After each week of NFL football games for the 2017-2018 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. My co-host and strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd (hence the J in "JK"..I'm the K...). 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. 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 Week 10!

Week 10 Injuries:

Martellus Bennett (TE, Green Bay & now New England) went from getting cut by Packers to active for Patriots in 4 days

Looks like he is feeling pretty good to me (See video below)
After disagreeing on the severity of his shoulder injury, the Packers released Bennett with a “failure to disclose an injury” designation after Week 9.

The #Packers paid TE Martellus Bennett $8M of his 3-year, $21M contract. The only tangible benefit to cutting him with the failure to disclose is if they argue his entire contract is void & go after his money. This isn’t over just yet.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 8, 2017

Daniel Lasko, New Orleans, RB taken off the field in stretcher on kickoff coverage

Sparks discussion on kickoffs, touchbacks, the Patriots and what happens when you try to be like the patriots (see below)

103 YARDS TO THE HOUSE!@DionLewisRB is GONE. #GoPats #NEvsDEN pic.twitter.com/fnVmoZVx1u
— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2017

Devonta Freeman, RB Atlanta, 2nd Concussion in 4 Months

No Video, Thomas Davis Quote on Twitter…

If Devonta Freeman misses MNF, it will end the 2nd longest active starting streak for RBs at 30.

Frank Gore has the longest at *102*
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) November 13, 2017

Joe Haden, CB Pittsburgh, Fractured Fibula, Out 3-8 weeks

Slo-mo and zoom of Haden injury #Steelers pic.twitter.com/LAQAUJ7OWU
— Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) November 13, 2017

Aaron Jones, Ty Mongomery, RB's Green Bay

Jones MCL 3-6 Weeks
Montgomery Ribs Week to Week

Richard Sherman, CB Seattle, Ruptured Achilles, Out for the year

Richard Sherman broke down in tears before leaving on crutches tonight: "I owe it to those guys, and I gave ’em everything I had." #Q13FOX https://t.co/oBzK1imNh5 pic.twitter.com/DcDPVCfj09
— Dusty Lane (@Dustin_L_Lane) November 10, 2017

Players speak out on their dislike for Thursday Night games
Richard Sherman wrote a Players Tribune Article about his hate for Thursday night games last year
Richard Sherman played through Achilles pain for weeks before season-ending injury
Stats provided by Football Outsiders says the data does not show a correlation between TNF and higher rates of injury.
Big Ben's thoughts on TNF

On Dec. 14, 2016, Richard Sherman wrote a piece for The Players' Tribune entitled "Why I hate Thursday Night... https://t.co/dz0rMHAeUi
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 10, 2017

Good Morning America's take on Thursday Night Games with Tony Reali (below)
- The players benefit financially from TNF

Russell Wilson, QB Seattle, Concussion protocol issue

Team could be fined $150,000 for violating the league concussion protocol
Is the team really at fault for a situation like this?
Did the blue tent blow this out of proportion?
The idea of a helmet penalty box is brought up as a potential solution

Russell Wilson sent off after taking hit to the chin for concussion check, ducked in the tent then sent right back out pic.twitter.com/8HXvKOGNuG
— That Dude (@cjzer0) November 10, 2017

Jacoby Brissett, QB Indianapolis, More concussion protocol issues

Brings up a discussion on "Concussion Body Language"

#NFL #concussion protocol is a fraud. QB Jacoby Brissett goes back in after showing the clearest concussions signs of the season. Helmet-to-helmet hit, holds head, then goes limp, then needs help up. You don't need a protocol to hold this player out for the game. Check the tape: pic.twitter.com/db8sDwVmVl
— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) November 12, 2017

Delayed onset of concussion symptoms are a real thing (Kevin shares his personal experience)

Official statement from the Colts explains why Brissett went to the medical tent twice. The independent neurologist was attending to another player (in the locker room), so Brissett was tested when he returned. pic.twitter.com/Rml2Q1Tpsj
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) November 12, 2017

Non-Injury News, FInes & Updates from week 9:

Vontaze Burfict, Ejected for Making contact with official

Flagged for late hit out of bounds on Titans RB earlier in the game

#Bengals Vontaze Burfict has already been suspended this season, now has been ejected vs #Titans, late hit out of bounds here pic.twitter.com/t4wQ7iQBnH
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 12, 2017

This contact with the ref is what ultimately got him ejected from the game

Video of Vontaze Burfict and why he was ejected. #Bengals @fox19 pic.twitter.com/7Po25VAlX7
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) November 12, 2017

He obviously shows no remorse and embraces the persona, but how is this affecting his team?

Burfict reacts to fans as he's leaving post-ejection pic.twitter.com/WYBYWlnE2g
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 12, 2017

Teddy Bridgewater, QB Minnesota, Returns from ACL/Major Knee Surgery

Teddy Bridgewater emotional after officially returning to his first game since Jan 10, 2016 (2015 season wildcard loss to SEA), serving as backup to Case Keenum: “it was great to lace my cleats up”..... pic.twitter.com/NQjbsyi296
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) November 13, 2017

Heads 'N Tales worthy for sure! We will definitely be rooting for this guy!

Marquise Goodwin, WR, 49ers, Feel-goodish story

Marquise Goodwin and his wife lost their baby due to complications during pregnancy.

Hours later, he had an emotional touchdown celebration that was bigger than sports. pic.twitter.com/EJyw9idfOP
— SB Nation (@SBNation) November 13, 2017

#49ers WR Marquise Goodwin and his wife lost their unborn baby due to complications yesterday morning.

What does he do? Score an emotional touchdown. Goosebumps.

pic.twitter.com/wEMckVx6Fm
— The Football Bible™ (@TheFBBible) November 13, 2017

Fines from Week 9 Fights