A concussion is one of the most common injuries in NFL and American football. Statistics say that around 0.41 concussion occurs per NFL game of American football. In this, 67.7 % of concussions occur due to some other player’s helmet, while 20.9% occur due to a body region. Just like that, about 11.4% of them include the impact on the ground.

As concussion includes head injury, when a player suffers from the same, they are likely to remain out of the match.

But for how long? Well, it depends. The NFL has come up with a concussion protocol, to be more particular. Here’s more to it:

What Does Concussion Protocol in the NFL Mean?

The NFL’s concussion protocol goes back to the year 2011 when the Head, Neck, and Spine Committee of the league came up with the NFL Game Day Concussion Diagnosis and Management Protocol. Here’s what the protocol includes:

• A player is included in the protocol if he shows signs or symptoms of concussion/stinger.
• The members like booth ATC, Athletic Trainers, NFL game officials, teammates, sideline UNC (Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant), or booth UNC starts/initiates the protocol.

The player is checked for any symptoms of concussions once he gets injured. If he is diagnosed with a concussion, he is removed from the game instantly. Likewise, if he passes the exam, he may return but will be monitored for certain symptoms. This includes the following:

• Blank look
• Lack of consciousness
• Problem with motor coordination and balance
• Getting up slow after getting hit on the head
• Unawareness of the nearby surrounding
• Facial injury
• If the player clutches head after the contact

How Long is the Concussion Protocol Applicable to the Player?

If a player suffers from a concussion and wants to return to play after recovery, then he has to follow a “Return-To-Participation Protocol”. This should be organized by the respective NFL organization, and the protocol process must include the following steps:

• Rest and Recovery: The injured player is removed from all team activities, social media, and even electronic devices. They are said to remain focused on simple physical activities.
• Light Aerobic Exercise: The player should participate in light aerobic exercises like riding a stationary bike or working on a treadmill for about 10-20 minutes every day. This should be monitored by a trainer to see if any concussive symptom shows up.
• Continuous Aerobic exercise and strength training: The player can participate in cardiovascular work with a trainer to look for any behavioural signs.
• Football Specific Exercise: The player can try out non-contact football activities for an entire practice.
• And lastly, the Full football activity/clearance.

Note that the end step, i.e. the full football activity or clearance, is quite important, and it should be done by an acclaimed club physician. In this step, the player is given a green signal by both the club physician and the independent Neurological Consultant of the team.

Here both the independent physician and the team must agree for the player to return to practice or to the gameplay/match.

A player under concussion protocol can only return to practice in the first practice of the week if they have been denied a concussion. However, concussion protocol could also be applied to them as late as the game day.

Meanwhile, if a player is removed or restricted from practice on midweek injury reports, it will be considered one of the steps of the protocol process. They might be able to play or participate in the following game.

That’s it. Hopefully, now you know for how long a player remains out of the game with a concussion.

We all know that injuries are common during sports. They could occur as hand injuries, leg injuries, or even concussions, i.e., head injuries in players. However, in American football, efforts have been made to reduce head hits or violent collisions.

This has certainly impacted the industry positively, as in the last NFL season (2021), the concussions totaled 187. That’s a stark difference from what usually occurred in prior seasons.

Keeping the improvement aside, you must wonder how likely it is for a player to get a concussion in football. If you want to know about the same, then read through:

How Common is Concussion in the NFL?

In American football, concussions are one of the most common injuries that players face. Overall, about 0.41 concussions occur in every NFL game of American football. Out of this, 67.7% of them occur due to another player’s helmet, followed by 20.9% that could happen due to someone’s body region (like the knee). Moreover, about 11.4% may occur due to impact on the ground.

It is also noted that, out of all the concussions, about 9.3% of them can cause loss of consciousness, whereas 2.4% of them could lead to hospitalization. There are several mild cases of concussions (about 92%), where the players suffer from the injury but return to practice in 7 days or less.

Also, about 69% of people who lose consciousness return to practice in 7 days or less.

If we mention how common concussions have been in the last ten years, the graph has both highs and lows. In the year 2012, about 261 players suffered from a concussion, followed by a two-year dip in 2013 (229) and 2014 (206). Between the years 2015 to 2017, the graph saw concussions of 275, 243, and 281, respectively.

In 2018 and 2019, the NFL players listed a concussion of 214 and 224. Note that these data exclude the instances of head injury or the ones that may proceed to the level of concussion in players.

However, if we calculate the average of these injuries, about 242 players sustained concussions every year as of 2019. Also, nearly 10% of American football players suffer from brain injury every season.

Note that there is also a connection between consistent head injuries in prior football players and CTE due to concussions. CTE is a brain disease that occurs when the player gets constant hits on the head for several years. It’s a degenerative brain ailment that may cause symptoms like confusion, memory loss, personality changes, etc.

Who is More Likely to Get a Concussion in NFL?

American football witnesses concussions quite commonly (even more than Rugby) because, during the game, the player tends to lead with the head more. The helmet-to-helmet contact is one of the most common sources of concussion, although any other type of jarring that may cause the head to whip or crash against the skull may also cause the same.

While all NFL players are subjected to concessions during the game, there are some positions that are more at risk. For example, being out in the open field, cornerbacks are more in a vulnerable position to get concussions. This is especially applicable to the defensive back, who has to tackle the players with their heads at full speed.

Just like that, two other positions that are susceptible to concussions are the wide receivers and the linebackers, for their respective roles.

That’s it. Hopefully, now you know how likely a player is to get a concussion in football.

Sports betting involves many contributing factors that can alter your bets, predictions, and overall dynamics. One such factor is sports injuries, which are unavoidable things that can happen before or during matches. Whatever the situation is, you must determine how much importance you should give to a sports injury.

A detailed injury study and research about all the players and opposition can help you place profitable bets. So, look at how injuries shape your sports betting decisions and much more.

What Happens to the bet if the Player Gets Injured

One of the most asked questions of sports bettors is what happens if the player they bet on gets injured. Well, if the team officially announces that a player is inactive per the league, the majority of the bookmakers automatically cancel the bets.

But, according to various sports books, the decision may alter according to the type of bets.

• The bet stands to cancel if you bet OVER and UNDER
• Some sportsbooks will consider the bet if the player is active and has not been officially out of the league or match.
• Some sportsbooks consider the bet valid even if the player appears for one minute.

Also, If your prop is a factor of a parlay across numerous games, that bet will be declined, but the rest of the parlay will still be active, with a lower payout. So, knowing your sportsbook’s rules will help you shape your bet if there is any buzz about players’ injuries.

Assessing the Situation

In sports betting, all the external factors must be equally important as internal factors. Of course, sports injuries are an important external factor. But, using your evaluations, research and mind can help you shape your bet smartly.

For example, In the NFL, your team’s starting quarterback is injured and will stay out. The sports betting odds makers often change the odds about a field goal if the starting quarterback is out. Now, you must not get overwhelmed by the reaction and know that it’s just one player. The substitutes can perform better and usually take responsibility for the injured player.

Evaluating the Injured Player

As soon as the news of injury strikes, you must assess the scenario. For example, there’s a matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, and a further one is set at a seven-point home favorite.

Now, due to circumstances and injuries, Aaron Rodgers is out of the game and cannot play. In this scenario, Rodgers is a star player and can simply alter the performances drastically. Therefore, you can smartly switch your bets towards Lion or choose teaser bets. Shaping your bets according to the performance and tactics of the injured player can help you minimize the losses.

Information of Backup Player

Another factor that can change your betting decision after the news of injury is the knowledge of backup. For example, Kyle Lowry is not present in a game due to injury, and the backup is Cory Joseph; you can trust him.

All this knowledge will come to you by studying the current statistics, performance under pressure, and history of the backup players. If you know the backup will ensure their game does not suffer, it’s safe to go with them.

Also, sports bettors change their bets just by looking at the injured player’s status but forgetting to check on backups. On the other hand, if you think the substitute player can’t back up the star player, you can change your favorite or take less risky bets.

Take Minor Injuries Into Account

Many times in the history of football, it has been observed that players with minor injuries come to the ground. They may have arm or wrist injuries. Some sportsbooks will spread the word about unfit players, which will help them alter odds and bets.

But prior knowledge of the seriousness of the injury is required. For example, if the player has a calf, hamstring, or groin and is still playing, this can lead to underperformance. But, if the injury is on the upper limbs, it may not mess with the match. So, study the injury and recovery reports to shape your bets.

Creating a Betting Strategy

As a bettor, you must follow all the injury updates from day one. Also, study all the players, oppositions, backups, and external factors. Creating a betting strategy and researching all the match’s aspects will help you make smart decisions. Injuries affect the play but giving the right weightage to it according to player, opposition, and backup can help you pace very profitable bets.

Some of the best strategies to deal with these unpredictable situations are to try live betting. Betting after the game has started will help you bet according to the live performances. The digital era of betting is a blessing for overcoming such situations.

Also, remember the psychological and mental impact of the injury on other players. How do they look, and how have they handled injured teammates in past matches? They can come up with better enthusiasm or shatter at once. So, shape your bets according to the team.

Wrapping Up

These were how injuries shape your sports betting decisions. Yes, injuries are the least predicted elements that can alter your bets, but they are important. You must evaluate and give weightage to those injuries that will truly affect the game. So, don’t let the buzz of sports books and odds mess with your research and evaluations. These are unexpected and unavoidable cases, but intelligent decisions can help you master the technique. So, shape your bets smartly and enjoy the thrill and suspense it brings.

Whether it’s the pre-game ritual, talented players, or interesting twists and turns, football is one of the most popular sports globally for several reasons. People from different age groups watch the games and strive to keep the passion alive.

Major football leagues like the NFL are home to some of the best athletes in the world. Although their skills and talents vary as per player and position, they all collaborate to fight against their opponents and slay the field like a pro.

While it’s an absolute treat to watch the world’s best offense, defense, quarterbacks, and centers, the high speed and full contact of American football can also cause injuries during the game. Infact, traumatic injuries are more common than overuse injuries during NFL games.

Wondering about what are some other common injuries in football. If yes, then read through:

Knee Injuries

Knee injuries (or related injuries) are one of the most common injuries in NFL football that have been dominating the list since 2000. These injuries focus more on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).

In football, when a player puts too much strain on the knees or when it gets twisted or turned, sometimes ligaments get damaged. It can also occur due to direct contact with another player or some prior injury.

An example of a knee injury in NFL history is Tom Brady. Tom Brady, the iconic quarterback, suffered from an ACL tear when Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard rolled into his knee. He couldn’t play the entire season but returned with a bang later.

Another example is Rob Gronkowski, who suffered a high-profile knee injury with torn ACL and MCL. However, he returned the next season to lead the Pats to the Super Bowl.

Foot and Ankle Injuries

Being a strenuous and fast-paced sport, there is no doubt that football players suffer from foot and ankle injuries quite often. An NFL player may suffer from such injuries while tackling the opponents or while jumping, running, or falling.

Some common foot and anchor injuries that players may face during football include turf toes, fractured bones, Achilles tendon tears, or ankle sprains. Although it’s not preventable, a stretch routine could avoid muscle stress, and calf pulls. Similarly, stress fractures can be avoided by wearing proper shoes.

In 2008, E.J. Henderson suffered a gag-inducing broken leg in the ’09 season. He missed 12 games because of the foot injury but returned to the field in the 2010 season after getting a titanium rod inserted in his leg.

Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries commonly occur due to contact with other players or from repetitive throwing. Being a vulnerable point, shoulder injuries can occur due to falling on the ground too.

In most cases, NFL players encounter shoulder tendonitis, dislocation, separation, and cuff injuries. If the shoulder pain develops suddenly with a tearing sensation, it’s likely a case of rotator cuff strains. The pain due to this condition can be severe and radiate to the arm.

Back in 2013, former American football wide receiver Plaxico Burress suffered from a torn rotator cuff during Steelers practice. Later, he underwent a surgery to repair the tear.

Concussions

Although NFL players wear helmets, there are certain situations where the players can suffer from traumatic head injuries and concussions. This usually occurs when the ball directly hits the players to cause a jerking motion and result in a concussion.

Players may suffer from symptoms like headache, dizziness, blurred vision, or confusion on encountering such situations. That’s why it’s always advised to the players to stop playing the game if they feel any of these symptoms after getting hit.

Some NFL players like Andre Waters, Mike Webster, and Junior Seau suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and died due to the condition. However, NFL doctors say that there isn’t any direct connection between NFL and CTE.

Hip Pointers

Hip pointers commonly occur in football players when they get a direct hit to the iliac crest or the greater trochanter. The player may feel intense pain and localized tenderness over that area. Normally, Hip pointers occur after a blunt force is applied to the bony prominence of the pelvis.

It happens when the player tackles the opponent or falls down on the ground. They may also feel a lack of mobility and strength in the hip area.

American football quarterback Mitch Trubisky suffered from a right hip pointer when playing against the Los Angeles Rams. He was hit by the opponent near the end of the first half of the game, after which he received treatment. However, his condition did not improve, and later, he got replaced by Chase Daniels.

Wrist and Hand Injuries

In football players, hand injuries occur when the soft tissues of the hand get affected. Among football players, the ones playing from the offense and defense are most likely to sustain hand injuries.

They may also suffer from scaphoid fracture, where the small bones in the wrist break after falling on an outstretched hand. It can also occur if the player hyperextends the wrist or puts all the weight on one palm.

In 2018, Phillip Lindsay suffered a wrist injury during the third quarter of Denver’s 27-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders. Later, he was diagnosed with a scaphoid fracture and ligament damage that required a lengthy recovery. The Denver Broncos had to finish the season without running back Lindsay due to the same.

That’s it. These were some of the most common football injuries of all time.