It takes a gladiator to play football at a professional level, and often we remember this reality when a player goes out and reveals what he has struggled to stay on the pitch for his team. The latest example comes from Cameron Jordan, the All-Pro pass defender who flatly refused to be sidelined at the end of the New Orleans Saints season.
Jordan reportedly suffered a serious injury on December 8 that involved his adductor muscle torn from the bone, according to Mike Silver of SI.com, but he remained available for the rest of the year – up to and through the Saints eliminated from the playoffs by the Minnesota Vikings. The five-time Pro Bowler not only continued to play, but also continued to practice, nor was he knocked out of the game against the San Francisco 49ers in which the injury originally occurred.
He has since undergone surgery to repair the injury – shortly after the LVI Super Bowl – and is expected to be fully healed for training camp.
This news comes just weeks after Michael Thomas, the receiver of the All-Pro team, admitted having played a broken hand against the Vikings, pocketing seven catches for 70 yards. With the two star players on the mend and the future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees announces his return for the 2020 season, the Saints hope to recharge and exorcise the controversial playoff demons of the past two seasons. Defensively, having a healthy Jordan is essential, especially since he is coming out of a better career season where he won 15.5 sacks.
Two of them occurred after the injury, proving that Jordan is not only one of the best when he is healthy – he is one of the best, period.
