Diagnosis and treatment
NFL funding research to help players better manage pain

By Teresa M. Walker Jun. 08, 2021 05:33 PM EDT
The NFL will spend up to $1 million funding up to five studies that will examine how to better help players ease their pain and find alternatives to opioids. ...

Former NFL player Clarence Vaughn III, center left, and his wife Brooke Vaughn kiss before delivering tens of thousands of petitions demanding equal treatment for everyone involved in the settlement of concussion claims against the NFL, to the federal courthouse in Philadelphia, Friday, May 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Retired Black players say NFL brain-injury payouts show bias

By Maryclaire Dale And Michelle R. Smith May. 14, 2021 01:09 PM EDT

FILE - In this Wednesday, July 12, 2017, file photo, New Orleans Saints super fan Jarrius "J.J." Robertson, right, accepts the Jimmy V perseverance award with his parents, from left, Patricia Hoyal and Jordy Robertson at the ESPYS at the Microsoft Theater on in Los Angeles. Jordy Robertson, whose seriously ill son Jarrius gained fame in New Orleans for his devotion to the Saints football team, was sentenced to eight years in prison Tuesday, May 11, 2021, for drug trafficking and for fraudulently capitalizing on his son's illness with a phony charity. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
8 years for dad of Saints 'super fan' in charity, drug case

By Kevin Mcgill May. 11, 2021 06:39 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 19, 2020, file photo, then Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ryan Switzer attends practice at NFL football training camp in Pittsburgh. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Switzer said his 9-month-old son is stable after undergoing surgery to stop bleeding. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Browns WR Switzer's infant son out of hospital after surgery

Mar. 10, 2021 11:22 AM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 19, 2020, file photo, then Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ryan Switzer attends practice at NFL football training camp in Pittsburgh. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Switzer said his 9-month-old son is stable after undergoing surgery to stop bleeding. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Browns' Switzer said 9-month-old son stable after surgery

By The Associated Press Mar. 07, 2021 07:09 PM EST

NFL, NFLPA seek alternatives to opioids for pain management

By Rob Maaddi Mar. 05, 2021 01:41 PM EST
The NFL is taking steps to learn more about different ways to help players manage pain. Last month, the NFL and NFL Players Association...

Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez punts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Indianapolis. Sanchez says he will have surgery Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, to remove a cancerous tumor. He made the announcement in an Instagram post (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indy punter returns to practice field after cancer surgery

Dec. 16, 2020 02:40 PM EST

Indianapolis Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (3) celebrates kicking a field goal with Rigoberto Sanchez (8) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Colts punter schedules surgery to remove cancerous tumor

By Michael Marot Nov. 30, 2020 12:18 PM EST

Bills tight end Sweeney diagnosed with inflamed heart

By John Wawrow Nov. 23, 2020 05:04 PM EST
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills tight end Tommy Sweeney will miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with an inflamed heart, which is...

In this photo provided by Inova Health System, Washington Football Team NFL football head coach Ron Rivera leaves the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax, Va., following his final treatment for a form of skin cancer, on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. Rivera gets to rest up with the bye week before hosting the New York Giants on Nov. 8. (Inova Health System via AP)
Rivera Strong: Washington in hunt, rallying around its coach

By Stephen Whyno Oct. 29, 2020 03:09 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020 file photo, Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Kyle Allen talk to field judge Dale Shaw (104) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Landover, Md. The first game between 1-5 Washington and the 2-4 Dallas Cowboys since the name change is also the longtime NFC East rivals’ first meeting with this bad a combined winning percentage since 2001. That was a 9-7 game kicker Tim Seder won with a 26-yard field goal as time expired after a collision with a horse on the field during warmups. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Washington's Ron Rivera on verge of final cancer treatment

By Stephen Whyno Oct. 23, 2020 02:42 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2018, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins (27) and New England Patriots' Devin McCourty answer questions in St. Paul, Minn. Jenkins has teamed with fellow NFL players to launch a venture capital fund, Broad Street Ventures on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. The fund focuses on late stage and growth stage technology and consumer products. Jenkins and co-founder Ralonda Johnson recruited additional NFL players and industry leaders to represent the fund. Among them are defensive backs Devin and Jason McCourty of the Patriots. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Malcolm Jenkins says therapy helps him cope with stress

By Rob Maaddi Oct. 14, 2020 04:43 PM EDT

FILE - Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio arrives for practice at the team's NFL football training facility, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Ashburn, Va. Washington Football coach Ron Rivera missed his team's first game-week practice Tuesday as he began treatment for a form of skin cancer. As planned, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio stepped in and ran practice ahead of Washington's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Rivera misses Washington practice to begin cancer treatments

By Stephen Whyno Sep. 08, 2020 05:01 PM EDT

Washington head coach Ron Rivera, center, talks to his team during practice at the team's NFL football training facility, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Rivera wants 'business as usual' while battling skin cancer

By Stephen Whyno Aug. 22, 2020 03:33 PM EDT

Washington quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins Jr., third from left, Alex Smith, and Kyle Allen, rear, talk with head coach Ron Rivera right, during practice at the team's NFL football training facility, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington coach Ron Rivera has a form of skin cancer

By Stephen Whyno Aug. 20, 2020 10:22 PM EDT

NFL bringing more staff back to HQ with saliva virus tests

By Arnie Stapleton Aug. 05, 2020 05:45 PM EDT
The NFL is preparing to return most of its employees to team headquarters in Midtown Manhattan later this month and staffers going back to the office will have...

Pro Football Hall of Famer Floyd Little fighting cancer

May. 30, 2020 03:51 PM EDT
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Pro Football Hall of Famer Floyd Little, who starred in the NFL for the Denver Broncos, has been diagnosed with cancer, according to a...

Donna Houston holds up a photograph of her husband, Jim, during his playing years with the Cleveland Browns, Friday, April 3, 2020, in Sagamore Hills, Ohio. Houston's widow would keep notes on her husband's deteriorating condition in a three-ring binder so she would be prepared for the day when he needed full-time care. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Jim Houston, Browns' 'Mr. Dependable,' had CTE

By Jimmy Golen Apr. 03, 2020 07:10 PM EDT

FILE - This is a 2019, file photo, shows Kelechi Osemele of the New York Jets NFL football team. Osemele is having surgery on his ailing right shoulder despite the team not approving the procedure. The operation to repair a torn labrum was performed Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, by Dr. Glen Ross in Boston, according to Osemele's agent Andrew Kessler. (AP Photo/File)
Jets' Osemele has shoulder surgery in 'unexcused absence'

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Oct. 25, 2019 03:05 PM EDT

FILE - This is a 2019, file photo, shows Kelechi Osemele of the New York Jets NFL football team. Osemele says he needs season-ending shoulder surgery and is waiting for the team to authorize the procedure. Osemele said Friday, OCt. 18, 2019, that the team doctor and an outside doctor have both recommended the surgery. But a person with direct knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press both doctors determined it is actually a pre-existing injury and cleared Osemele to play through the injury and not have the surgery until after the season. (AP Photo/File)
Gase doesn't address Osemele situation; NFLPA offers support

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Oct. 24, 2019 01:35 PM EDT