I think he means that every time Ronald would get hurt pre-ACL tear, starting his rookie year, he looked like he was on death's door... or maybe James Andrews's door would be more appropriate. I don't know if his pain tolerance is low, but dude would look to be on the verge of tears... and then sometimes still play in the same game! That, or at worst, missing a few games and then running like nothing ever happened at all. Definitely not calling him soft or anything, but it would be simultaneously relieving but a bit frustrating; not mad that he's okay of course, but mad that your heart just went to 200 BPM for "nothing".

Then the ACL tear happened and you're hoping, "oh, maybe it's just Ronald being Ronald, he'll be right back up... any time now... any time... fuck there's a cart, I'm going to cry and eat ice cream now."