Sunday's NFL action featured a number of key injuries, perhaps none as impactful as the clavicle injury suffered by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Here is SB Nation medical expert Dr. Ali Mohamadi's Monday morning injury update from the week so far.
Tony Romo wasn’t the only player injured in Week 2
Several big names landed on the injury report Sunday. SB Nation’s medical expert, Dr. Ali Mohamadi, takes a look at the major injuries from Week 2.
The worst fears of Cowboys’ fans were realized Sunday when Romo suffered a left (non-throwing) fractured clavicle after he was driven to the turf by Philadelphia’s Jordan Hicks during his team’s 20-10 road victory. The clavicle -- also known as the collarbone -- bridges the scapula (shoulder blade) and sternum (breastbone) and serves as a strut keeping the upper limb apart from the midsection, allowing for maximum range of motion of the shoulder.
A fracture impacts the normal motion of the affected side, not to mention the extreme pain that is associated with the injury.
Although a fractured clavicle can be treated conservatively without an operation, surgery typically speeds up the recovery process. Without surgery, the affected arm is first immobilized in a sling for several weeks followed by intensive physical therapy, and it takes approximately 2-3 months for a return to competitive play.
Surgery, however, realigns the bone using plates and screws and can cut the healing time down to as few as 6-8 weeks, although an 8-10 week timetable is usually more realistic. The team’s medical staff has ordered a CT scan for Monday, likely to check whether it is a clean break or includes bone fragments. If it is the latter, there is a greater chance Romo’s return will be on the later end of that timeframe.
Romo previously fractured the same clavicle in Week 7 of the 2010 season and missed the remainder of the campaign, but in contrast, Aaron Rodgers suffered a fractured left clavicle in Week 9 of 2013 and returned in Week 17 to lead Green Bay to the playoffs. This is to say it seems likely Romo will return later this season, and in the meantime Brandon Weeden will take over the reins at quarterback for Dallas.
Jay Cutler in doubt for Seahawks game
Unfortunately, Romo wasn't the only QB to suffer an injury Sunday. Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears left in the second quarter of his team's loss to the Arizona Cardinals after suffering a hamstring injury while trying to chase down the Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson as he took an interception for a score.
Cutler came up lame while making a diving attempt at a tackle, retreated to the sideline and he was ruled out shortly thereafter. Cutler will undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the injury, but given that hamstrings are particularly prone to aggravation, it would be wise for Chicago to keep Cutler sidelined until the strain is 100 percent healed, which means his status for next Sunday’s contest against the Seahawks is likely in serious jeopardy.
Running backs get dinged up
Adding to the list of high-profile players on the injury report is Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy, who suffered an ankle sprain early in Sunday night's win over the Seattle Seahawks. Lacy was carted to the locker room following the injury, and depending on its anatomic location and severity, his return could be anywhere from weeks to months.
The severity prognosis for recovery for ankle sprains is often a source of confusion, primarily due to misunderstanding over what exactly the different “grades” of sprains actually mean. In brief:
- A Grade 1 sprain is a mild sprain that occurs when there is slight stretching and some damage to the fibers of the ankle ligaments. Individuals can usually place pressure on the foot and walk afterward.
- A Grade 2 sprain is a moderate sprain where a partial tearing of the ligaments occurs. If the ankle joint is examined and moved in certain ways, abnormal looseness (laxity) of the ankle joint occurs.
- A Grade 3 sprain is a severe sprain in which a complete tear of the ligaments occurs. If the examiner pulls or pushes on the ankle joint in certain movements, gross instability occurs.
Lacy will first undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Timetable for recovery will depend on whether it’s a low or dreaded high ankle sprain. If it’s a low ankle sprain, Lacy could be back on the field in 1-4 weeks. If it’s a high ankle sprain, it could be a month or more. For this reason, Packers fans will be holding their collective breaths as they await further news on their star RB’s prognosis.
Update: The Packers got some good news on Monday. Lacy’s ankle sprain is minor, and he’s expected to play next week.
San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde took a number of shots to the head in a blowout loss to Pittsburgh and was removed in the third quarter after conferring with the team's medical staff. According to head coach Jim Tomsula, Hyde passed sideline concussion testing, so with the game's outcome not in question at the time, it appears he was taken out as a precautionary measure. Hyde will likely be re-evaluated early this week in advance of next week's divisional matchup with 2-0 Arizona.
The Dolphins' Lamar Miller exited in the fourth quarter of Miami's loss to Jacksonville with an ankle injury and didn't return. The team has not released information regarding the extent of the injury, but as with all ankle injuries, the exact anatomic location ("low" vs. "high" in the joint) will play a large role in determining when Miller might see action again.
Bills safety out of hospital after scary neck injury
Perhaps the scariest injury of the day took place in Buffalo, where Bills safety Aaron Williams lay motionless after suffering a neck injury on an attempted tackle in his team's game with New England Sunday. Williams went down after diving after the Patriots' Julian Edelman as he scored in the third quarter, and the Buffalo medical staff was quick to immobilize the fifth-year safety and take him off the field in a cart.
Thankfully, Williams regained motion in all four extremities, and after being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation was well enough Sunday evening to be released.
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