As a huge NFL fan, I often find myself wondering if athletes coming back from major injuries, such as an ACL tear, can make a full return to being a top-level player. It seems like every year a key player in either the offense or defense suffer from some sort of ACL tear and have to sit out for a significant amount of time. So my question is, after sustaining an ACL injury, are NFL careers doomed?
I had no idea so I decided to do a bit of digging. After doing some research, the answer isn’t as simple as a yes or no. Of course it depends on the severity of the injury, and if it is just a tear or tear plus a fracture. The recovery times differ depending on the severity. Some players make a full recovery and go back to playing at a high-level. But other players never quite make it back to their former glory. Unfortunately for those players, they tend to have shortened or diminished careers.
To get to the bottom of this, I wanted to delve into a few specific cases of some of the best players in the league tearing their ACL. One of the most infamous cases is that of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski had to sit out the entire 2013 season due to his injury and returned in 2014 to have one of the best seasons of his entire career. He would go on to win the 2014 and 2015 Super Bowls and be named a four-time Pro Bowler. This shows that, depending on the severity of the injury, a player can make a full return to the same level of dominance they had before.
Another case is that of Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, who suffered an ACL tear in the middle of the 2015 season and had to sit out until the end of the 2016 season. However, upon his return, Bell did not return to the same level of play he was once at, as he only had one season of 1,000 or more rushing yards since then. This is an example of a player who, unfortunately, was not able to make a full recovery from the injury and his career was significantly shortened as a result.
So as you can see, it really all depends on how long has ryan shazier been in the nfl severe the injury is and if the player is able to make a full recovery from it. It’s possible that a player can have a successful NFL career after sustaining an ACL injury, but it’s not guaranteed. That being said, I still can’t help but feel for the players who have to suffer devastating injuries. Whether it’s a full recovery or not, it’s great to see any athlete be able to come back following an injury.
The recovery process is a complicated one, as it involves rigorous physical rehab and physiotherapy to get the knee back into proper shape. The process can be mentally and emotionally taxing for the athletes, and some may not have the mental fortitude to push themselves as hard as they need to during the recovery process. This can lead to a slower than expected return to the field, and even a reduced effectiveness once they do come back.
The last thing to keep in mind is that ACL injuries are usually repeated. If a player has had one before, they have a higher chance of having another one in the future. This can be due to improper rehab, bad luck, or just the simple wear and tear of the long and grueling NFL season. So if the first ACL injury is not repaired properly it can lead to an even greater risk of re-injury down the line, which can spell the end of any cheap nfl jerseys career.
It’s clear that ACL injuries can have a significant impact on a player’s career. From physically changing the way that they play, to having to contend with the emotional and mental toll of a lengthy recovery process, an ACL injury can be a tough hurdle to overcome. While it is possible for a player to make a full return to their former level of performance, there is no guarantee, and many players have seen their careers be significantly shortened as a result.