How is a player's signing bonus treated if it is guaranteed for injury?

When a player's signing bonus is guaranteed for injury, it is treated in a way that reflects the commitment the team has made to the player, allowing for a balanced financial impact across the contract's duration. Specifically, the signing bonus is prorated equally over the length of the contract. This means that each year of the player's contract will absorb a portion of the signing bonus, which helps the team manage its salary cap better and ensures that the financial implications of the bonus are spread out.

Pro-rating the bonus also provides a level of financial protection to the team while maintaining the player's guaranteed earnings. If the player is unable to perform due to injury, the guaranteed nature of the signing bonus ensures that they still receive the compensation while simultaneously allowing the team to account for the bonus appropriately within the salary cap over several seasons.