Injury History/Concerns on top RB prospects

The Texans will probably pick a RB in the first or second round of this years draft. But nobody knows which one or what round. Let's look at the following seven RB's injury history that the Texans probably have on their radar either in the first or second. I am not evaluating talent here, just injury history.

First Round Prospects

CJ Spiller- Probably will not be available when Texans pick. He only missed one game in his career but played much of the 2009 season with nagging foot injuries.

Ryan Mathews- Probably on the Texans radar. Has sustained injuries to his head (concussion), ankle, collarbone, knee and foot over his career, missing seven full games due to injury and portions of several others.

Jahvid Best- I doubt if the Texans draft Jahvid. But injury concerns are probably keeping him out of the first round. He sustained a severe concussion against Oregon. Didn't play the rest of the season.

Second and third round prospects

Jonathan Dwyer-Extremely reliable. Did not miss one game due to injury in his three year career.

Toby Gerhart- Missed pretty much the whole 2007 season after injuring his knee. Has come back strong since and has not missed a game.

Ben Tate-Just like Jonathan Dwyer, extremely reliable and has not missed a game due to injury.

Montario Hardesty- Very lenghty injury history. Suffered multiple leg injuries over his career, including a torn ACL (2005), ankle sprains (2007) and a stress fracture (2008).


Other than Montario Hardesty, most of the second and third round candidates are very reliable. Especially Dwyer and Tate. Mathews is a better prospect than both Dwyer and Tate but injury concerns must be taken into account especially if the Texans use a first round pick on one. Mathews seems to get a lot of nagging injuries.

The question is, "How much of injury history will the Texans take into consideration when making a selection". Obviously talent and overall fit are higher on the board but injury risks should be up there.

This is very good to know and I think the Texans will take injury history into account when making their pick. This makes my selection of Tate all the better. What's your source for this info. and can you post a link?

What about fumbles & ball security? They have to be taking that into account as well.

Jahvid Best- I doubt if the Texans draft Jahvid. But injury concerns are probably keeping him out of the first round. He sustained a severe concussion against Oregon. Didn't play the rest of the season.

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You know he has great numbers, but how many concussions in how many years at Cal ? The new concussion policy from sheriff Rodger just isn't talk. Best is going to fall like a rock. And I highly doubt one, that he gets drafted the first three rounds and two, he is even on the Texan's board. Every time he takes a bad shot he could be done. What would you pay for that ? I've heard of penis envy, but Cris Johnson envy ? Unless you know something we don't, Slaton will be back and that is his role and rice bowl on the team.

"Ryan Mathews- Probably on the Texans radar. Has sustained injuries to his head (concussion), ankle, collarbone, knee and foot over his career, missing seven full games due to injury and portions of several others."
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This information has always been out there and surely would make even the most ardent proponents of drafting Mathews in the first round have reservations about such a strategy. You can bet it's a fact that Kubiak & Smith have at the top of their list of reasons NOT to pull the trigger on Mathews.

Yeah, but there have been players who were injury prone in college who never get hurt, while there are guys who never got hurt and cant stay on the damn field. It's mostly a crap shoot.

Wolf6151 said:

This is very good to know and I think the Texans will take injury history into account when making their pick. This makes my selection of Tate all the better. What's your source for this info. and can you post a link?

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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings

On the other side of the coin playing every game for three years = wear and tear that will shorten their NFL lifespan.

BigBull17 said:

Yeah, but there have been players who were injury prone in college who never get hurt, while there are guys who never got hurt and cant stay on the damn field. It's mostly a crap shoot.

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That's true each player is to a certain extent a crap-shoot, but don't you think if there's already a history established in college for a given player a team would be foolish not to include that into its evaluation of the player?

stingray said:

The question is, "How much of injury history will the Texans take into consideration when making a selection". Obviously talent and overall fit are higher on the board but injury risks should be up there.

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medical clean bill of health is all that's required. injurys impact all football players especially RB's which is why you need quality depth, that's what bit the Texans in the ASSSS last year.

With regard to the RB position and health, ANY RB is one wrong hit away from being knocked out for a season. Knee injuries and such are the nature of the beast. No human can take a 250lb LB diving into his knee without some type of injury. Just because players have had injuries in the past to shouldn't be too big a deal, with the exception of concussions. Too many concussions is a very serious issue.

Its funny as the draft process goes on you can almost talk your self out of picking anyone.

I think the role the team expects the player to have is important. For example, you want Gerhart (who has not been injured in two seasons despite huge attempts and style he has) to be your 3rd and short yardage and Red Zone back. You might take him over another player.