There is so much going on inside a knee. To externalized a support with all of the degrees of motion and freedom is a couple orders of magnitude above all of our pay grade.
Designing out the injury in football would be harmful to why people watch the game. You either gladiator everyone up, or remove all of the protection ala rugby.
How about sketch a new team game? Rollerball comes to mind. The trampoline game in “The Prisoner”. The weird European bike race with the motorcycles with the standing riders and the bikes racing behind. Other games in works of fiction.
Some ideas:
- Smart drone balls. (pun away) change character and direction according to given factors.
Smart fields. Laser drafting from above of zones and game lines.
Interactive with audience.
Dynamic configuration fields. Same as above lasers or physical movement. Literally moving the goalposts.