When the NFL lockout ended a week before regular-scheduled training camp were to start, a lot of people said that rookies and signed free agents would be affected the most because they didn’t have enough time to study playbooks and build good chemistry with their new teammates.
But in the wake of many players getting injured after two weeks into the NFL season, it seems like the lockout had a major affect on all players. People like to joke about practice (i.e. Allen Iverson) but practice is more than just working on plays and studying film. Practice also gives players the opportunity to properly condition their bodies for the game. Especially for a contact sport like football.
Since the lockout ended a lot of players have been sidelined due to injuries. Most have been ruled out for the entire season. The New York Giants have been hit the hardest with injuries. The Giants have seven players – DT Marvin Austin (torn pectoral), LB Jonathan Goff (knee), CB Brian Jackson (back), QB Sage Rosenfels (back), LB Clint Sintim (torn patellar tendon), CB Terrell Thomas (torn right ACL), and CB Brian Witherspoon (torn ACL) – on the Injured Reserve List.
They also have players who are either ruled out, day-to-day or questionable for games: Prince Amukamara (foot), TE Travis Beckum (hamstring), Hakeem Nicks (knee), Justin Tuck (neck), and DE Osi Umenyiora (right knee).
Yesterday was filled with news of players going down: Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (knee – out for season), Packers S Nick Collins (neck – out for season), Panthers LB Thomas Davis (torn ACL – out for season), Bengals WR Jordan Shipley (knee – out for season), Jets C Nick Mangold (ankle – out 2 weeks), Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez (sprained MCL – out 1-2 weeks), Bears RT Gabe Carimi (dislocated knee – out 4 weeks), and Broncos WR Eddie Royal (groin – out 2-4 weeks).
Cowboys QB Tony Romo and Eagles QB Michael Vick also suffered injuries yesterday but no news has been release on whether the two will miss any playing time. Texans RB Arian Foster also re-aggravated his hamstring.
A lot of these injuries are major blows to their respective teams (and to Football Fanstasy owners). I know injuries are apart of the game but I’ve never seen this many injuries in just two weeks into the NFL season.
It has to be because of the elimination of OTAs due to the lockout. I hate hearing this type of news. I hope all of these players fully recover and remain positive during their rehabilitation.