Medically reviewed by Misty Seidenburg
The 2024 NFL season is fast approaching, and as you build your dream team, don’t forget to check out the latest fantasy football injury reports. Knowing who is injured and their rehabilitation status will help you make smart picks for a winning season. These are common football injuries we’re seeing in the pre-season, along with updates on players returning from season-ending conditions.
Athletes who play football and other high-demand sports that require frequent stops, starts, and direction changes are susceptible to sprains involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL.)
The ACL runs diagonally across the middle of the knee and stabilizes the joint by preventing excessive rotation and forward movements. Slowing down or stopping suddenly, landing awkwardly from a jump, quick direction changes, and direct hits to the knee can damage the ACL. ACL sprains range in severity from mild overstretching to complete tears.
Let’s look at who is out with an ACL injury and who is returning after ACL reconstruction.
After Jones was injured in early November 2023, he opted for surgery on Thanksgiving day instead of waiting until after the holiday. That is because, for a professional NFL player, every day counts. Recovery from ACL surgery can take nine months to a year or more. The recovery time is closer to three months for ACL injuries that do not require surgical repair.
Physical therapy is an essential part of ACL tear recovery. Once an athlete is cleared for activity, physical therapists introduce gentle post-op exercises to reduce swelling, rebuild muscle strength, and restore range of motion. Manual therapy, including stretching, soft tissue mobilization, and scar therapy, helps reduce soft tissue and joint restriction while promoting healing.
ACL tear prevention strategies are also crucial for injury prevention in football. Players work with physical therapists to improve their landing and turning power, coordination, speed, and balance to protect the knee and prevent season-ending injuries.
Another group of NFL players are rebounding from Achilles tendon injuries. The Achilles tendon is a strong fibrous cord that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It helps you push off your foot when walking, rise on your toes, and point your foot down. We all depend on this tendon when we walk and move our feet.
Like ACL injuries, Achilles tendon injuries are more common in sports with sudden starts and stops, such as football, soccer, basketball, and tennis. Achilles tendinopathy is tendon breakdown, typically from overuse, that responds well to conservative treatment with physical therapy.
An Achilles tendon tear is a more severe condition where the tendon is overstretched, partially torn, or fully ruptured. With a complete rupture, you might hear an audible “pop” followed by sudden, intense pain in the lower leg and back of the ankle. A torn Achilles tendon can be treated surgically or non-surgically.
According to research, most professional athletes choose surgery because it allows them to regain full strength. However, non-surgical treatment with physical therapy and other non-invasive treatments can also offer a good outcome.
Here are some of the NFL’s top players returning from Achilles surgery this season:
Physical therapists have the tools and training to help elite athletes and weekend warriors prevent and recover from Achilles tendon injuries. Achilles tendinopathy and post-surgical therapy help encourage tendon healing, increase strength, and improve power needed to return to sports.
A comprehensive treatment plan to heal Achilles injuries combines therapeutic exercise and stretching with hands-on therapies to ease pain and stiffness, restore normal range of motion, and combat muscle weakness and instability. Athletes also benefit from preventative functional training to teach safe, controlled movements that minimize tension on the Achilles and lower the risk of sports injuries.
Football players are at high risk of musculoskeletal injuries even with protective equipment. According to a study of college athletes published by the National Athletic Trainer Association, football has the highest game injury rate of all sports. The following players are coming off sports injuries or were recently hurt in the pre-season.
Check the NFL 2024 Injury Report, CBS Sports, and ESPN Fantasy Football online for the latest fantasy football injuries and insight on your top draft picks.
So, what does a severe football injury mean for your top fantasy football prospects? That depends on many factors, including:
The quality of their football player rehab program also impacts their ability to perform at pre-injury levels. While you’re pulling for your favorite players during their recovery, you can trust they have a dedicated team of physical therapists and athletic trainers working to get them back on the field safely.
But you don’t have to be a pro athlete to see results from sports therapy to improve performance, decrease the risk of injuries, and return to activity after surgery. To learn how you can benefit from a sports physical therapy program, find a physical therapy clinic near you or request an appointment online.
External Sources:
