Much like playing online casino or online slots, the world of sports is often measured in points, goals and victories.
However, from bone-crushing tackles on the field to high-speed collisions on the ice, major league sports have seen their fair share of catastrophic injuries, which have caused both physical issues and financial burdens.
To uncover the most expensive injuries across various major sports leagues, we take a closer look at the current season’s injured players, their weekly salary, and how long they’ve been out of the action.
Most Expensive NHL Injuries
1. Adam Fox, New York Rangers
Injury: Lower Body
Estimated earnings based on days injured: $7,312,500
Adam Fox tops the list with the most expensive injury in the NHL. The New York Rangers player was placed on long-term reserve in late 2023 after sustaining a lower-body injury during the first period of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden. Since being injured, he has cost the team an estimated $7.3 million.
2. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Injury: Knee
Estimated earnings based on days injured: $6,609,375
Colorado Avalanche’s Gabriel Landeskog is the league's second-most-expensive hockey player, costing the team approximately $6.6 million. The team’s captain missed all of last season’s games due to knee surgery and is set to miss the 2023-24 season as he recovers from his injury.
3. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Injury: Knee
Estimated earnings based on days injured: $6,242,188
With estimated earnings of $6.2 million, while injured, Carey Price completes the top three as one of the most expensive injured NHL players. The Canadian professional ice hockey goalie for the Montreal Canadiens was discovered to have suffered an osteochondral defect and has been unable to return to the league since the 2021-22 season.
Most Expensive NBA Injuries
1. Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets
Injury: Back/Knee/Hip/Injury Management
Cash earned while injured: $19,408,819
The Australian professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets, Ben Simmons, is currently charted as having the most expensive injury in the NBA, earning a whopping $19.4 million while injured. After 18 minutes of playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Simmons left the game with a leg injury but has also dealt with various other injuries in the past, including those related to his back and hip.
2. Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns
Injury: Ankle/Back/Hamstring
Cash earned while injured: $15,960,543
Since early January, Phoenix Suns shooting guard Bradley Beal has been dealing with a nasal fracture while also undergoing treatment for his recent hamstring injury. Beal has sustained various injuries from the beginning of the 2023-24 season, which initially caused him to miss the season’s opening due to back injuries, followed by a sprained ankle shortly after. He is said to have earned as much as $15.9 million while injured.
3. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
Injury: Foot
Cash earned while injured: $15,634,818
Having undergone surgery on his right foot towards the season's end, the Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine is expected to be out of the games for the next four to six months after playing 25 games this season. Despite this injury, he is estimated to have already earned $15.6 million while injured.
Most Expensive NFL Injuries
1. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Injury: Shoulder
Salary per week: $2,555,556
After sustaining a fracture to his throwing shoulder, quarterback Deshaun Watson grabs first place as having the priciest injury cost in the NFL. His team, the Cleveland Browns, are said to be paying him an impressive $2.5 million per week during the season. It was decided that Watson needed surgery after a displaced fracture to his glenoid was revealed via an MRI scan.
2. Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Injury: Achilles
Base salary per week: $1,972,222
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones ranks as the second most costly injured player in the NFL, having torn his Achilles during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders. Due to Jones’ injury requiring a surgical repair, it put a disappointing end to his fifth season in the league. Despite his painful season end, Jones receives nearly $2 million weekly from the Giants.
3. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Injury: Rib/Hamstring
Base salary per week: $1,212,000
With a salary of $1.2 million per week, Cincinnati Bengals’ Tee Higgins is one of the most expensive injured players in the NFL. The wide receiver suffered a hamstring injury while playing against the Kansas City Chiefs, resulting in being limited to just 11 games in 2023. However, this didn't stop him, as he received 42 catches and five touchdowns.
Most Expensive MLB Injuries
1. Robbie Ray, San Francisco Giants
Injury: Arm
Cash earned while injured: $3,481,081
Pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, Robbie Ray, may return this summer after receiving surgery on his left arm after tearing his UCL. In addition to his base salary of $23 million, the 32-year-old has the most expensive MLB injury, which cost the Giants nearly $3.5 million.
2. Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins
Injury: Elbow Tommy John
Cash earned while injured: $1,362,162
Set to miss the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, Miami Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara is expected to be in recovery for at least the next 12 months. Alcantara has the second priciest injury, costing the Marlins more than $1.3 million.
3. Tony Gonsolin, Los Angeles Dodgers
Injury: Elbow
Cash earned while injured: $817,297
Earning over $800,000 while injured, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin completes the top three with one of the most expensive MLB injuries. Having spent a significant portion of the 2023 season injured, Gonsolin is expected to return at the end of 2024.
Most Expensive MLS Injuries
1. Dante Vanzeir, New York Red Bulls
Injury: Back
Salary per week: $38,824
New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir suffered a lumbar spine injury, leading to him being out for the rest of the 2023 season. Vanzeir made 19 MLS appearances during the season, finishing with two goals and one assist. The 25-year-old is currently costing the Bulls an average of $38,824 per week based on his $1.3 million contract with the team.
2. Gastón Brugman, LA Galaxy
Injury: Meniscus tear
Salary per week: $35,294
LA Galaxy midfielder Gastón Brugman was out for the rest of the 2023 season after battling a long-term knee injury. This resulted in Brugman undergoing a successful injury to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee. Currently earning a base salary of $1.2 million, the midfielder receives approximately $35,294 weekly from his team.
2. Lewis Morgan, New York Red Bulls
Injury: Hip
Salary per week: $35,294
In joint second place is the New York Red Bulls midfielder Lewis Morgan, who receives hip surgery towards the end of 2023. Before his injury, Morgan was the Bulls' leading scorer last season, tallying up 14 goals and four assists across 32 games.
2. Alan Velasco, FC Dallas
Injury: Cruciate ligament tear
Salary per week: $35,294
After suffering a season-ending knee injury, Alan Velasco has been out of the 2023-24 MLS season and is said to be in long-term recovery. The FC Dallas star has played in two seasons in the league and has achieved ten goals and 11 assists across 54 games.
CFL Injuries in 2023
From knee issues to hip injuries, several players were out of action for a few weeks during the CFL season. Players such as Montreal Alouettes’ Keshunn Abram, Ottawa Redblacks’ Tyrie Adams and Calgary Stampeders’ Clark Barnes all experienced knee issues, with Adams having to sit out for the 2023 season to recover from an ACL injury.
Toronto Argonauts Daniel Adeboboye, Ottawa Redblacks Nate Behar, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats Tyler Ternowski, among many others, have also experienced ankle injuries, leaving some of them out for the season.
Quarterback Chad Kelly suffered a concussion during the game Eastern Final, leaving the Toronto Argonauts player to recover in the offseason, while the Calgary Stampeders wide receiver Jalen Philpot is said to be out indefinitely due to a hamstring injury.
Methodology
To reveal the most expensive injuries of the current NHL season, we used the NH Injured Reserve Tracker, taking into account the number of days each player has been injured. Using their base salaries, we also calculated their weekly salary based on the number of days in the season (192 days in the 2023-24 season).
For the NBA’s priciest injuries, we used the NBA season injured list, looking at the injury, games missed as of 27/02/2024, and the cash earned while injured. To calculate the estimated salary per game, we used each player's annual average salary, dividing it by the number of games in the season (82 games for the 2023-24 season).
Using ESPN’s NFL injuries list, we noted down each injured player and their team. We then used NFL salary rankings to note each injured player's average salary. We divided their annual salary by the number of weeks in the NFL season (18 weeks in 2023-24) to calculate their weekly earnings as of 27/02/2024.
The MLB injured list tracker was used to gather figures on the list of injured players in the league, taking into account the cash earned while on the injured list. To calculate each player’s salary per week, we decided their base salary with the number of weeks (we first calculated this by the number of days in the season, which is 185) in the 2024 season and then ranked them in order. Please note Ken Waldichuk was removed from the list due to inflated figures. This data was updated on 29/02/2024.
We gathered data on the injured players and their injuries using the MLS injured players list. We then used the MLS salary guide to determine each player’s base salary as of September 2023. These figures were then calculated to find the weekly salary based on the number of weeks in the season (34 weeks).
Using the CFL injury report, we collected data on the injured players in the league, taking into consideration their team and injury.
Please note data for all sections were updated on 27/02/2024 (unless otherwise stated) for more current figures.
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