NFL cites decrease in ACL injuries

NEW YORK – Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are down, the NFL has told its Health and Safety Advisory Committee.

In a memo to the committee sent earlier this week, the league said research showed there were 30 ACL injuries in games through the preseason and first 13 weeks of the schedule. There were 39 such injuries in 2012, 35 in 2011, 37 in 2010, and 31 in 2009.

ACL problems are the most severe knee injuries.

There was an increase in medial collateral ligament injuries (MCL), from 74 in 2012 to 89 in games this season through 13 weeks. But there were 106 MCL injuries in 2011, 89 in 2010 and 103 in 2009.

The injury reporting service Quintiles/Outcome provided the numbers to the league, which sent them to the committee chaired by 49ers owner John York. Giants owner John Mara, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Packers President Mark Murphy and Falcons President Rich McKay are also on the committee.

This season, about 68 percent of ACL injuries involved contact with another player. The percentage in the four previous seasons ranged from 67 percent in 2009 to 55 percent in 2012.

A breakdown by positions showed one tight end, one wide receiver and one quarterback had contact-related ACL injuries through 13 weeks this season. That compares to five such injuries combined at those positions in 2012 and four in 2011.

For offensive players in general, there have been six such injuries in 2013 through 13 weeks, compared to 10 in 2012, eight in 2011, nine in 2010 and six in 2009. On defense, there were six ACL injuries involving contact with another player. This compares to nine such injuries in 2012, 10 in 2011, nine in 2010, and seven in 2009.