League: Concussions, other injuries decline
No evidence seen of higher risk in Thursday games.
I n j u r i e s i n t h e N F L d e c r e a s e d t h i s s e a s o n , including concussions.
Emphasizing that players are doing more self-reporting of head injuries, the league released data Thursday that show overall concussions for the preseason and regular season were down from 275 in 2015 to 244 in 2016. That includes a drop of 16 in regular-season games to 167.
The 275 diagnosed concussions in 2015 were a high over the past five years and were an increase of 69 over the previous season. But the NFL enhanced its detection and examination protocols in that span.
“What we have to account for, too, are the additional protocols involved and the people involved in recognizing the injuries,” NFL executive Jeff Miller said. “We have seen a significant culture change on those points.”
Dr. Robert Heyer, president of the NFL Physicians Society and team internist for the Panthers, cited the players’ willingness to report injuries as making a major difference in the numbers.
“I have been a team physician 22 years, and in the past three years I think we’ve seen a cultural change regarding concussions,” Heyer said. “As result of ongoing education, players are more likely to speak up if they believe they might have a concussion. I know what we are doing is making a difference, but we must continue to do more.”
A rule change regarding player safety of moving the ball to the 25-yard line on touchbacks had little effect on diminishing concussions, with a drop from 20 to 17. That information will be presented to the league’s competition committee for evaluation, Miller said.
The statistics also showed decreases in knee injuries from 2015-2016. Also of note was no conclusive evidence of more injuries on Thursday night games. The injury rate was less than from games played Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Packers: Ty Montgomery will spend the offseason preparing to be in the backfield full-time, coach Mike McCarthy said. While Montgomery played receiver in college at Stanford and early in his Green Bay career, the Packers always had designs on using him in some all-purpose role, similar to how they use receiver Randall Cobb at times.
Injuries to running backs Eddie Lacy and James Starks n e c e s s i t a t e d a d r a mat i c change this season.
Lacy is due to enter free a ge n c y, t h o u g h t h e s e a - son-ending ankle injury he had in October could allow the Packers to bring him back on more team-friendly terms.
There was one change in place: Tom Clements, the assoc iate head coach for offense, is leaving to pursue other interests.
Chiefs: All-Pro safety Eric Berry says he hopes to stay in Kansas City. Berry made $10.8 million as the Chiefs’ franchise player last season. If the Chiefs don’t sign him to a long-term contract and place the franchise tag on him again, he’ll cost about $13 million in 2017.
Berry, 28, is coming off perhaps the best of his seven NFL seasons.
Bengals: Signed kicker Randy Bullock to a two-year deal, giving him an opportunity to compete for the job next season. Bullock filled in for the last three games last season after Mike Nugent was released.
Bills: Backup offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio has had hip surgery after a fall at his home. The Bills said they expect Kouandjio to be ready for training camp.
Evgeny Kuznetsov scored twice, and Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist as Washington improved to 13-1-2 in its past 16 games and headed to the All-Star break with a league-best 72 points in 49 games.
Andrew Ladd scored twice, including the go-ahead goal at 7:20 of the third period, as the Islanders beat Montreal for the first time in eight tries.
Brad Marchand scored two second-period goals and Riley Nash added the go-ahead score as Boston rallied from a 2-0 deficit. Marchand was fined $10,000 earlier in the day but avoided a suspension for a dangerous trip of Detroit’s Niklas Kronwall.
Roman Lyubimov scored with 2:37 left and No. 2 goalie Michal Neuvirth stopped 27 shots, lifting Philadelphia to its third straight win. The Flyers jumped the Maple Leafs in points (56-55).
Marian Gaborik and Trevor Lewis scored 38 seconds apart late in the third period, breaking a scoreless tie, and Peter Budaj stopped 22 shots for the shutout.
Jonathan Marchessault scored on a power play 1:49 into overtime, and Jussi Jokinen had a short-handed goal for Florida.
Johnny Gaudreau scored at 4:29 of overtime after Ottawa’s Chris Wideman tied the game with 1:02 left in regulation.
Nino Niederreiter had a goal and two assists and Devan Dubnyk made 25 saves for Minnesota, which leads the Western Conference with 69 points and is 21-3-2 in its past 26 games. Craig Smith scored two third-period goals, each time giving Nashville a two-goal lead. Columbus coach John Tortorella returned to Ohio before the game because of a family emergency and will miss All-Star festivities this weekend in Los Angeles. Andrew Copp and Bryan Little scored the tying and go-ahead goals 32 seconds apart late in the third period for Winnipeg. Late Late Late