Football isn’t just a tough sport to grasp…it’s a tough sport to PLAY.

A majority of these men are 6+ feet tall, weigh more than 220 pounds, and are throwing all that weight around the field every Sunday. Honestly, it’s a miracle we don’t have more broken bones.

But there is one injury that’s starting to stand out among all the rest: Achilles injuries.

So it begs the question: Does the NFL have an Achilles heel?

Probably.

– jen

Top headlines in today’s memo:

AND MORE!

As a new sports fan, one thing you’ll want to get used to is injuries. No amount of training, weight lifting, and athletic wrap can prevent them. And while some injuries are minor, others are season-ending…even career-ending.

Recently, it’d seem that Achilles ruptures and tears are on the rise across the NFL.

On Thursday, we watched this very thing happen to Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler.

Before that, Kansas City Chiefs safety Deon Bush tore his Achilles in the pre-season. In the 2024, Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShaun Watson ruptured his Achilles in Week 7. And if you remember, last week I touched on how an Achilles rupture ended Aaron Rodgers’ 2023 season, ruining his debut with the New York Jets.

But what makes this injury so detrimental?

For starters, an Achilles injury often requires surgery. Then, it’s coupled with a long, painful rehabilitation, putting players out of commission for 6 to 12 months. While most of them make a full recovery, some never bounce back completely.

So, does the NFL have an Achilles heel problem? It would seem so. But why is that?

Experts at the Department of Orthopaedics at Marshall University asked these same questions last February, and what they found was:

But why are these injuries on the rise? They hypothesized:

While treatments for Achilles injuries have improved over the years, it’s rather concerning that this particular injury has been on the rise for the past two decades with little to no concern from league officials.

So, yes, I think it’s safe to argue that the NFL’s Achilles heel is on the verge of being a bigger problem.

MLB (Major League Baseball) playoffs start Sept. 30 with the Wild Card round. And while the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies have clinched their post-season spots, the rest of the teams hoping to make a deep run have just 14 days left to prove they have what it takes.

More MLB coverage is on the horizon.

The first round of the WNBA playoffs tipped off on Sunday:

But the story dominating headlines? Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase, who was called for a technical foul in the second half after arguing a call against one of her players. Nakase later critiqued the officiating in the post-game press conference, a theme that’s been carried out throughout the 2025 WNBA season, not just by Nakase.

Now, let’s chat about a topic that I hold near and dear: College athlete compensation.

On July 1, 2021, the NCAA’s long-standing rules around amateurism in college sports changed forever. The reason? NIL.

For the first time, college athletes could profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness – meaning, they could sign paid endorsement deals, appear in ads, sell autographs, and build personal brands, all without risking their playing eligibility. Whereas before, that was not possible and many relied on “illegal” boosters for financial backing.

But how did we get here? Great question…I’d love to tell you!

For decades, the NCAA insisted athletes remain “amateurs” (read: unpaid), even as college sports (specifically football and men’s basketball programs) turned into a multi-billion-dollar industry. The turning point came in 2019, when California passed the Fair Pay to Play Act, making it illegal for schools to punish athletes for earning NIL money. Other states quickly followed, putting pressure on the NCAA to act.

The result: a patchwork of state laws and NCAA guidelines. Suddenly, athletes from big names like Alabama and UConn to small schools everywhere could cash in.

So, how are players making money?

Think everything from Instagram sponsorships and TikTok shoutouts to local car dealership commercials and branded merch drops. Some stars have inked deals worth seven figures (looking at you, Livvy Dunne and Bronny James). Others are pocketing a few hundred bucks for a social post or an appearance at a youth camp. The market is wide open—and so are the possibilities.

Why does this matter?

NIL has completely shifted the college sports landscape. Top recruits now weigh not just playing time or championships, but potential NIL earnings. Small schools can compete for talent by helping athletes build their brands. And for the first time, college athletes have a shot at sharing in the profits.

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. There are concerns about fairness, recruiting chaos, and whether some athletes are getting left behind. But one thing’s clear: college sports will never be the same.

Get more trade advice ahead of Week 3.

Don’t let your defense negate scoring points from other players. If your defense is playing against your QBs, RBs, WRs, or TEs, swap out the D. This prevents an overlap that could cost you and ensures your fantasy team gets the highest points possible each week.

Blitzing is a defensive tactic used in American football to disrupt the passing play. This strategy requires a higher than usual number of defensive players rushing the quarterback with the goal of either sacking him (tackling him to the ground), or preventing him from completing a pass down the field.