Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll believes cornerback Richard Sherman will be ready for the start of next season.
That’s very relieving news for Seahawks fans.
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Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is reported to require Tommy John surgery this offseason. Tommy John surgery is a procedure to repair damaged ulnar collateral ligaments in the elbow. The injury is most common in baseball players, as there is a lot of wear and tear on their elbows from throwing.
The injury to Sherman occurred in the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers. Sherman got tied up with teammate Kam Chancellor as he was making a tackle, and Sherman’s elbow hit the ground awkwardly. Sherman seemed to be in a significant amount of pain after the incident, but continued to play in the game. The Seahawks listed the injury as a sprained elbow leading up to the Super Bowl, and Sherman played every snap on defense for the Seahawks during their Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday that Sherman will most likely have to undergo Tommy John surgery, but is confident he will not miss any time at the start of the 2015 NFL season.
Tommy John surgery sidelines a pitcher for a while. Apparently not for NFL player. Carroll thinks Richard Sherman will be ready for season.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 2, 2015
It’s seems true that the recovery from Tommy John surgery would be quicker for an NFL player than a baseball pitcher. A pitcher absolutely needs those ligaments in his/her elbow to be one hundred percent healthy in order to deliver pitches at full speed. For a non-throwing NFL player, the ligaments in the elbow aren’t as vital. It may hurt the players range of motion in the elbow, but it would still allow an NFL player to play at nearly full capacity.
Demarcus Ware is one NFL player that recovered from Tommy John surgery. He underwent the surgery in February 2014 and was able to come back in time for the start of the following season.
In fact, former NFL head team physician David J. Chao believes that Tommy John surgery may not even be necessary for Sherman.
I doubt don't RICHARD SHERMAN has elbow ligament tear. It would just be unusual to need Tommy John surgery in a non-throwing athlete.
— David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) February 2, 2015
RICHARD SHERMAN did not dislocate elbow, hyperextension only. Even if ulnar collateral ligament torn, still should not need Tommy John.
— David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) February 2, 2015
Tommy John is for throwing athletes. I have treated a dozen NFL players with completely torn ulnar collateral ligament & don't need surgery.
— David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) February 2, 2015
Take it for what it’s worth, but Sherman may not even need the surgery. However, he may be opting to get the surgery anyway just to repair the ligaments, rehab and be done with it.
Getting the surgery may cut into Sherman’s offseason training though, so he may want to consider not getting the surgery unless it is absolutely necessary. He is a huge part of the Seattle Seahawks defense and arguably the best cornerback in the league, his team will need him once the 2015 NFL regular season begins.
H/T to Mike Garafolo, David J. Chao, and SB Nation for the information.
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