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San Francisco Chronicle
5 hours ago
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Sprains, strains and ACL tears: What to know about some of NFL players' most common injuries
Some of the most important players on NFL teams are those that might not necessarily start the season on the field. Depth is crucial during a rigorous 17-game regular-season schedule that's preceded by a month of training camp practices in hot conditions as players try to make team's 53-man active rosters. Injuries can play as big a role in an NFL team's successes or failures as the best game plans. So being able to navigate injuries and ailments 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: Achilles tendon tears 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 because of the extensive rehabilitation needed. ACL/PCL/MCL/LCL tears 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 is located behind the ACL, crisscrossing it to form an "X" in the center of the knee. The MCL connects the thigh bone to the shin bone on the inner side of the knee, while the LCL connects the thigh bone to the top of the lower leg, or fibula, and is located on the outer side of the knee. Concussions A concussion is a brain injury caused by a hit to the head or a sudden movement that causes the head and brain to shake violently. Symptoms may include headaches, neck pain, nausea, dizziness and feeling sluggish. The NFL has been regularly testing and upgrading helmets for players to help reduce the risk of concussions. Eight position-specific helmets for quarterbacks and linemen were approved by the NFL and the NFL Players Association last year. Several players also have worn Guardian Caps, soft, protective helmet covers that the NFL authorized players to use during games last season in an effort to reduce head injuries. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and can only be diagnosed posthumously. It can cause memory loss, depression and violent mood swings. Hamstring injuries The hamstring is a group of four muscles that run along the back of the thigh, stretching from the hip to the knee, and they help a person bend their leg at the knee. These injuries vary in severity, and in turn, their timetable in sidelining a player. A mild pull of one of the muscles, commonly referred to as a Grade I injury, can sideline a player for a few days to a couple of weeks and can be a lingering condition if not sufficiently rested and healed. A Grade II hamstring injury involves a partial tear, while a Grade III injury is a complete tear of the hamstring that could require surgery and is likely season-ending. High ankle sprains When a player suffers a high ankle sprain, the ligaments above the ankle — which connect the tibia to the fibula — are affected rather than the ligaments outside the ankle in a low ankle sprain. High ankle sprains take much longer to recover from — six to eight weeks, and sometimes longer — than a classic ankle sprain, which might sideline a player for several days to a couple of weeks. Hip pointers The injury could sideline a player for a week or a couple of months, depending on the severity. A hip pointer is bruising in the pelvis and abdomen area, usually caused by blunt force, such as a hard tackle. The bleeding can affect several other muscles in the area, making it difficult to run or even walk. Lisfranc injuries A serious foot injury that can be career-threatening because of its complexity. A Lisfranc sprain or fracture is an injury in the middle of the foot in which at least one (or sometimes, all) of the small bones (or metatarsals) is broken or the ligaments that support the foot in that area are torn. Even a minor sprain not requiring surgical repair could take six to eight weeks to heal. Meniscus tears The meniscus is a crescent-shaped rubbery disk of cartilage that serves as a shock absorber on the inside and outer edges of the knee. Both help a person balance weight across the knee. When a meniscus is torn, the knee can lock up and swell. A minor tear can be treated with rest, but a severe tear could require surgery that may sideline a player for several weeks or months. Oblique strains An oblique strain involves the muscles on the side of the body between the ribs and pelvis. This type of injury can occur when a player takes a hard hit to the waist area or from overuse or sudden use of the muscles — for instance, a quarterback throwing a pass or a defensive back turning to defend a receiver. Oblique strains are usually treated with rest and could take a few weeks to heal, or could become a lingering issue otherwise. Patellar tendon injuries The patellar tendon allows a person to straighten a leg by acting with the quadriceps. Technically, it's a ligament because it connects the kneecap to the shin bone. Complete tears or ruptures often need to be surgically sewn back together and recovery is typically at least four to six months. Plantar fasciitis An injury that affects the bottom of the foot and can lead to intense heel pain. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the ligament supporting the arch of the foot — the plantar fascia — is strained and worsens when small tears develop in the ligament. The injury can sap players of speed while they deal with it. Rest, icing of the arch and finding new footwear are among typical treatments. It can linger for months. Turf toe An extremely painful injury that can sideline players for months. It occurs when the ligaments under the joint of the big toe are sprained or ruptured as a result of the toe being hyperextended. The injury makes it extremely difficult to push off and cut while running. ___
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sprains, strains and ACL tears: What to know about some of NFL players' most common injuries
Some of the most important players on NFL teams are those that might not necessarily start the season on the field. Depth is crucial during a rigorous 17-game regular-season schedule that's preceded by a month of training camp practices in hot conditions as players try to make team's 53-man active rosters. Injuries can play as big a role in an NFL team's successes or failures as the best game plans. So being able to navigate injuries and ailments 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: Achilles tendon tears 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 because of the extensive rehabilitation needed. ACL/PCL/MCL/LCL tears 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 is located behind the ACL, crisscrossing it to form an 'X' in the center of the knee. The MCL connects the thigh bone to the shin bone on the inner side of the knee, while the LCL connects the thigh bone to the top of the lower leg, or fibula, and is located on the outer side of the knee. Concussions A concussion is a brain injury caused by a hit to the head or a sudden movement that causes the head and brain to shake violently. Symptoms may include headaches, neck pain, nausea, dizziness and feeling sluggish. The NFL has been regularly testing and upgrading helmets for players to help reduce the risk of concussions. Eight position-specific helmets for quarterbacks and linemen were approved by the NFL and the NFL Players Association last year. Several players also have worn Guardian Caps, soft, protective helmet covers that the NFL authorized players to use during games last season in an effort to reduce head injuries. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and can only be diagnosed posthumously. It can cause memory loss, depression and violent mood swings. Hamstring injuries The hamstring is a group of four muscles that run along the back of the thigh, stretching from the hip to the knee, and they help a person bend their leg at the knee. These injuries vary in severity, and in turn, their timetable in sidelining a player. A mild pull of one of the muscles, commonly referred to as a Grade I injury, can sideline a player for a few days to a couple of weeks and can be a lingering condition if not sufficiently rested and healed. A Grade II hamstring injury involves a partial tear, while a Grade III injury is a complete tear of the hamstring that could require surgery and is likely season-ending. High ankle sprains When a player suffers a high ankle sprain, the ligaments above the ankle — which connect the tibia to the fibula — are affected rather than the ligaments outside the ankle in a low ankle sprain. High ankle sprains take much longer to recover from — six to eight weeks, and sometimes longer — than a classic ankle sprain, which might sideline a player for several days to a couple of weeks. Hip pointers The injury could sideline a player for a week or a couple of months, depending on the severity. A hip pointer is bruising in the pelvis and abdomen area, usually caused by blunt force, such as a hard tackle. The bleeding can affect several other muscles in the area, making it difficult to run or even walk. Lisfranc injuries A serious foot injury that can be career-threatening because of its complexity. A Lisfranc sprain or fracture is an injury in the middle of the foot in which at least one (or sometimes, all) of the small bones (or metatarsals) is broken or the ligaments that support the foot in that area are torn. Even a minor sprain not requiring surgical repair could take six to eight weeks to heal. Meniscus tears The meniscus is a crescent-shaped rubbery disk of cartilage that serves as a shock absorber on the inside and outer edges of the knee. Both help a person balance weight across the knee. When a meniscus is torn, the knee can lock up and swell. A minor tear can be treated with rest, but a severe tear could require surgery that may sideline a player for several weeks or months. Oblique strains An oblique strain involves the muscles on the side of the body between the ribs and pelvis. This type of injury can occur when a player takes a hard hit to the waist area or from overuse or sudden use of the muscles — for instance, a quarterback throwing a pass or a defensive back turning to defend a receiver. Oblique strains are usually treated with rest and could take a few weeks to heal, or could become a lingering issue otherwise. Patellar tendon injuries The patellar tendon allows a person to straighten a leg by acting with the quadriceps. Technically, it's a ligament because it connects the kneecap to the shin bone. Complete tears or ruptures often need to be surgically sewn back together and recovery is typically at least four to six months. Plantar fasciitis An injury that affects the bottom of the foot and can lead to intense heel pain. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the ligament supporting the arch of the foot — the plantar fascia — is strained and worsens when small tears develop in the ligament. The injury can sap players of speed while they deal with it. Rest, icing of the arch and finding new footwear are among typical treatments. It can linger for months. Turf toe An extremely painful injury that can sideline players for months. It occurs when the ligaments under the joint of the big toe are sprained or ruptured as a result of the toe being hyperextended. The injury makes it extremely difficult to push off and cut while running. ___ AP NFL:
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
JC Tretter discusses NFLPA tenure, controversies on Dan Patrick Show
Days after resigning from his position as NFL Players Association president amid mounting controversies, JC Tretter joined the Dan Patrick Show to discuss both the decision to step down and those controversies. During his interview, Tretter denied knowing about the NFL's collusion grievance and offered an apology to quarterback Russell Wilson. Tretter resigned from his position as NFLPA president on Sunday, days after executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. stepped down from his role. The former Cleveland Browns center told Dan Patrick that the recent blows he's taken to his public reputation were a big part of his decision to step down. "I feel like I had nothing left to give the organization."Former NFLPA President @JCTretter explains his decision to resign from the NFLPA. JC TRETTER: Former NFLPA president resigns amid scandals within union "I feel like I had nothing left to give the organization," Tretter said. "There have been some stories out there about me that aren't true, and I've been asked to sit on that and not talk about it. And that was for the organization, that wasn't for the players. "In the end, I feel like I couldn't do that anymore." Tretter and Howell had been subjects of intense scrutiny over the last month. Revelations from multiple outlets that the union had agreed to two different deals with the NFL to cover up arbitration reports were a big part of that scrutiny. The Boston Globe reported Friday – two days before Tretter's resignation – that a text message criticizing the then-NFLPA president had been circulating among players. 'When will the players rise up and hold Tretter accountable for all this?" it read. "Tretter is the common denominator in all these scandals." NFL GRIEVANCE COVER-UP: Reports: NFL, NFLPA concealed arbitrator report over fake injury complaint One of the arbitration reports that remained concealed stemmed from a grievance the NFLPA filed in 2022, alleging that NFL owners were engaged in collusion to limit the guaranteed money in player contracts. The arbitrator found no instances of collusion but also wrote that a "preponderance of evidence" suggested that the league had encouraged owners to collude. On Tuesday, Tretter said he had neither seen nor had access to the collusion grievance. He also stated that he had no discussions about the case in the months and years between its filing and the arbitrator's report from earlier this year. "Just not part of my job," Tretter said. NFLPA CONTROVERSIES: What to know about Lloyd Howell, JC Tretter resignations He went on to deny other rumors that he had "been angling for the executive director job," noting that he had declined a previous petition to run for the position because it would have meant more time away from his family. "A lot of things have been rolled down to, 'This must be JC's fault,' and that's not where I sit in the organization," Tretter said. "And that's not the type of person I am, and I didn't want people thinking that was the type of person I am." Tretter also walked back the criticism of quarterback Russell Wilson he sent to former NFLPA executive director De Smith in text messages that were revealed in a deposition related to the collusion grievance. "If I knew the league was colluding against Russell, I would apologize, because I would know there's factors outside of his control that were illegal and not allowed to happen."– Former NFLPA President @JCTretter on his text exchange with former NFLPA Exec DeMaurice Smith. Tretter told Patrick he called Wilson a "wuss" for taking less guaranteed money in the five-year, $242.5 million contract extension he signed with the Denver Broncos in 2022. The former union president said it upset him that the deal, which guaranteed $124 million at signing, was a missed opportunity to secure more guaranteed money for players in future contracts. Said Tretter: "If I knew the league was colluding against Russell, I would apologize, because I would know there's factors outside of his control that were illegal and not allowed to happen."
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Politics
- NBC Sports
J.C. Tretter reiterates claim that he knew nothing about the hidden collusion ruling
After former NFL Players Association chief strategy officer JC Tretter resigned, he submitted to an interview with Jonathan Jones of On Monday, we raised the question of whether Tretter will be doing more. He will, and he is. Starting on Tuesday with an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. Early in the segment, Tretter said this: 'There's been some stories out there about me that aren't true, and I've been asked to sit on that and not talk about it.' Dan gave Tretter a chance to identify the false reports. Tretter immediately focused on his role, or not, in the hiding of the collusion ruling. 'There's been a lot of narratives spun,' Tretter said. 'The idea that I buried the collusion grievance. I've never seen the collusion grievance. . . . I don't have access to the collusion grievance. I wasn't in any discussions about the collusion grievance, just not part of my job.' So when did he find out about the ruling in the collusion grievance? 'I know we lost the collusion grievance in January,' Tretter said. 'I knew that. I didn't know of any agreements or what was happening with that because it's not part of my department. Once it leaked a few weeks ago, I started learning more. I was on the board [of player representatives] call and the [executive committee] call when it was explained what had happened over the last six months to the players. So I know more now, but at that point I knew nothing. I wasn't involved in the discussions.' If Tretter is telling the truth, how is it possible the chief strategy officer wasn't involved in formulating the strategy for turning the outline into maximum leverage for the players? If it's not part of his job, what's his job? If it's not part of his department, what's his department? And if he wasn't involved in the discussions, why was he even there? Beyond his current job title, Tretter was the link back to the collusion grievance. He was the NFLPA president when it was filed. He testified in the case. He should have been livid to learn that the ruling had been hidden from him, and that a partial win had been dismissed as a loss. And while Tretter initially called it a loss, things he said later in the interview made it clear that he realizes — and believes — it could still become a win. 'Now, this is still pending, so even though it was, quote, hidden, it was in a standstill agreement, and the right to appeal was still there,' Tretter said. 'So the NFLPA is appealing. So this is still open and can potentially change. So this is still a pending investigation or a pending matter. And I hope it comes out or I hope it's proven that we are able to prove those other two pieces [i.e., actual collusion and damages] that are needed to win the entire collusion grievance.' We've since asked the NFLPA for an update on the appeal. While the union used to respond to our questions, that has abruptly stopped in recent days. It's unclear where the directive is coming from, since the union doesn't currently have an executive director. And it's odd that the union would be adopting an adversarial stance with one of the few media outlets that is committed to the principle that people watch football games to see the players, and that the players should get more pay and better treatment than they experience. I'll nevertheless remain committed to that principle, and I'll use this platform to get fans to think twice before blindly lining up behind the laundry.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets unveil epic new locker room on social media
Despite recent controversies surrounding the NFL Players Association, one great thing to come from that organization has been the annual NFLPA report cards for each team. These report cards are based on player feedback and measure everything from quality of travel each team provides its players for away games to how nice the locker room is. For the New York Jets, their locker room had consistently received poor marks, getting a C- from the players in 2024 and a D+ in 2025. Expect that to change in next year's report cards. The Jets have already had an unusually controversy-free start to training camp, and now they just released a look at their brand new locker room on social media, and it is an instant hit. Take a look at the short video tour below. This locker room has it all, from 92 fully customizable lockers to a huge sauna and even a barbershop with two chairs. Each locker even comes with ventilation trays for each player's shoulder pads. On top of the practical additions to the locker room, the redesign itself is pretty darn cool. The Jets' iconic oval logo stands out prominently in the ceiling of the locker room, and there's no shortage of green and white accent lights throughout the hallways and around the lockers. Even the walkway leading up to the entrance looks like a hallway you'd see on an imperial cruiser from Star Wars. Jets players walking into this new locker room for the first time are probably smiling ear to ear because this upgrade is, in a word, epic. It may seem like a small thing to outside observers, but having a nice locker room that the players can take pride in can genuinely help the team. It boosts morale just by knowing you have a cool new workplace with a personal area for you to customize, but the added amenities will help players relax before and after practice. For a team like the Jets, even the smallest of boosts can make a difference once the regular season starts.
