The Detroit Lions season was pathetic, but their veteran signal-caller, Matthew Stafford, had a terrific year until he was sidelined by his back injury.
Head coach Matt Patricia did not to put Stafford on injured reserve until mid-December likely in the hopes that he would have an opportunity to play again before the season ended. Instead, he never left the sidelines.
Football is a physical sport and injuries are a fact of life in the NFL. Some players have a long career with minimal injuries to show for it, while others can’t lace up their cleats without hurting themselves.