Supposedly Beast had a running style that made him a bit more stable but also made him not quite as fast as the other RBs kind of like a side to side stride (like the way a soccer player dribbles a ball) vs a up and down sprinter. This could be a contributing factor to his ability to play. I also bet there is just an aspect of mentality, how many people do we know in our own lives that will go to work or do whatever they gotta do or want to do even if at 50% while others will call out sick or say they can't go to the gym or whatever the second they have the sniffles (pre-covid) or slightly rolled their ankle?
Outside of true injury that involves fractures and tears...It's quite possible it truly is just a mentality and will thing. I bet we even saw it with Jamal Adams last year (when he had a contract coming up) vs this year. It certainly seems that way with Penny a little too huh? I mean we saw RW this year come back a little sooner than he should have and the rumors he played through a busted shoulder another season.
The last factor that if I were some kind of NFL scout I'd factor in for high risky injury positions would also have to be pre/post practice/daily routines. Like is this athlete someone who goes to practice and then leaves? or is this someone who goes to practice an hour early, warms up, does a bunch of dynamic stretches, practices, then stays another half hour to properly cool down and voluntarily does Yoga on the weekends?
There are always reports about the athletes who somehow have remains genuinely injury free and have played way past their typical expected years tend to be absurd even compared to their fellow professional athletes with their pre/post game and practice warm up, cool down and stretch routines. I mean even in my non professional sports life i remember getting so much crap for my own routines, yet I never got injured and was ready to go hard every day, the second I tried to be like the other guys and not bother doing my extra warms up and stretches suddenly i'm having sprains and muscle soreness and pulls..how about that?
All the above being said, then it goes back to talent scouting and drafting. Maybe they gotta start prioritizing different things in the draft room. More than just potential or certain fits but maybe considering what things certain athletes are doing or physical styles they run that could lead to more longevity and dependability vs just being potentially this amazing RB who also could call out every time he bruises his knee or may end up tearing a muscle the second he gets partially rolled on.
