'My leg was facing a different way' - how Obada has stayed on NFL 'ride'

Efe Obada wants to support playing successful nan NFL "till nan wheels autumn off". Last November, he feared that time had come.

While playing for nan Washington Commanders, nan British protect extremity was 1 of 3 players base down connected nan guidance quarterback.

The Commanders managed to complete nan sack but, arsenic astir of nan squad celebrated, Obada laic connected nan turf successful agony.

In nan melee, he had collided pinch a team-mate. He looked down to spot his correct limb pointing successful nan incorrect direction.

"It was [horrific]," he tells BBC Sport. "While I was getting carted disconnected and I was going to hospital, I was thinking: 'OK, my limb is facing a different way. What does this mean?'

"I conscionable didn't cognize what was happening pinch my assemblage - what nan test was going to be, really agelong it'd return [to recover], whether I'd beryllium nan same."

Obada had suffered aggregate fractures to his little limb and had room that evening.

And arsenic he contemplated his future, he received immoderate wise words from two-time Super Bowl victor Osi Umenyiora, who continues to enactment arsenic a mentor having helped Obada gain a changeable astatine nan NFL done nan league's world subordinate pathway (IPP) successful 2017.

"A batch of group were reaching out, wishing maine well, and I said to Osi," adds Obada. "He told maine astir his injuries and really he was capable to travel back. Some of his team-mates and 1 of our violative linemen person had akin injuries and gone connected to play for years.

"So that fto maine cognize that if I put successful nan activity and enactment existent to nan rehab programme, I’ll beryllium capable to travel back. I deliberation nan uncertainty only lasted a time aliases two. Since past it's been 'this is wherever I’m at, let’s get it'."

Even though Obada was assured of getting backmost to afloat fitness, he was 32 and retired of statement astatine nan extremity of nan season.

Then coach Ron Rivera - who signed Obada for Carolina successful 2018 and Washington successful 2022 - was sacked aft nan Commanders vanished nan play pinch a 4-13 record.

But he has been replaced by Dan Quinn, who was Atlanta coach erstwhile Obada trained pinch nan Falcons successful 2016 and was 1 of nan fewer coaches to telephone him erstwhile he was successful hospital.

Quinn, who had spent nan past 3 seasons arsenic nan Dallas Cowboys’ protect co-ordinator, past handed Obada different one-year woody - meaning he is now preparing for his seventh play arsenic an progressive subordinate successful nan NFL. The mean profession magnitude of an NFL subordinate is 3.3 years.

"After nan injury, I was worried that I needed to make judge I sewage backmost [fit] earlier getting backmost into nan league," he says.

"But I've been very fortunate to get signed while still successful nan process of rehabbing, truthful I'm very grateful. I couldn’t beryllium happier.

"When I started playing, group utilized to opportunity - and you spot for yourself - that nan NFL stands for 'not for long'. That’s thing I'd ever show my wife, 'don't worry, it's not for long'. I deliberation erstwhile I sewage to six years, I stopped saying it. So we’re going to thrust this till nan wheels autumn off."

It has been rather a thrust for Nigeria-born Obada. After being abandoned successful London arsenic a kid and going into foster care, he played amateur shot pinch nan London Warriors earlier blazing a way to nan NFL.

He has played 72 games, sacking early Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, and this play will stock a locker room pinch a imaginable early superstar.

Washington selected Jayden Daniels pinch nan second prime of this year's draft and nan 23-year-old is group to beryllium their starting backmost this season, while nine-year seasoned Marcus Mariota has been brought successful arsenic back-up.

"One of our issues was nan backmost position, and we've sewage a awesome vet successful Mariota and Jayden Daniels," says Obada.

"Jayden's a very young, talented guy. He's a dual threat - he tin propulsion and return disconnected pinch his feet - and I deliberation that’s what we really needed. The feline is unreal. He's truthful relaxed, truthful poised.

"There's a batch of hype astir him, but he's truthful humble. He's taking strides, he's location to learn. I pridefulness myself successful being 1 of nan first group successful nan [training] installation and each clip I get location he's already there, truthful he's decidedly putting successful nan hours to beryllium capable to measurement into that role.

"I do [think he’s fresh to lead nan team]. Everybody's responding astir him. Everyone knows that he's nan early of nan franchise, he conscionable has to spell retired location and perform, and do what he’s been doing successful assemblage – but evidently connected a bigger stage."

Washington are a squad successful transition. Last twelvemonth they traded distant protect lynchpins Chase Young and Montez Sweat mid-season for other draught picks.

New coach Quinn has besides brought successful ex-Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury arsenic violative co-ordinator, on pinch immoderate seasoned veterans successful linebacker Bobby Wagner, moving backmost Austin Ekeler and tight extremity Zach Ertz.

"Having nan opportunity to play for Quinn now is great," adds Obada. "He's a awesome guy, very caring.

"He has a protect mindset and he's building a awesome civilization here. Everyone's coming successful pinch nan mentality of trying to improve, moreover down to nan room staff.

"We've sewage a awesome offence and [the quality successful our] defence is nighttime and day. Bobby Wagner has travel successful to bid that defence, and I'm excited to play alongside him. I've already told him I want his jersey. He's a early Hall of Famer truthful I decidedly request that.

"On paper, nan roster's amazing. It's benignant of nan Avengers. So reaching nan Super Bowl is nan goal. If I tin do that past astatine slightest I tin swipe it successful Osi's face!"