This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
Kelvin Benjamin and Jordy Nelson.
Both NFC wide receivers spent the 2015 season on the sidelines following knee injuries during the preseason. Both Benjamin and Nelson tore their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) within days of each other and have spent the last 10 months recovering. It seems inevitable that another player will suffer a similar injury at some point during training camp, so let's take a quick look at what makes this issue so problematic.
The ACL, along with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), runs between the upper leg bone, the femur, and the lower leg bone, the tibia. The two ligaments crisscross and work together to prevent excessive movement of the tibia on the femur. They are a crucial component of stability and mobility in the knee when an athlete runs, cuts, or jumps. Unfortunately, the ACL is vulnerable to injury, especially following a sudden deceleration when the lower leg is planted in the ground. Any rotational movement only adds to the problems. This is why so many isolated ACL injuries occur without contact. ACL tears can occur with contact, often when a secondary defender hits a player as the initial defender holds his leg in place. This type of injury is often more complex and can include damage to other structures including the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and meniscus.
Surgery to repair the ligament involves harvesting a graft from the injured individual's body, usually the patellar tendon or hamstring. An allograft, taken from a cadaver, is also
Kelvin Benjamin and Jordy Nelson.
Both NFC wide receivers spent the 2015 season on the sidelines following knee injuries during the preseason. Both Benjamin and Nelson tore their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) within days of each other and have spent the last 10 months recovering. It seems inevitable that another player will suffer a similar injury at some point during training camp, so let's take a quick look at what makes this issue so problematic.
The ACL, along with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), runs between the upper leg bone, the femur, and the lower leg bone, the tibia. The two ligaments crisscross and work together to prevent excessive movement of the tibia on the femur. They are a crucial component of stability and mobility in the knee when an athlete runs, cuts, or jumps. Unfortunately, the ACL is vulnerable to injury, especially following a sudden deceleration when the lower leg is planted in the ground. Any rotational movement only adds to the problems. This is why so many isolated ACL injuries occur without contact. ACL tears can occur with contact, often when a secondary defender hits a player as the initial defender holds his leg in place. This type of injury is often more complex and can include damage to other structures including the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and meniscus.
Surgery to repair the ligament involves harvesting a graft from the injured individual's body, usually the patellar tendon or hamstring. An allograft, taken from a cadaver, is also possible but not generally used in the athletic population. The graft replaces the original tissue and will eventually display the same biomechanical characteristics of its predecessor. While the timeline for recovery has decreased as techniques in surgery and rehab have improved, studies have shown the risk of re-injury is drastically reduced if the injured individual waits nine months before returning to play. Furthermore, the graft may need a full 12 months to completely be integrated into the body. This is precisely why the timing of Benjamin and Nelson's injuries actually plays in their favor for the upcoming season.
Now almost 11 months removed from surgery, both wide outs will be able to return to the field in time for training camp. In Carolina, Benjamin will return to the top of the Panthers' depth chart, providing Cam Newton with a legitimate deep threat target. He may need time to reintegrate himself into things but he's an early candidate for comeback player of the year and could be an elite fantasy option available at a discounted price.
Nelson is also set for a monster return, though his age and previous injuries have me a bit more cautious about where I would draft him. Additionally, he's a more widely known name so his average draft position is bound to be higher. Nelson is probably the better pick in PPR formats but fantasy owners should be comfortable drafting either player.
Turf Burns
Jamaal Charles: Now that I've broken down the injury in detail, I think it's worth examining the case of Charles who is attempting his second comeback from a torn ACL. The 29-year-old running back tore his left ACL in 2011 and then his right last season in Week 5. He's been an active participant in individual drills as he continues his rehab but has yet to receive full clearance to return to practice. Reports do have him ahead of schedule, which is not surprising given his familiarity with the process, and he will be almost 10 months post-injury when Kansas City breaks for training camp. Based on how he performed following his first injury, there is plenty of reason for optimism. However, the presence of Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West, and even Knile Davis could result in a few less carries than in 2012.
Mark Ingram: The Saints continue to insist Ingram will be their feature back entering the upcoming season. However, concerns about his durability linger. The former Heisman Trophy winner has battled recurring toe issues, a broken hand, and is now coming off offseason surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder. As a result of these various ailments, Ingram has managed to play 16 games in a season just once since entering the league five years ago. The talent is there but Ingram remains a pick with inherently high injury risk.
Andrew Luck: The Colts are betting that Luck's injury-riddled 2015 campaign was an anomaly as evident by the record-setting $140 million contract extension he just signed. His previously lacerated kidney did not carry any long-term concerns but questions about the shoulder injury that cost him a pair of games were likely to linger. However, the confidence the front office displayed by extending this offer should ease any of those fears. He remains a top-five option at the position and, like Nelson and Benjamin, could potentially come at a discounted rate.
LeSean McCoy: The Bills are planning on carefully managing McCoy's workload through training camp and the preseason in order to have him ready for the regular season. McCoy missed four games last season with a mild MCL sprain and an early-season hamstring strain and was bothered by a mild ankle injury sustained during OTAs. The injuries knock McCoy out of the top tier of running backs but he is still likely to provide significant value as a second running back.
Danny Woodhead: The Chargers' running back is expected to be ready to go for training camp despite suffering a mild ankle sprain in team mini-camps. Normally mild ankle sprains serve as little concern at this point of the year but I'll be keeping an eye on this situation as camp begins. Woodhead suffered a Maisonneuve fracture, a complex spiral fracture, of his right ankle during the 2014 season that ultimately required surgery. While the current injury occurred on the opposite leg, it will be important to protect Woodhead from any type of crossover effect. He should be fine moving forward but any lower extremity injuries should be carefully managed for the 5-foot-8 PPR machine.
