Touchdowns and torn ligaments. Hail Marys and hamstring pulls. Tackles and turf toe.
Injuries can play as big a role in an NFL team's successes or failures as the best game plans. “That’s part of the game,” New York Jets coach Robert Saleh said after quarterback Aaron Rodgers was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon just four snaps into the 2023 opener. “You’ve got to go.
I’ve said it before: No one really cares (about your team's injuries) at the end of the day.” But being able to navigate injuries to key players could make all the difference between a team seeing its season sink or making the playoffs. Here's a look at some of the most common injuries suffered by NFL players throughout the season: The Achilles is the longest and strongest tendon in the body and stretches from the heel to the calf.
It's a springy band located behind the ankle and just above the heel that helps players push off their feet, jump and accelerate. Due to overuse or excessive force placed on the tendon, it can tear or rupture. Surgery is typically necessary to reconnect the ends, sidelining a player for several months due to the extensive rehabilitation needed.
The anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate, medial collateral and lateral collateral ligaments are all located in the knee and serve different purposes. The ACL connects the thigh bone to the shin bone in the front of the knee. While a sprain could sideline a player for a few weeks, a tear can end a season.
The PCL i.