To field the best team for the rest of the regular season and postseason, the Detroit Lions are rearranging their roster and dealing with a number of ailments. Ted Rath, a former NFL strength and conditioning coach who worked with the Lions in the past, gave Lions OnSI his thoughts on the defense’s high injury rate this season.
John, it’s intriguing that it’s on one side of the football. We’ve also discussed this. However, it’s important to remember that every injury has a variety of severity and circumstances, Rath added. “So, I believe that everything has a part to play when you look at it. Later, when I reached the position of Vice President, I was in charge of all performance-related matters, including team travel, how to prevent travel fatigue, coast-to-coast travel, how to provide your players with proper nutrition and hydration, and how much stress you’re putting on them.
“John, you’re overstressing them from a psychological perspective if you’re putting them under stress. Because of your training in psychology, you know from meetings that psychological stress will raise cortisol levels. When your cortisol levels rise, your body becomes less protective and is less able to stop harm.
The most recent episode of the ‘Lone Wolves’ podcast examines the Lions’ recent injury crisis from a strength and conditioning standpoint. It talks about artificial turf versus natural grass surfaces, the rise in MCL injuries, and what Detroit’s prospects are for the rest of the 2024 season. Don’t miss any more podcast episodes. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Lone Wolves podcast, which can be found wherever you save your favourite podcasts.