The fact of the matter is that the National Football League is a dangerous sport, and every player across the league understands the sacrifices it takes to play a physical sport at such a high level. Players risk long-term injuries each time they take the field, all because they love to play the sport and give it their all.
This year’s football season is no exception to injuries though it is only week three, and teams have felt the effects of their star player’s absence. Looking at the 49ers, Deebo Samuel not playing has negatively affected them in a big way, including this year.
Last season, they lost three games in a row with Samuel out due to a shoulder injury. This time, it is not just Samuel who’s inactive; Christian McCaffery is out suffering from calf tightness and Achilles tendinitis, which also held him out during training camp. To make matters worse, George Kittle injured his hamstring, meaning Brock Purdy is missing three major playmakers. Last season, star receiver Justin Jefferson got placed on IR for the same injury, so hopefully, luck is on Kittle’s side.
Another team that is hurting big in the wide receiver room is the Los Angeles Rams. The impressive second-year receiver Puka Nacua hit the sidelines during training camp, injuring his PCL. The same injury haunted him in week one; this forced him onto IR. A couple of games later Cooper Kupp, who escaped IR but will miss a few games, endured a high-ankle sprain.
In week three, the 49ers and Rams faced off in what should be called the injury bowl. Both teams did not look comfortable and struggled offensively. With all these injuries, many players stepped up to make plays. Jauan Jennings hauled in 11 receptions for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Impressive as it is, the Rams stopped them from taking the win. Matthew Stafford drove the ball down the field to the underrated receiver duo of Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson and handed the ball off to Kyren Williams for two touchdowns.
In the NFL, each position differs from one another, and opportunities for backup quarterbacks come once in a blue moon. While sacked, Jordan Love’s leg bent the wrong way, kicking him to the sidelines with a sprained MCL. Malik Willis took the opportunity the Tennessee Titans never gave him and knocked it out of the park. From weeks two to three, Willis improved; against the Titans, he threw 13 for 19 for 202 yards and rushed for a touchdown. These unforeseen situations put players’ jobs at risk: look at Tom Brady, who took over the New England Patriots after Drew Bledsoe went down.
Moving from the north to the south in Miami, Florida, franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa slid head-first, resulting in another concussion. Ever since then, the productiveness of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle vanished. The Seahawks’ defense only allowed the Cheeta to receive three catches for 40 yards and Waddle snatching four balls for 26 yards. Without the presence of Tagovailoa on the field, the offense is not functioning. If the dedicated former Alabama quarterback returns, the percentage of punching a ticket to the promised land in New Orleans is low, but never zero.
The injury pandemic even reached the back-to-back Super Bowl champs in Kansas City. Way before the season began, wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown dislocated his shoulder joint in the first preseason game, knocking him out for the entire season. After week two’s game, Isaiah Pacheco walked out of Arrowhead with a boot and crutches after receiving the news that he broke his fibula. With how hard and passionate the powerful running back plays, this is a devastating loss for the Chiefs. With Clyde Edwards-Helaire out as well, this pressured the Chiefs to go into the past and sign Kareem Hunt. In the meantime, rookie Carson Steele performed well enough to get first downs, allowing the Chiefs to drive down the field.
The NFL and NFLPA strongly promote the safety of the players, but injuries keep reoccurring. While the organization strives for health and safety, they cannot prevent every injury. The implementation of the new kick-off rule went into effect this season and many players have spoken out against the change. Every sport exhibits injuries, and players understand what they signed up for.