Sports Then and Now

After missing the 2015 season with a knee injury, can Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson return to past form?

Fans who plan on betting on NFL football should know there are two crippling components in the league, injuries and suspension. Players misbehaving off the field is one thing, but players not playing due to something that is completely out of their control is soul crushing for both the athlete and the sportsbook user. While offseason injuries can usually be accounted for, a mid-game injury could have a drastic outcome for the game. Sometimes a player being carted off can open the lane for a future hall of famer, as was the case for Brett Favre. Other times it can cost teams the game and those betting on NFL football their money. In a sport as physical football it’s important to have an indication of which players are prone to injuries, and which players are recovering from injuries. A quick glance at NFL history will reveal just how devastating injuries can be to players, teams, and sportsbook users.

Indubitably the biggest injury sustained in the history of the NFL was suffered by Joe Theismann. In one of the most memorable hits ever delivered legendary linebacker Lawrence Taylor snapped both the tibia and fibula of the former Redskins quarterback. The film The Blind Side highlights this moment and states that this hit is the reason that left tackles usually receive the second highest salary on the team. Theismann’s career was ended and it took Washington 9 years to win another Super Bowl. The NFL lost a great quarterback, and those who picked the Redskins as favorites for NFL futures lost their money.

While not all injuries sustained in the NFL are that tragic, they can be just as costly to fans betting on NFL football. Last season Green Bay’s quarterback Aaron Rodgers went without his favorite target, Jordy Nelson. Rodgers was able to find success by putting up modest numbers and the Pack still made it to the divisional round, but there’s no doubting that if Nelson had been on the field the Packers would have gone further. This example proves the impact injuries have on a football team, even if that injury isn’t sustained by that team’s most valuable player.

Knowing which teams aren’t at 100% can help prevent betting fans from making a costly wager, as well as picking a lucrative upset. With that in mind let’s take a look at some of the bigger injuries around the league.

• Jaguars wide receiver Marquise Lee missed his 4^th preseason practice due to a hamstring injury
• Steelers cornerback Senquez Golson is scheduled to miss 12 weeks after sustaining a Lisfranic injury
• Bengals cornerback William Jackson will most of his rookie season due to tearing a pectoral muscle
• Cowboys #2 option at quarterback Kellen Moore broke his ankle on the 2^nd of August. This places more pressure on Romo to stay healthy, something he’s not known for.
• Chargers wide receiver Stevie Johnson tore his meniscus in practice and surgery will be needed to amend the tear. It is unclear whether Johnson will miss most or all of the 2016 season
• Cardinals Mike Jenkins will also need surgery after breaking a bone in his hand. The team is optimistic about the injury, hoping Jenkins will be able to start the season with a cast.
• Baltimore Ravens linebacker Cavellis Luckett was placed on IR on July 30^th.