NFL Running Back Bishop Sankey On Staying Positive During Injury Recovery

Former NFL running back Bishop Sankey has great advice on staying positive during injury recovery.

The first running back selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, Sankey’s NFL career was cut short. As a member of the Minnesota Vikings, he tore his ACL in the first pre-season game in 2017. Thereafter, he was ruled out for the entire season.

“It was one of the toughest things I had to go through up until that time,” Sankey told RULING SPORTS. “I was lucky that from the time I was a little kid all the way up until that ACL tear, I never experienced any serious injuries. It was tough mentally and emotionally working through that. You want to heal quicker, but you know you just have to give your body time to really heal and build itself back up. That was challenging for me to navigate through, but I stuck with it and eventually was able to get better.”

Sankey spoke with RULING SPORTS on advice for athletes and others on staying positive during injury recovery.

Use Perspective To Stay Positive

Perspective helped Sankey stay positive while rehabbing his ACL injury.

“I was really trying to stay positive, knowing that I wasn’t the first person to tear my ACL,” he said. “If other people who get injured can work through it, why can’t I?”

Focus On Areas Outside Of Sports

Sankey used the setback to prepare for other areas of life. Leaving the University of Washington early to enter the NFL Draft, Sankey completed his degree while rehabbing.

“I was able to finish school,” he said. “I was able to take advantage of the extra time away from the facility.”

Advice For Others Recovering From Injuries

What advice would Sankey give others on staying while recovering from an injury?

“You just have to take it one day at a time,” Sankey said. “Injuries are tough, but they happen in sports. My faith is what allowed me to just work through it, knowing that eventually I’ll come out of it stronger and better for it.”

Bishop Sankey discusses his football career and mindset on Episode 7 of the Ruling Sports Podcast.