While the number of concussions reportedly suffered by NFL players dropped 25 percent this season to 111, those who were added to the injured reserve list was more.
The AP also reported that this was the first time injury data was collected through electronic healthcare records, leading to, what is considered more substantive data than ever before on where, how and why the players were harmed.
One team doctor said that, to him, it didn't make sense.
"With all the technological innovations that we've had over the past few years, I'm surprised the numbers keep going down," St. Louis Rams team physician Matthew Matava, MD, Medtronic Spinal employees rack-up 4.8k charitable hours — 5 things to know. "Because you'd think, with more vigilance, you'd see more of any sort of condition."
Dr. Matava had been talking about those players added to the IR list, primarily, where there were had been a jump of 17 percent from last year — 265 this year, from 226 last.
If preseason games, postseason games, workouts and practices, are included, the 202 concussions were suffered this season, a reduction of 12 percent from last year.
Dr. Matava, an orthopedic surgeon, is affiliated with several hospitals in the St. Louis area, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital. He earned his medical degree from University of Missouri's Kansas City School.
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