I know pain. This was a major injury year for this reporter.  Color guard and dance had to be shelved during my recovery.  I seem to have something in common with the athletes who had significant injuries in 2015. These are the most painful sports injuries of 2015 – for the individuals and their teams.

10. Marshawn Lynch (NFL) Hamstring injury– On October 3rd, the Seattle Seahawks played against the Detroit Lions and Marshawn Lynch suffered a hamstring injury. His coaches assured the media and fans he looked good during pre-game.  He missed the following two games. It was only the second time he had missed a game since he came to Seattle in the 2010 trade.  In late December, he was out again with a sports hernia.

9. Dan Hamhuis (NHL) Broken Jaw– On December 9th, Defenseman Dan Hamhuis for the Vancouver Canucks got hit by a slapshot to the face from Dan Boyle, the defenseman for the New York Rangers. He was taken off the ice twelve minutes into the third period. Hamhuis was later hospitalized with a broken jaw and needed reconstructive surgery for his face. He has not returned to the game since.

8. Joel Embiid (NBA) broken foot– Joel Embiid was the third overall pick in 2014, his rookie year for the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid injured his foot, breaking his right navicular bone, thus causing him to sit out the entire year.  When Embiid recovered and was ready to play in 2015, he re-injured his navicular bone.  Embiid not only had to go to rehab for his foot, but also had a huge setback in his career.  After these injuries, he has not been on the court.

7. Giancarlo Stanton (MLB) broken hand– On June 26th, Stanton, from the Miami Marlin broke his hamate (hook) bone in his left hand when he was up at bat in the ninth inning. Luckily for the team he wasn’t out all season. He was only out until August.

6. Connor McDavid (NHL) fractured collarbone–  McDavid was the Edmonton Oilers’ first pick for the NHL draft. On November 3rd, Connor McDavid fractured his collarbone. McDavid was involved in a collision along the rear boards sending him shoulder first into the glass. That hit has cost the highly touted rookie to miss the last two months of the season. He is still currently on injured reserve.

5. Adam Wainwright (MLB) ankle injury– St. Louis Cardinal’s ace, Adam Wainwright, was placed on the disabled list with an Achilles and ankle injury on April 27th. It cost him the entire season and hurt his team tremendously in their attempt to return to the World Series.

4. Blake Griffin (NBA) staph infection– The star power forward, Blake Griffin, underwent surgery February 9th due to a staph infection in his right elbow. The injury was significant because Griffin is considered one of the ten best players in the NBA and his team, the Los Angeles Clippers, play in the same division as the eventual champion Golden State Warriors.

3. Tony Romo (NFL) broken collarbone– Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys broke his collarbone twice this season costing him the majority of the year. His injury was significant to the Cowboys as they had no viable backup on their roster.

2. Terrell Suggs (NFL) torn Achilles– Terrell Suggs was the first of no less than 20 of the 22 starters of the Baltimore Ravens to go on injured reserve this season. He tore his Achilles tendon September 13th, which was the first day of the season. The injury resulted in Suggs missing the entire 2015 season.  

1. Pascal Dupuis (NHL) blood clots– Pascal Dupuis was diagnosed in December with blood clots in his lungs, costing him his career in the National Hockey League. This is potentially a life threatening condition and had he continued to play he risked possibility of stroke on the ice. His first diagnosis was in November of 2014.  

This is only a short list of injuries that occurred in 2015.  Hopefully, there is a happy and healthy year ahead.