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Injury Thread

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Are you thinking bigger stronger faster = more injuries ?
In brady's case, as elbow tendinitis is an overuse injury, it's repetitions that critically factors into his condition. He has been consistently at or near the top of QB ranking for passing attempts [see below]. In the 2016 season, had he not only played 12 games, he would have again been at the top.

2019 Stats

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2018 Stats

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2017 Stats

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2016 STATS

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2015 Stats

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If you want to keep going, feel free to do so from here at https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2019/passing.htm
 
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CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Clowney has now been ruled out against the Eagles. The word I'm getting is that in addition to his knee and hip injuries/issues, he has redeveloped a significant core muscle (i.e., "sport hernia") injury..........as I've posted above, this in no way surprises me, as the hip and core muscle injuries are closely related.
 
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CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Clowney flew to Philadephia ahead of the team to see a "sport hernia" specialist..........although not named, no doubt it was the nation's "sports hernia"/core muscle top expert who is based in Philadelphia......... .....Dr. Wm Meyers............the same surgeon that performed Clowney's bilateral "sports hernias" in 2014. The purpose of the visit was for Dr. Meyers to determine if his core injury was one that he could play through.............the answer was evidently "No."
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
This is what was going on while Brooks was in Houston............the difference was that the Texans medical staff failed to diagnose the underlying condition...........severe anxiety/panic disorder...........instead they diagnosed its resulting condition only...........stomach ulcers. It is a terrible condition which when severe is extremely difficult to control and predict. Unfortunately anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year. I genuinely feel for what this young man is going through and pray that his doctors are able to help him get a handle on it, not allowing it to derail his courageously impressive career.

**************************************************
Brandon Brooks’ anxiety returns, compounds loss of Lane Johnson in Eagles’ defeat vs. Seahawks | Jeff McLane
by Jeff McLane, Updated: November 24, 2019- 9:12 PM


Brandon Brooks left in the first quarter of the Eagles’ 17-9 loss to the Seahawks with what the team described as an “illness,” but team sources told The Inquirer the anxiety that had previously afflicted the Pro Bowl right guard returned and forced him from the lineup.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson, asked if Brooks’ early departure had anything to do with anxiety, said Sunday that he had yet to talk to the team’s medical staff.

“He just got sick and just had an illness,” Pederson said, “and we had to make a sudden change.”
Brooks wasn’t in the locker room after the game. He didn’t respond to a message seeking comment.

In 2016, Brooks missed two games when, just before warm-ups, he suffered panic attacks. He had endured similar bouts during his tenure with his Texans. He has spoken openly about his struggles and has said that a fixation with perfection has often led to debilitating pregame nervousness.

But Brooks had seemingly overcome his anxiety, and over the last three seasons would become arguably one of the best guards in the NFL. Two weeks ago, the 30-year old signed a four-year, $56.2 million extension with the Eagles that, at the time, had made him the highest-paid guard in the league.

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badboy

Hall of Fame
Doc when you have a chance could you give me your thoughts on the release from Philadelphia of wide receiver 5 year vet Jordan Matthews? I know he had surgery on at least one of his knees if not both and ankle. He was just cut after only 2 weeks but part of that could be due to better players coming back healthy. If healthy he would be a very cheap backup for the rest of the season. I like him matched up with Watson better than with Wenz. TY
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Doc when you have a chance could you give me your thoughts on the release from Philadelphia of wide receiver 5 year vet Jordan Matthews? I know he had surgery on at least one of his knees if not both and ankle. He was just cut after only 2 weeks but part of that could be due to better players coming back healthy. If healthy he would be a very cheap backup for the rest of the season. I like him matched up with Watson better than with Wenz. TY
Mathews has had multiple significant ligamentous injuries to both of his knees........but surgery on only his left. the most worrisome part of this is that he has had a smoldering patellar tendonitis since 2016. He has had multiple recurrent boney and ligamentous injuries to his ankles with a major right ankle surgery that required removal a large segment of bone, something that has left that ankle with some irreversible instability. The Eagles misdiagnosed/delayed (~2 years) diagnosis of both his knee and ankle problems which contributed to extended damage to the joints that could have been minimized had they been addressed in a timely fashion. The Eagles kept telling him that surgery was not necessary...........until it was entirely unavoidable. Mathews unfortunately is now nowhere close to what he used to be, and due to injuries will never be able to regain his early performance levels........nowhere close. His joint instabilities and resultant decreased non-straightline mobility have no doubt heavily contributed to his progressive drop in catch rate. Taking all these things into consideration, I would not have confidence that Mathews would bring any significant value to the Texans.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
He had to clear it if he returned to practice, n'est-ce pas?
Good question. But the answer is yes and no............practicing is just one step toward passing the Protocol to play in a game...........i.e., final clearance.

Explaining the NFL’s 5-step concussion protocol

The NFL has a five-step process in which players must clear not only medical and physical tests from team physicians, but from an assigned Independent Neurological Consultant as well. This is an ongoing process during which if the player exhibits any recurring symptoms of a concussion, they must revert to the previous step of the concussion protocol.

Here’s a quick recap of each protocol step (you can read the official outline from the NFL here).

Step 1: Rest and recovery
This one is simple. After suffering a concussion, a team must provide ample rest for their player. That means limited physical and cognitive activities. Stretching is still permitted, provided the medical staff approves.
Once a player has a baseline level of symptoms, they move onto the next step.

Step 2: Light aerobic activities
The player can participate in things like riding a stationary bike or treadmill. During this step, the player may also attend team meetings and film study.
Neurocognitive testing may begin at this phase, too, meaning players will be tested to see if their baseline symptoms have increased or decreased. If there is any sign of an increase, the player must revert to the previous step.

Step 3: More aerobic exercise and strength training
Exercise training can increase in intensity and can even mimic some specific sport activities at this step. Players may also participate in “supervised strength training.”

Step 4: Football specific activities
At this point, if the player has not seen an increase in concussion symptoms, they may practice at a non-contact level. That means throwing, catching, running, or any other positional drills that do not involve contact with players or objects (e.g. dummies, sleds).

If the player does not exhibit any post-practice symptoms, they can advance to the final step.

Step 5: Full football activity
The player can then take part in a full football practice, with pads, with full contact. One interesting stipulation is that a player can simulate this step if there is no full-contact practice left on the schedule that week (i.e. a walkthrough). Here’s how the NFL explains it:
if a player cannot participate in practice or full contact with other players due to the time of year and/or rules imposed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, simulated contact activity will suffice to satisfy this step.
Once the player has fully practiced, he must be first cleared by the team physician. If he clears, he then must be examined by the Independent Neurological Consultant. If that consultant clears the player of concussion symptoms, he is free to play in the next game.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
@CloakNNNdagger

Any word on Fuller? Word is he was favoring the hamstring in the game against the colts.
I saw Fuller slightly limping after his 50 yd run, though he finished the game out. As I stated before the game, his return was on the very short end of the rehab spectrum for his injury. It certainly makes this week questionable as to if he has really made it back and how the "full go" during the game will have affected his longer term ability to remain on the field re-injury free. Tomorrow will possibly give us a little more insight.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
1574890860560.png

WATKINS [HAMSTRING]...........NEW..........UNLIKELY TO PLAY

BLACKSON [SHOULDER]..........NEW............SHOULDER SUBLUXATION...........WILL PROBABLY PLAY WITH SHOULDER BRACE

CONLEY [HIP]............NEW............HIP POINTER.............END OF JUNE 2018, SUSTAINED A SIGNIFICANT HIP FLEXOR AND TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO RECOVER (FIRST PLAYED IN 2ND PRESEASON GAME MID AUGUST)...........THIS RECENT INJURY IS NOT LIKELY TO KEEP HIM FROM PLAYING SUNDAY

FULLER [HAMSTRING]..........SEE PREVIOUS POST ABOVE............IF NO SETBACKS, WILL PROBABLY PLAY SUNDAY

HOWARD [KNEE].............WAS STILL SEEING THE EFFECTS OF HIS MCL AND THE BULKY BRACE..........SHOULD PLAY SUNDAY

LONNIE JOHNSON [ANKLE]...........STILL DEALING WITH HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN............WILL LIKELY RETURN SUNDAY UNLESS SETBACK

ROBY [HAMSTRING]............7 WEEKS FOLLOWING HIS GRADE II HAMSTRING SHOULD ALLOW HIM TO SEE THE FIELD SUNDAY

SCARLETT [SHOULDER].........NEW............SHOULDER SUBLUXATION...........WILL BE THERE SUNDAY WITH A SHOULDER BRACE

ADAMS [CONCUSSION].........NEW...........HAS CLEARED THE PROTOCOL TO PRACTICE, BUT HAS NOT CLEARED THE PROTOCOL TO PLAY SUNDAY

REID [CONCUSSION]...........CLEARED THE PROTOCOL TO PLAY SUNDAY
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
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* I WILL MAKE THIS ONE COMMENT...........SEEMS LIKE THIS INJURY REPORT IS SOMEWHAT DISINGENUOUS [AS, IN MY OPINION ARE MOST PATRIOTS INJURY REPORTS]............ESPECIALLY THE 9 ILLNESSES..........UNLESS A GROUP OF THE PATRIOTS WERE ENGAGING IN ELICIT CO-MINGLING ACTS :chef:

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DocBar

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
View attachment 4986

WATKINS [HAMSTRING]...........NEW..........UNLIKELY TO PLAY

BLACKSON [SHOULDER]..........NEW............SHOULDER SUBLUXATION...........WILL PROBABLY PLAY WITH SHOULDER BRACE

CONLEY [HIP]............NEW............HIP POINTER.............END OF JUNE 2018, SUSTAINED A SIGNIFICANT HIP FLEXOR AND TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO RECOVER (FIRST PLAYED IN 2ND PRESEASON GAME MID AUGUST)...........THIS RECENT INJURY IS NOT LIKELY TO KEEP HIM FROM PLAYING SUNDAY

FULLER [HAMSTRING]..........SEE PREVIOUS POST ABOVE............IF NO SETBACKS, WILL PROBABLY PLAY SUNDAY

HOWARD [KNEE].............WAS STILL SEEING THE EFFECTS OF HIS MCL AND THE BULKY BRACE..........SHOULD PLAY SUNDAY

LONNIE JOHNSON [ANKLE]...........STILL DEALING WITH HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN............WILL LIKELY RETURN SUNDAY UNLESS SETBACK

ROBY [HAMSTRING]............7 WEEKS FOLLOWING HIS GRADE II HAMSTRING SHOULD ALLOW HIM TO SEE THE FIELD SUNDAY

SCARLETT [SHOULDER].........NEW............SHOULDER SUBLUXATION...........WILL BE THERE SUNDAY WITH A SHOULDER BRACE

ADAMS [CONCUSSION].........NEW...........HAS CLEARED THE PROTOCOL TO PRACTICE, BUT HAS NOT CLEARED THE PROTOCOL TO PLAY SUNDAY

REID [CONCUSSION]...........CLEARED THE PROTOCOL TO PLAY SUNDAY
Damn. That's one beat up defense!
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
I just spent 2 hours this morning working on a very detailed Patriots Injury Report..........and doing it under the 'edit" function, left the final post to look at another thread as I commonly have done in the past............and when I returned...............all gone!!!!!

From what I can remember, the only players I possibly expect to be QUESTIONABLE this Sunday are McCourty and Ebner.

I don't have the time to redo the entire post. But if anyone has any specific questions, I'l try to answer them as I look into the MB. :tiphat:
 
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CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
As I posted prior to the Colts game, Hilton shouldn't have been allowed back so quickly after his calf tear. He was later admitedly only used as a "decoy," but the Colts still had him out there running routes (although noticeably compromised) for 25 plays...........25 snaps too many. Hilton suffered an injury extension during the game and further extension during attempted limited practice yesterday.............and has already been reported as OUT for the Colts next game. Calf tears should never be taken lightly.
 

Texansphan

Football connoisseur
As I posted prior to the Colts game, Hilton shouldn't have been allowed back so quickly after his calf tear. He was later admitedly only used as a "decoy," but the Colts still had him out there running routes (although noticeably compromised) for 25 plays...........25 snaps too many. Hilton suffered an injury extension during the game and further extension during attempted limited practice yesterday.............and has already been reported as OUT for the Colts next game.
The importance of the game was not lost on Colts.
They were prepared to pay the cost.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
PATRIOTS THURSDAY INJURY REPORT

1575003678741.png


From what I can remember, the only players I possibly expect to be QUESTIONABLE this Sunday are McCourty and Ebner.
This of course does not included any of the players that have developed an "illness." Even some of the players coming off of the "illness" may have after effect weakness which will compromise their performances. If this is indeed legitimate and a locker room spread illness, would not be surprised to see a couple more names cropping up before game time.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
The "back" problem that Gipson missed 2 games (would have been 3 games were it not for the Bye) for and has been still giving him problems is a fracture of a transverse process of one of his vertebrae. The last 2 games he was finally able to play in would have still left him in significant pain and limited mobility.

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Playing with this type of fracture does not place the vertebra at increased risk for extended injury .............it is solely a matter of pain tolerance. Pain can be excrutiating because of the movement of the heavy muscles attached and adjacent to the fracture. Of course, compensatory injuries can become a problem because of pain with movement and the decreased mobility it creates in the core. And also remember that a few weeks prior to his back injury, he was already dealing with a hip injury that has a significant negative effect on the core.
 
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CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
1575071902290.png

WATKINS IS OUT AS EXPECTED...............TO SOON TO COME BACK FOR ANY GRADE HAMSTRING

TYTUS IS DOUBTFUL...............DURING THE LAST GAME, I POSTED THAT HIS MCL (AND BRACE) WAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTING HIS MOBILITY............HE EXTENDED HIS MCL TEAR INJURY................SHOULD DEMONSTRATE THE INCONSISTENT PROTECTIVE NATURE OF THE KNEE BRACE IN PROTECTING THE KNEE LIGAMENTS............INCLUDING THE MCL

BLACKSON AND SCARLETT STILL STAND A DECENT CHANCE OF PLAYING SUNDAY DESPITE THE QUESTIONABLE DESIGNATION.............WEARING A BRACE

CONLEY WILL TRY HIS HIP OUT PREGAME...........QUESTIONABLE NOW..............FINAL DECISION LIKELY NOT MADE UNTIL GAME TIME
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
PATRIOTS FRIDAY STATUS INJURY STATUS


1575073546754.png

BELICHICK CONTINUES TO PLAY GAMES WITH THE INJURY REPORT.............WITH ALL THE QUESTIONABLES..........ESPECIALLY AS IT APPLIES TO THE "ILLNESS"............UNLESS ANY NEW ILLNESS SIGHTINGS, WILLIAMS AND WYNN ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY PLAYERS WITH THE ILLNESS LABEL THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY...........I WOULD AGAIN HAVE TO SAY THAT WITHOUT SEVERAL ADDITIONAL NEW ILL PLAYERS ADDED TO THE ILLNESS CATEGORY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, THE ILLNESS ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAME NON CONTAGIOUS.......AN UNLIKELY SCENARIO............RYAN IZZO THE ONLY ONE THAT SUCCUMBED TO THE ILLNESS..........ANOTHER UNLIKELY SCENARIO

DL COWART [HEAD]..............NEW...........SUSTAINED IN PRACTICE.............NOT CONCUSSION..........JUST A HEAD CASE

LB VAN NOY [ILLNESS]..........NEW...........IF LEGITIMATE, UNLIKELY TO PLAY SUNDAY

BRADY IS STILL DEALING WITH HIS ELBOW TENDONITIS...........AS I'VE POSTED BEFORE, THIS CONDITION ONLY WORSENS WITH REPETITIONS AND WITHOUT TOTAL REST...........I EXPECT ACCORDINGLY WE SEE BRADY'S PERFORMANCE TO BE MORE AFFECTED AS THE GAME GOES ON
 

DocBar

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
PATRIOTS FRIDAY STATUS INJURY STATUS


View attachment 5000

BELICHICK CONTINUES TO PLAY GAMES WITH THE INJURY REPORT.............WITH ALL THE QUESTIONABLES..........ESPECIALLY AS IT APPLIES TO THE "ILLNESS"............UNLESS ANY NEW ILLNESS SIGHTINGS, WILLIAMS AND WYNN ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY PLAYERS WITH THE ILLNESS LABEL THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY...........I WOULD AGAIN HAVE TO SAY THAT WITHOUT SEVERAL ADDITIONAL NEW ILL PLAYERS ADDED TO THE ILLNESS CATEGORY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, THE ILLNESS ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAME NON CONTAGIOUS.......AN UNLIKELY SCENARIO............RYAN IZZO THE ONLY ONE THAT SUCCUMBED TO THE ILLNESS..........ANOTHER UNLIKELY SCENARIO

DL COWART [HEAD]..............NEW...........SUSTAINED IN PRACTICE.............NOT CONCUSSION..........JUST A HEAD CASE

LB VAN NOY [ILLNESS]..........NEW...........IF LEGITIMATE, UNLIKELY TO PLAY SUNDAY

BRADY IS STILL DEALING WITH HIS ELBOW TENDONITIS...........AS I'VE POSTED BEFORE, THIS CONDITION ONLY WORSENS WITH REPETITIONS AND WITHOUT TOTAL REST...........I EXPECT ACCORDINGLY WE SEE BRADY'S PERFORMANCE TO BE MORE AFFECTED AS THE GAME GOES ON
Would you expect Brady to undergo surgery for tennis elbow in the offseason?
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Would you expect Brady to undergo surgery for tennis elbow in the offseason?
No. Surgery is usually indicated only after a period of 6-12 months of rest and rehab has failed. Do you believe that Brady is going to take out 6-12 months to see if this approach might work? Surgery if undertaken, for Brady, effective return could be expected to be ~6-9 months.........still an approach that would definitely not be an option he would take at his age, especially since he may not realistically return a performance level he would expect if he returns at all. Studies of overhead throwing injuries are virtually limited to less than a handful........and they are made up of virtually all baseball players.............that are in a lower teen to upper teen age group.

No, I don't believe Brady will opt for surgery, as he will continue to find those "magic" conservative treatments that will keep him going...........until they can't.
 
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CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Texans' Tashaun Gipson on back injury he's recovered from: 'It's terrible'


When Texans veteran safety Tashaun Gipson was sidelined for two games this season, it was for a significant reason.

Gipson was out against the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars due to a transverse process fracture in his back, a painful injury involving the fracture of wing-like bones on the side of the vertebra in the spine.

Although there's generally not a risk involved with that type of injury, the severe pain and lack of mobility are serious. That ended Gipson's durability streak of 64 consecutive games that dated back to his time with the Jaguars and the Cleveland Browns.

"It's terrible,"said Gipson, who signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Texans in March. "You still play with those things, but those things don't truly heal until you get rest. It's a struggle, obviously.

"It's a weird injury. You don't realize the kind of impact that those small, minor bones really have."
Gipson returned to play against the Baltimore Ravens, but dealt with heavy discomfort during a 41-7 blowout loss. He's no longer on the injury report and is feeling good heading into a Sunday night game against the New England Patriots.

"I missed the two games, then the bye week and came back for Baltimore and was in a great deal of pain," Gipson said. "They tell you it's fine. You see the images and your bones healing and you've got to play with pain. It's more of a pain management thing. The only thing that can make it worse is the impact that caused the injury, if you duplicate that. It was my first time having that."

Because of the physical nature of the position Gipson plays, throwing around his body is a job requirement. He can't finesse it.

"Every play is like a car accident," Gipson said. "Playing safety, I can't be timid. I have to bring it. If not, it's not really a good look. If I played corner, I could get my Deion Sanders on. It's a nagging injury."
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
We aren't told when the Patriots players first showed signs of the flu. But it is important to note that the players are considered contagious for 5-7 days following the appearance of their symptoms (and for that matter, even 1-2 days prior to the first appearance of symptoms). If these players do play Sunday night, the Texans players are likely to be exposed to a still contagious environment. Hope the Patriots medical staff ethically don't allow this to happen.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Is there a successful Surgery for tendonitis?
It usually involves removal of the diseased tendon.............partial or full-thick removal as appropriate. If a full-thick segment must be removed, it will require reattachment of the remaining end (or tendon graft as in a Tommy John procedure) to the bone . As Brady has had this condition for over a decade, although I have not obviously examined him, I believe that he would more likely require the latter type of surgery.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
We aren't told when the Patriots players first showed signs of the flu. But it is important to note that the players are considered contagious for 5-7 days following the appearance of their symptoms (and for that matter, even 1-2 days prior to the first appearance of symptoms). If these players do play Sunday night, the Texans players are likely to be exposed to a still contagious environment. Hope the Patriots medical staff ethically don't allow this to happen.
Is it left up to the team doctor decision or does the NFL have some jurisdiction over contagious type illness? Seems to me the opposing team could protest
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Is it left up to the team doctor decision or does the NFL have some jurisdiction over contagious type illness? Seems to me the opposing team could protest
The NFL has never had a strict policy regarding players playing with the flu...........not even during the swine flu epidemic. The only policy that was placed was that if an NFL team has at least six players unable to play because of the illness, it can promote players from the practice squad to replace them. A club can receive a maximum of eight of these roster exemptions Lord help them if they have to lose money.


****************************************************************************

Ravens won't let flu take them down

By BY ANDREA K. WALKER and THE BALTIMORE SUN
JAN 16, 2013 | 6:49 PM

*****************************************************************************

From what I've been told, the Patriots' players did not get their flu shots as recommended. I'm not sure that that would have made any difference.
 

ObsiWan

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
We aren't told when the Patriots players first showed signs of the flu. But it is important to note that the players are considered contagious for 5-7 days following the appearance of their symptoms (and for that matter, even 1-2 days prior to the first appearance of symptoms). If these players do play Sunday night, the Texans players are likely to be exposed to a still contagious environment. Hope the Patriots medical staff ethically don't allow this to happen.
Patriots?
...ethical?!
:spit:
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
just another example of what happens when you bring a player back too soon.

From my post prior to the game Tytus was allowed to return:

View attachment 4781

Not sure how valid today's practice is..............the team is to take a plane to UK today.............today's practice could be a walk-through.

I'd be very concerned about Conley coming back this soon.................and also Howard coming back from a grade II MCL in 3 weeks.......
 
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CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Texans place rookie Tytus Howard on injured reserve
By Aaron Wilson, Houston Chronicle
Published 4:16 pm CST, Saturday, November 30, 2019


Texans rookie first-round draft pick Tytus Howard's season is over.

The starting right offensive tackle was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
A 6-5, 322-pound former all-conference selection from Alabama State, Howard partially tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee against the Kansas City Chiefs, but didn't have to undergo surgery.

Howard returned after missing just two games, but dealt with the injury for the past three games before being shut down Saturday after aggravating his knee.

**********************************************

Funny how they refer to his injury generically as "aggravating his knee," leaving you to think that is was only about his MCL............conveniently with no mention of the addition of a meniscus tear.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Funchess suffered his collar bone fracture week 1 and underwent surgery quickly thereafter. For a surgical repair like this, the average return to play to contact sports would be a little over 8 weeks as demonstrated in several studies. We know that this was not a just a nondisplaced fracture, or it would have been treated without surgery. We are not told though if the fracture was a simple displaced fracture or a splintered (commminuted) fracture. Either way, as of last week, his x-rays showed that his fracture was "not healed." Not a good sign in that this could mean a non-union of the fractured segment. If this is the case, I don't know why they would have tried to bring him back now. If it wasn't healed last week, it would make it doubtful that it would have healed now............AND he would have had enough time to get into practice shape..............especially since that fracture will not really be tested (WRs get hit) during a "walk-through" week. With the aforementioned logic, i would not expect him to play Thursday.

I hope this answers your question........although I can only give you a tentative prediction.
The Colts are not going to activate Funchess due to his fracture still not healed. After 13 weeks, a plated collar bone fracture should be well-healed. At this point, at best a "delayed union"........at worse, and probably more likely, a "non-union" of his fracture segment(s) is what is happening. This can be caused by a plate that is not preventing movement at the fracture site.........something that will not allow fracture segments, especially if splintered to join and heal. Another potential cause is a very slowly smoldering infection, many times caused this late by a small splinter acting as a "foreign body." Whichever the cause, it is probably that his collarbone will require re-operation.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
An 11 year study of NFL players sustaining pec ruptures published in 2014 revealed 10 players being identified by records...............the average return to play was 111 days (just short of 4 months). There was 1 outlier at 42 days. And a few with recoveries as long as 189 days.

My experience with athletes that require arm strength is that the return to play can be 4-6 months...........and typically closer to 6 months. And recovery of maximum strength..........closer to 1 year.

Here is a 2018 review of studies on the subject:

1575221864199.png

What is interesting to note in this most recent review, the proportion of professional athletes who returned to their preinjury level of sport was lower. Although the majority (90%) returned to play, only 74% returned to preinjury level. The decrease of strength of the affected arm was typically only ~10%, but in an elite athlete that requires maximum strength to excel at his position, 10% is a significant loss.

For Watt to come back for the 2020 playoffs would likely set him up, like commonly occurs for any player pushing his return, for poor performance and high risk re-injury. A first game playoff return would mean Watt would be returning only ~2 months post surgery...........the conference championship game at only ~2 1/2 months post surgery...............and even if delayed until the SB, ~3 months post surgery.

I'l let others consult Vegas on the odds. My feeling is that overall it is probably unrealistic and even more so ill-advised..............but maybe after flipping some more truck tires and practicing more 6 foot box jumps.....................
 
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