A drilling system includes an internal assembly comprising a chassis, a flow diverter, or both, and a strain gauge coupled to the chassis, the flow diverter, or both, in which the strain gauge is configured to output a signal associated with a strain deformation of the internal assembly. The drilling system also includes a drill collar coupled to the internal assembly, in which the internal assembly extends along the drill collar, and the drill collar encloses the internal assembly of the internal assembly such that a strain deformation of the drill collar causes the strain deformation of the internal assembly.