Hayward a reminder of other horrific injuries
Less than six minutes into his tenure with the Boston Celtics, forward Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome lower leg injury, dislocating his ankle and breaking his tibia. Players from around the league offered their thoughts and prayers on Twitter, including Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George, who suffered a severe leg injury of his own three years ago. Here is a look at some of the worst injuries in sports in recent years.
NAVORRO BOWMAN, 2014
Bowman tore the anterior and medial cruciate ligaments in his left knee during the NFC Championship Game 2014, when Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse was pushed into Bowman’s leg, causing it to buckle. Bowman missed the following season but started all 16 games in 2015. He signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders this week after being cut by the San Francisco 49ers.
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER, 2016
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback dislocated his knee and suffered what the team called “a complete tear to his ACL and other structural damage” during practice in 2016. Bridgewater has yet to return to game action but returned to practice Wednesday.
PAUL GEORGE, 2014
George suffered an open tibia/ fibula fracture in his right leg during a Team USA showcase in August 2014, when his foot landed on the edge of the basket stanchion. He missed most of the following season, returning a little more than eight months later, but has been named an Eastern Conference All-Star in each of the two seasons since.
TIM HUDSON, 2013
The starting pitcher was covering first base for the Atlanta Braves during a game against the New York Mets in July 2013 when Eric Young Jr. accidentally stepped on the lower part of his right leg, breaking Hudson’s ankle. Hudson spent the final two seasons of his 17-year career with the San Francisco Giants before retiring.
ERIK KARLSSON, 2013
Less than a year after winning his first Norris Trophy, Karlsson left the ice during a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in February 2013 after Matt Cooke’s skate sliced through the Achilles tendon in his left ankle, resulting in a 70% tear. The Ottawa Senators defenseman returned 10 weeks later and has since been named team captain, in addition to winning a second Norris Trophy in 2015.
JEREMY LANE, 2015
After intercepting a Tom Brady pass in the first quarter of the Super Bowl, Lane was tackled along the sideline and tried to brace his fall with his left arm, resulting in a broken wrist. He returned to start nine games for the Seahawks last year and has remained in the starting lineup at cornerback this season.
MARCUS LATTIMORE, 2012
South Carolina’s star running back dislocated his right knee and suffered extensive ligament damage while absorbing a hit on a carry against Tennessee on Oct. 27, 2012. Lattimore entered the NFL draft the following spring and was picked by the 49ers in the fourth round, but he retired from football in 2014, citing the knee injury. He is head coach at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, a high school in South Carolina.
ANDERSON SILVA, 2013
In a 2013 UFC middleweight title fight, Chris Weidman blocked a kick from Silva, breaking the tibia and fibula in his left leg in the process. He won his first fight back in 2015 against Nick Diaz by unanimous decision, but the result was overturned after Silva tested positive for two anabolic steroids. He lost his next two fights before defeating Derek Brunson in February.
GIANCARLO STANTON, 2014
An 88 mph pitch from Mike Fiers hit Stanton square in the face during a September 2014 game, leaving the Miami Marlins slugger with multiple facial fractures, dental damage and a facial laceration. Stanton missed the final two weeks of the season yet finished second in MVP voting and later agreed to a 13-year, $325 million contract extension.
KEVIN WARE, 2013
Louisville’s Ware was attempting to block a shot during an Elite Eight game against Duke in 2013 when he suffered an open fracture of his right leg. He redshirted the following season and later transferred to Georgia State, where he helped lead the Panthers to an NCAA tournament berth and an upset over Baylor. Ware now plays professionally in Greece.