In a stunning turn of events during Thursday’s game in Kansas City, Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy found himself on the receiving end of what he described as “super unprofessional” treatment from the Chiefs’ medical staff. The cause of the turmoil? A fractured orbital bone that left Van Noy reeling.
Speaking on his podcast, Van Noy recounted the ordeal he faced after the injury, expressing his disappointment in the handling of the situation by the Chiefs’ training staff. “When things like that hurt, you get hurt, especially something that could be serious like mine was, you’re supposed to rely on the team’s training staff or their doctors,” Van Noy stated. “And I was supposed to see an ophthalmologist, which is somebody who checks out eye performance, eye surgery, and they took an entire quarter to get down to talk to me in the locker room, which, to me, is unacceptable.”
The delay in medical attention left Van Noy questioning the urgency and professionalism of the Chiefs’ staff. “What if I was trying to go back in the game? What if I was really, really hurt?” he pondered. Despite being a visiting player, Van Noy believed that the issue at hand was not personal but rather a pattern of poor injury management by the Chiefs.
“As a player, people have that expectation of you being professional, handling business,” Van Noy reflected. “And in a time of need, I wanted that from them, and I felt like I didn’t get it.” The NFL Players Association’s report card on the Chiefs’ training staff, which awarded them an F, aligned with Van Noy’s own assessment of the situation.
“The players have given that training room an F,” Van Noy emphasized. “With my experience, I would’ve probably after that gave them an ‘F,’ too.” The issue of player care and safety has once again been brought to the forefront, as Van Noy shines a light on the deficiencies he experienced firsthand. The need for consistent and reliable medical attention in high-stress situations like professional sports remains a critical aspect of the game.