Preseason Injury Report : NFL Helmet Rule Discussion, Comeback Season, Dr. Wazim Buksh Intro

Preseason Injury Report : NFL Helmet Rule Discussion, Comeback Season, Dr. Wazim Buksh Intro

Kevin Saum
2018 Injury Reports

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 season, the Heads 'N Tales podcast will be posting an episode dedicated to injuries and health & safety topics surrounding the NFL. Specifically we will talk about possible prevention strategies, the rulebook, equipment and other injury buzz around the league.  

The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  Josh and I grew up playing baseball together. Josh was a division-1 center fielder for Monmouth University and experienced his fair share of injuries throughout his career.  Although Josh never played organized football, the dude flat-out knows the game of football and undoubtably knows more about the ins-and-outs of the sport better than I do from both a fan and x's & o's perspective.  

Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014.

Our intention for these episodes is to spark conversations around topics that are usually brushed under the rug or only minimally covered in the hopes of making football and all sports safer for the athletes who play them.  

You are currently looking at the show notes for Preseason 2018!

Notable Comebacks:

ARIZONA CARDINALS: RB DAVID JOHNSON

Johnson was lost for the season after dislocating his wrist in Week One.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: QB AARON RODGERS

Went down with a broken collarbone last year and returned late in the season.

HOUSTON TEXANS: QB DESHAUN WATSON  

His bid for Offensive Rookie of the Year was derailed when he tore his ACL during a non-contact drill in practice.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: QB ANDREW LUCK

Missed the entire 2017 season with a nagging shoulder injury.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS: RB DALVIN COOK

Tore his ACL in week 4 after breaking the team's rookie rushing debut record and looking to be one of the league's best all-purpose backs.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: WR JULIAN EDELMAN (SUSPENDED 4 GAMES)

Tore his ACL in a preseason game.

NEW YORK GIANTS: WR ODELL BECKHAM JR.

Broke his ankle in Week 5 during a game against the Chargers.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: QB CARSON WENTZ

Wentz tore his ACL in a December game against the Los Angeles Rams.

HOUSTON TEXANS: DE JJ WATT

Underwent a complicated surgery to repair a fracture of his tibial plateau.

2017 - Injury Updates

PITTSBURGH STEELERS : LB RYAN SHAZIER

  • Spinal stabilization

CHICAGO BEARS : TE ZACH MILLER

2018 Preseason injuries:

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: WR Marqise Lee

  • ACL, Blames Helmet Rule

WASHINGTON REDSKINS: RB Derrius Guice

  • The rookie tore his ACL and will be lost for the season. Guice was in position to be the Redskins’ lead back this year.

New Rules 2018:

Helmet Rule Explained 

"It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent." This rule pertains to all players on the field, and to all areas of the field.

Would this have been implemented had Shazier not gotten hurt?

Preseason Examples:

Questionable Calls:

No-Calls:

Players Reactions

  • Devonta Freeman

    • “That’s the NFL rule, not my rule.”

  • Richard Sherman

    • There is no “make adjustment” to the way you tackle.  Even in a perfect form tackle the body is led by the head.  The rule is idiotic And should be dismissed immediately. When you watch rugby players tackle they are still lead by their head.  Will be flag football soon.

  • Kareem Martin

    • "How I'm taking it, they're just trying to protect us from the missile-type hits," Giants linebacker Kareem Martin said in early August. "From a player-safety standpoint, that's safer for everybody, from the player getting hit to the player delivering the hit."

  • Morgan Burnett

    • "It's a game where you have to learn and adjust on the fly," Steelers safety Morgan Burnett said. "These guys are professionals. Whatever rules they make, we'll be able to adjust."

  • Malcolm Jenkins

    • "It's really hard to get low and not have your head pointed down," Jenkins said.

  • Referee Reactions

  • Our Reactions

New Kickoff RuleS

Defenseless player now includes QB

Points of emphasis:

  • ILLEGAL CONTACT AND OTHER ACTS DOWNFIELD

  • PROTECTION OF RUNNERS WHO GIVE THEMSELVES UP

  • PROTECTION OF QUARTERBACKS

  • USE OF OFFICIALS’ WHISTLE

NFL “WAY TO PLAY” Initiative

  • Award - Equipment Grants!

  • Who ever took over NFL PR should get a raise!

  • Taking ownership, not pawning off to USA Football!

 Download Episode: iTunes | Stitcher 

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