Update: Dorian Strong Neck Injury "Not Progressing", "Have Had Talks"

[Brand J]

Just now, oldmanfan said:

The stenosis doesn’t occur in one practice.  An injury leading to X ray or MRI would.  I don’t know if teams routinely screen for this or not.  

Sounds like an underlying issue that may have been discovered after whatever happened at that particular practice. Sucks for the guy and the Bills. He looked promising.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

3 hours ago, Brand J said:

So Strong and Sanders were severely hurt in practice, while Daquan Jones was hurt during warmups (not to mention Oliver’s first injury occurred in practice). The defense is snake-bit this year. 

And Taron Johnson last week was practice injury too 

 

edit: and damar too! 

Edited 23 hours ago by EmotionallyUnstable

[Richard Noggin]

2 hours ago, transient said:

Would they continue to after a near miss is the question. 

 

They don't have a choice. Majority of Americans don't intentionally predetermine what they will end up doing for work/sustenance. So we often follow the opportunities wherever they present themselves. Even just several weeks of NFL game checks would dramatically improve MOST of our lives long term. 

[RunTheBall]

It’s clear Strong has a career threatening neck issue. This isn’t something that was solely caused by practice. He’s probably had an issue for many years, tweaked it in practice, and got a horrific MRI result when they investigated. It’s either multiple disk protrusions or spinal stenosis at the cervical level. I’m leaning more towards the stenosis issue because disks can be successfully dealt with (Eichel, Hyde), whereas stenosis it’s not so simple. Unfortunately I think his career is over. The young man should take the money and pursue a different career. It sucks, but he will have a solid financial launching pad that 99% of people in this country don’t have.

 

Edited 23 hours ago by RunTheBall

[Beck Water]

On 10/22/2025 at 10:23 PM, jlatas said:

(from the interwebs...)

 

NFL teams are required by the league to be honest about player injuries, and failure to do so is a violation of the NFL's Personnel (Injury) Report Policy. Teams must list all players with reportable injuries, even if they are expected to play, and provide specific details. Penalties for non-compliance can include fines, suspensions, or loss of draft picks

 

What NFL teams must report

• Any player with a reportable injury: This includes all players who have a physical injury that could affect their availability. 
• Specifics of the injury: Teams must be as specific as possible, including the body part (e.g., "left ankle" instead of "leg"). 
• Injury status during practice: Even if a player practices fully, they must still be listed on the injury report if they have a reportable injury. 
• In-game injuries: Teams must report injuries that occur during a game as soon as the information is available. 
• Illnesses: A player's illness does not need to be disclosed unless it limits their participation in practice or the game. 

Consequences for not being honest

• Fines: The team and coaches can be fined for non-compliance. 
• Loss of draft picks: The league can penalize teams by taking away draft picks. 
• Suspensions: In severe cases, players or coaches can face suspension. 

 

this is all true, but you note that the NFL's idea of "specific as possible" is "neck" not details of what exactly is wrong with the neck

[BillsFanForever19]

1 minute ago, Beck Water said:

 

this is all true, but you note that the NFL's idea of "specific as possible" is "neck" not details of what exactly is wrong with the neck

 

It specifically states what body part as an example. He has a Neck Injury. That's all they have to list on the Report. They don't have to put the specific diagnosis.

[transient]

26 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

I suspect the injury and subsequent testing revealed spinal stenosis such that damage could result in permanent paralysis.  I’d advise any athlete to walk away; it is a game after all, not worth destroying your life over, or even losing it.

If you take the “not progressing” at face value, it would at least suggest something they thought might heal with conservative management, like the initial approach with Eichel and his herniated disc. Hopefully it’s a case of clumsy wording by McDermott, like the shitstorm he started about his “concern” with Diggs not being at practice a few seasons back, and not actually career threatening. Maybe the bad news is they have to shut him down for the season and the conversations were around the need for surgery. 
 

Regardless, leaving this turd floating in the punch bowl the way he did, McDermott didn’t do Strong any favors. If they weren’t ready to have this conversation in public he should have been more tight lipped. I can only imagine that Strong’s phone has been blowing up all day after this. 

[Beck Water]

4 hours ago, Simon said:

 

Maybe football isn't worth the risk.

But is millions of dollars worth it?

That would be an individual's personal choice, but I'd be a yes on that one.

 

There was a Bills player (not regarded as particularly cerebral) who being interviewed by Dunne about a concussion which left him lying on the field initially unable to move.  Dunne asked if he thought about retiring.  He said "no".   "Why not? Why take that risk?"  The player asked Dunne if he'd had a concussion.  Dunne said , "actually not too long ago, playing basketball in a rec league".  Player said "You took the risk of a concussion for a game you played for free.  I'm taking the risk for over a million dollars to set up my kids and my family for life."  Dunne pretty much had nothing to respond to that.

[Richard Noggin]

Just now, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

It specifically states what body part as an example. He has a Neck Injury. That's all they have to list on the Report. They don't have to put the specific diagnosis.

 

HIPAA protects players on some level, although one might wonder if the league's limited antitrust exemptions open the door to whatever degree of transparency we DO see. Compare the NFL injury reporting to the NHL, for example. Fans, and bettors alike, would go insane seeing designations like "lower body." 

[Beck Water]

17 minutes ago, transient said:

If you take the “not progressing” at face value, it would at least suggest something they thought might heal with conservative management, like the initial approach with Eichel and his herniated disc. Hopefully it’s a case of clumsy wording by McDermott, like the shitstorm he started about his “concern” with Diggs not being at practice a few seasons back, and not actually career threatening. Maybe the bad news is they have to shut him down for the season and the conversations were around the need for surgery. 
 

Regardless, leaving this turd floating in the punch bowl the way he did, McDermott didn’t do Strong any favors. If they weren’t ready to have this conversation in public he should have been more tight lipped. I can only imagine that Strong’s phone has been blowing up all day after this. 

 

That last was exactly my thought.  If you're not going to disclose something out of respect for the player, then don't disclose it.  Sheesh, McDermott.

54 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

The stenosis doesn’t occur in one practice.  An injury leading to X ray or MRI would.  I don’t know if teams routinely screen for this or not.  

 

Asked the Google machine and found this:
https://www.itnonline.com/content/nfl-prospects-undergo-medical-screening

They mention 300 draft prospects getting screened.  ~250 players get drafted.  Now whether all 300 get MRI exams of their neck and spine, can't say, but clearly MRI is a tool that's used during the pre-draft process and used not uncommonly, if this company provides "several dozen" medical imaging systems for the comprehensive medical exam that's part of the pre-draft process.

Edited 22 hours ago by Beck Water

[Buffalo716]

11 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

There was a Bills player (not regarded as particularly cerebral) who being interviewed by Dunne about a concussion which left him lying on the field initially unable to move.  Dunne asked if he thought about retiring.  He said "no".   "Why not? Why take that risk?"  The player asked Dunne if he'd had a concussion.  Dunne said , "actually not too long ago, playing basketball in a rec league".  Player said "You took the risk of a concussion for a game you played for free.  I'm taking the risk for over a million dollars to set up my kids and my family for life."  Dunne pretty much had nothing to respond to that.

 

Exactly 

 

Every man knows the risks on that field.. nobody walks away from football with a perfect body

 

It's a game.. even though it's a very violent game.. but it's a privilege to play that sport for millions of dollars in front of millions of people around America 

 

It's a privilege not a right

[Mango]

20 minutes ago, RunTheBall said:

It’s clear Strong has a career threatening neck issue. This isn’t something that was solely caused by practice. He’s probably had an issue for many years, tweaked it in practice, and got a horrific MRI result when they investigated. It’s either multiple disk protrusions or spinal stenosis at the cervical level. I’m leaning more towards the stenosis issue because disks can be successfully dealt with (Eichel, Hyde), whereas stenosis it’s not so simple. Unfortunately I think his career is over. The young man should take the money and pursue a different career. It sucks, but he will have a solid financial launching pad that 99% of people in this country don’t have.

 

 

Not a doctor but I wouldn't rule out myelopathy. You can choke out your spinal cord with zero symptoms...until you have them. The data around myelopathy recovery is points more toward "pausing progression". " Reversal is a hope unless you catch it early.

 

[SydneyBillsFan]

And here I was thinking that he would be our backup CB with starter potential 

[CircleTheWagons99]

 

[Big Turk]

yeah I immediately thought it was career ending most likely the way McD was phrasing things and hedging his words. Might be having to instill life wisdom into him that his health just isn't worth it and the potential to be paralyzed for the rest of his life on any given play.  These never end well regardless...look at Micah Hyde and Aaron Williams...both had to hang it up due to issues reoccurring shortly after they came back.

Edited 8 hours ago by Big Turk

[Nephilim17]

Sad news. I recall cornerback-turned safety Aaron Williams having a neck injury and coming back but only for a short while before ending his career, I think.

I hope this is not similar. Seems like a good and talented young man raised by a pro player.

[Paup 1995MVP]

That's awful.  Sucks for him and it sucks for us.  This sounds like it could be Derrick Burroughs all over again.  Wasn't the injury in practice too?  The body can only take so much punishment playing football between practices and games over a lifetime.  

[BlazinBill]

Such awful news- hope the kid is doing ok mentally and wish him the best- gotta be tough when your dreams come true and end up with an injury like this

Edited 8 hours ago by BlazinBill

[DrDawkinstein]

Eric Wood too, no?

[JAMIEBUF12]

SAD