Carson Wentz might not be ready for start of 2018 season
By Nick Tylwalk
The loss of the budding superstar Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller could extend into their next campaign.
For fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, the nightmare scenario came true on Sunday. There was Carson Wentz, lighting up another defense — and a very highly regarded one in the Los Angeles Rams. There he was, putting his body on the line again trying to make something happen.
Only this time, it cost him. Wentz left the Rams game with a knew injury, and today it was confirmed that the injury was a torn ACL, ending his season. Nick Foles will take the reins the rest of the way, trying to guide a very good team to its elusive first Super Bowl victory.
Except Foles may need to be ready to be the man next fall as well, according to famed orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews. Chris Mortensen talked to the doctor today and found him pessimistic about Wentz’s ability to be 100 percent recovered by the start of the 2018 NFL season.
Dr. James Andrews, noted orthopedic specialist, was not speaking specifically to Wentz but he told me a short while ago that expectation should be tempered for a player with an ACL surgery to return by start of '18 season. He says ACL repairs need 9-to-12 months.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) December 11, 2017
Mortensen added that super-fast and successful returns from ACL surgery, like the one that Adrian Peterson pulled off, have made everyone slightly less realistic about the timetable for recovery. There are serious risks for those who try to return too fast.
Finally, Dr. Andrews said the danger of returning to football too early from ACL surgery is higher odds of tearing the graft repair; also places the healthy knee in jeopardy until rehab and healing are thoroughly accomplished.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) December 11, 2017
In this case, timing is everything. Wentz was injured on Dec. 10, meaning that on the front end of the 9-12-month window, he could be ready by, say, Week 2 of 2018. On the other end, the back end of the window means he could miss a big chunk of the next Eagles season, returning only when their playoff fate is likely close to being decided.
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That’s a very broad range of possibilities, meaning no one in Philly should panic just yet. But if Foles cracks under his return to a starting role the rest of the way, it does suggest that the Eagles might need to have a backup plan to their backup plan for next year. Just in case.