Jadeveon Clowney, Tyler Eifert among NFL’s biggest injuries in Week 1

The Texans OLB, the top pick in the 2014 draft, left in the second quarter of Houston’s 17-6 win over Washington Sunday with a right knee injury, and early reports indicate he may have suffered a torn meniscus, with possible damage to the MCL as well. While the team awaits results from an MRI, here’s what we know about these injuries:

The meniscus is a C-shaped ring of cartilage between the thigh and shin bones that serves as a shock absorber for the knee, keeping the bones from rubbing together. Of all the structures in the knee, it is the most commonly injured (typically due to a sudden twisting of the joint), but the treatment and prognosis for recovery depends largely upon the location and extent of the tear. Meniscal tears can result in pain, stiffness or “locking” of the knee, and though some tears may heal with rest, surgery is commonly required. Depending on the location and condition of the tear, it may be suture the loose ends together (known as a meniscal repair), but far more commonly, athletes undergo a meniscectomy, in which damaged tissue is trimmed away. One important difference between the approaches is the length of recovery: a meniscal repair takes approximately three months, whereas an athlete can often return to action within four to six weeks of a meniscectomy.

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a structure located on the inside of the knee that helps hold the thigh and shin bones together and stabilize the knee joint. Injuries to the MCL most commonly occur when the knee is directly hit on its outer side and bent inward, and an MCL sprain describes tearing to the fibers of the ligament. The severity of and prognosis for recovery from an ligament sprain is often a source of confusion, primarily over what exactly the different “grades” of sprains actually mean. In brief:

Clowney’s recovery time will ultimately depend on the specific injuries to the meniscus and MCL; if the meniscus is torn, as suspected, a meniscectomy followed by a four- to six-week recovery is likely, with added time if the tear is worse than expected or if the MCL is sprained as well. Either way, based on preliminary reports it appears unlikely the Texans rookie will see the field again before October.

A ruptured Achilles refers to a complete tear through the tendon. Treatment can be conservative (casting, rest and rehabilitation) or surgical. Some studies show the long-term outcome is similar to surgery with regard to strength and function. However, compared with conservative management, surgery has a lower incidence of re-rupture than nonsurgical treatment and allows a return to pre-injury activities sooner and at a higher level of functioning with less shrinkage of muscle, making it the option of choice for competitive athletes.

Surgical repair of a ruptured Achilles tendon requires physically suturing the ends of the tendon back together. Typically, as the rupture site heals, a small lump remains from the scarring, but this does not impact healing or resumption of physical activity. Full weight bearing commonly begins at about six weeks following surgery with a heel support, with the athlete often back to light activity at eight weeks. A return to full form typically requires six months or more of rehabilitation after the surgery, which cannot take place until swelling resolves.

The emerging star left during the third quarter of the Bears’ loss to Buffalo Sunday with a hamstring injury and did not return to the field. After the game, Jeffery himself classified the injury as minor and said that he was held out for precautionary measures, but Bears fans will be holding their breath as they watch the team’s injury report this week. Hamstring strains are slow to recover from and prone to aggravation.

Eifert, who has emerged as a key receiving target for Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, suffered a gruesome right elbow injury in Sunday’s win over Baltimore and did not return. Speculation is that Eifert may have dislocated the elbow, which often takes at least at least eight to 10 weeks for a full recovery. In at least 15 percent of cases, elbow dislocations may be associated with nerve injuries that can result in long-term deficits without prompt treatment, which includes reduction of the joint (putting the bones back in place, either manually or surgically). Furthermore, compartment syndrome, a condition in which pressure from swelling or internal bleeding results in severe pain or decreased blood flow, may develop in the forearm or biceps requiring emergency surgery.

While the team awaits a final prognosis for Eifert’s recovery, it will look to longtime Bengal Jermaine Gresham to take more snaps with the offense.

The talented but oft-injured second-year tight end suffered a hamstring strain on his first catch in a 17-6 loss to Houston and is scheduled for an MRI Monday to determine the extent of the injury. Hamstring strains are notoriously prone to reinjury if an athlete returns to action before fully healed, and given the level of concern voiced by coach Jay Gruden following the game, it would appear Reed is questionable at best for next week’s home opener against Jacksonville. With most requiring two to six weeks to recover, it is possible Reed may miss a number of games for the second consecutive season.