that they are going to make it out of this season without any injuries?
It’s hard to say when this issue might begin to improve. Despite new protocols and safety rules, injuries still happen. Equipment might be more advanced, and rules might be stricter, but that doesn’t automatically equal fewer injuries. There’s always the risk of a player suffering a major injury during training or practice, and that’s something we can’t control.
The NFL has certainly taken some steps to try to reduce the number of injuries, such as instituting rules that protect quarterbacks from being hit too hard or imposing fines and suspensions for fouls during a game. Although this can be helpful, it’s no guarantee that injuries won’t happen.
Still, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do. As fans, we can support our teams by pressuring them to follow safety protocols, while also encouraging the NFL to create more stringent rules and regulations. Players, on the other hand, can practice proper stretching and physical conditioning, while also educating themselves on the risks they may face, before hitting the field.
The NFL is full of hard-hitting and fast-paced games, and will continue to be that way for a long time. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take precautions to reduce the number of injuries in football. Any little thing we can do can make a big difference.