How NFL players take care of their hands and feet during a brutal season

During the long and brutal N.F.L. season, the feet and hands of the players suffer blows almost every time. Fingers are stuck, toes are stepped on, ankles are twisted, nails are broken.

We spoke with six N.F.L. players throughout the 2022 season on the injuries they suffered and how they took care of their hands and feet, critical leverage points needed for every run, block, catch and kick. Their backstage routines were meant to get them through the season - but haven't completely avoided injury.

Will Dissly Tight End, Seattle Seahawks 5 seasons N.F.L. Experience

Dislocated

finger

Knee injury

Dislocated

finger

Knee injury

First recording: September 10 (week 1)

Playing tight end means catching passes from the quarterback. But it also means blocking much taller defensive linemen and getting caught in the middle of piles of players, which can lead to stuck fingers, twisted ankles and other small but painful injuries.

"It's normal," Dissly said of being walked on. “It usually hurts a lot for 30, 60 seconds, depending on which players have stepped on you. It's like when you stub your toe. This happens zero to three times per game. I would never go out during a game.

November 21 (week 11)

In mid-November, Dissly dislocated the middle finger of his right hand. He couldn't remember exactly when or how it happened, but he did know that he had put the seal back on while he was in the hot tub after a game.

"I remember, fuck, it hurt," Dissly said.

Pressed for more details, Dissly said he likely hurt his finger while jamming on a running game. He reckons he was trying to get out of a defender's hands and his middle finger moved to the side when he touched the other player.

"I'm in a hybrid position," Dissly said, referring to his role as blocker and receiver. "You can't really avoid it. You can't play in Bubble Wrap.

A finger joint swelled up and he used ice for a few days to reduce the swelling. In about two weeks, he regained full range of motion, although the joint was still large. He taped the finger to stabilize it.

"It's that time of year when your hands start to hurt," Dissly said. “...