It’s just about that time of year again and the NFL is ramping up its football season. Every year there are the inevitable injuries that come along with hard-hitting play, and this year is no exception. This begs the question: how many injuries in the NFL 2017 season?
As you can likely guess, the number of injuries tends to be pretty high. The severity of them varies with some causing players to be out for months, while others causing more minor enemies like sprains and strains. Some of these injuries are preventable with proper training and protection, and others are just a result of bad luck or bad judgment. One thing is for certain, playing professional football can be a dangerous endeavor.
I’m sure you’ve seen the news reports of some of the more severe injuries such as ACL tears, shoulder and neck injuries, fractured bones and concussions. Those are some of the more serious ones, but there are quite a few more minor injuries that add up to the grand total. Research shows that the total number of injuries in the NFL during the 2017 season was a staggering total of 2,039 according to the league’s injury report. That’s up from previous years, but there were also more injuries reported and tracked due to improved focus on safety in the NFL.
Of course, when you break down those 2,039 injuries, it’s easy to see how the numbers play out coaching position. Quarterbacks had the highest rate of injuries at 24.3%, the offensive line came in second at 21.8%, followed by the defensive line at 17%, then tight end at 8.5%, then wide receiver at 7.2%.
When it comes to injury prevention, the NFL has had a shift in mentality that focuses more on safety-related changes. Not only are helmets being modified for better protection, but the league is implementing stiffer fines and penalties for specific rules and dangerous plays designed to protect athletes.
The NFL also now has an injury tracking system that goes beyond simple head injury protocols and tracks the details of every injury to help coaches and teams better identify key factors that contribute to injury. Over time, this data can be used to better inform coaches as they make decisions about player safety, making it increasingly important for the NFL to make sure it is tracking injury data accurately.
In addition, many teams are investing heavily in research and development to find ways to better protect their players. From new materials in protective gear to safer tackling techniques, teams are doing what they can to help keep players safe.
The NFL itself is also continuing to invest heavily in the development of new equipment, rules, and regulations to keep players safe on the field. They have implemented improved concussion protocols and have looked into uses of technology and training methods designed to prevent injuries.
It’s great to see the NFL taking player safety seriously and doing all it can to protect its athletes from injury. After all, it’s the players that make the game great. While it’s impossible to prevent all injuries, hopefully these steps will help keep them to a minimum and players will be able to perform at their best without worry of injury.