This month, the Giants are learning this lesson through Hard Knocks, which is exposing the intricate details of an NFL team’s inner workings during the critical offseason period. The Lions may also be experiencing a similar issue.

In the first episode of “Receiver” on Netflix, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown disclosed that he sustained an oblique injury in Week 3 against the Falcons. Just four days later, they played the Packers.

“We have a Thursday game after Atlanta,” St. Brown said. “I’m running, but the pain is intense, like an eight or nine out of ten. It’s too late for me to back out—the game plan is set. I usually avoid painkillers, but I made an exception for the Packers.”

Despite his injury, St. Brown played and wasn’t listed on any of the injury reports leading up to the game. He caught five passes for 56 yards and scored a touchdown, despite his helmet getting doused in beer.

This raises the question of whether the league will retrospectively scrutinize the Lions, since St. Brown was clearly injured (missing the subsequent game) and the Lions didn’t disclose it before Week 4.

The issue could have been easily edited out of the episode. They didn’t need to mention the injury initially occurred in Week 3. However, since they did, the league now has to address it. This situation underscores the ineffectiveness of injury reports and the prevalence of inside information.

Anyone aware of St. Brown’s injury could have bet on him underperforming his receiving yards prop of 72.5 yards.

The NFL now faces a choice: address these issues proactively or wait for a bigger problem to emerge, only to act surprised when it does.

Sometimes, reality shows can reveal a bit too much.