One of the core members of the Philadelphia Eagles special teams will not be playing for the 2023 NFL season.
Linebacker Shaun Bradley sustained a devastating season-ending ruptured Achilles injury on his right leg during the Eagles' preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore last Saturday.
The 26-year-old reacted on social media regarding the injury, posting on Instagram that the situation was not how he wanted the season to end for himself, but he believes that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.
"I've been beating the odds my entire life. I'm not even supposed to be here. [This is] just another chapter in my story. I will be back better than I ever was, I can promise that," he added.
Bradley sustained the injury during the third quarter of the game after going to the ground following a punt coverage. He was carted off the field with tears in his eyes, visibly frustrated with the outcome. The Ravens ultimately won the preseason match-up by a narrow margin, 20-19.
Bradley has consistently seen playing time for the Eagles since he was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft as the 196th overall pick.
The former Temple University alum has a career total of 45 tackles in three seasons so far. He was part of the Eagles roster that clinched the top record in the NFC last season at 14-3.
They also reached the Super Bowl LVII, falling short against the Kansas City Chiefs, 38-35, last February.
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Achilles injury - how bad is it?
A ruptured Achilles injury is generally considered one of the worst injuries that an athlete can have, but due to advancements in medicine, players are now able to return near the peak of their performance before the injury.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick notably suffered the same injury a few weeks ago during a practice session.
A Foot and Ankle International study states that 73 percent of NFL players who undergo Achilles tendon repair return to action, which is a promising sign for Bradley.
However, the same study also mentioned a worse postoperative difference in performances compared to pre-injury for linebackers, which is Bradley's position.
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant is one of the best examples of an athlete returning to peak performance after sustaining major damage to the aforementioned tendon.
Durant suffered a torn right Achilles tendon while playing for the Golden State Warriors during Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, missing the whole 2019-20 NBA season as a result.
The former NBA MVP returned to action in the 2020-21 season for the Brooklyn Nets, barely skipping a beat and leading his team to the Eastern Conference semifinals while putting up spectacular performances. He remains one of the premier players in the sport today.
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