Fred Taylor: NFL doctors never told me about shoulder injuries

ByMichael DiRocco ESPN logo
Wednesday, August 31, 2016

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor says he was never told by doctors during his 13-year career that he had suffered a fractured collarbone and injuries in each shoulder.

Taylor said on his official Twitter account Wednesday morning that he underwent a full orthopedic exam in Chicago last week, and 11 MRIs and 12 X-rays revealed that he had partially torn labrums in each shoulder and at one point suffered a fractured clavicle.

Taylor tweeted that the doctors he was referred to by the NFL never informed him of those injuries.

A phone message left for Taylor has not yet been returned.

Taylor also said via Twitter that he was releasing this information to let people know what NFL players deal with in terms of injuries as well as to illuminate what he called "shady practices."

The Jaguars selected Taylor with the ninth overall pick in 1998, and he went on to become the franchise's all-time leading rusher (11,271 yards). He still holds 15 career, single-season and single-game records -- including the only 200-yard rushing game in team history (234 yards against Pittsburgh in 2000) -- and was inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars in 2012.

Taylor is employed by the Jaguars, providing pregame analysis via the stadium's video boards.

He played 11 seasons for the Jaguars (1998-2008) before spending two seasons with New England. His 11,695 career rushing yards ranks 16th in NFL history.