This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
Sammy Watkins
The Bills are set to open training camp Friday, and the team expects its 22-year-old receiver to be available after he underwent hip surgery for a labrum tear sustained in late November. The extent of damage was minimal enough for Watkins to finish out the season with the injury before undergoing surgery in February.
The body is equipped with four labrums, one in each shoulder and one in each hip. Each labrum is comprised of fibrocartilage and is designed to help stabilize the appropriate joint. In the hip, the labrum deepens the acetabulum of the hip so that the head of the femur is able to move freely while remaining secure. Neighboring ligaments and muscles fortify the area, though a violent impact or excessive and repetitive motion can cause the labrum to tear or fray.
Watkins' issue was not caused by a chronic instability and his tear was reported as "small." However, he won't have to look far to be reminded of the possible complications of such a procedure. Teammate Percy Harvin suffered a "slight" labrum tear while training prior to the 2013 season and missed nearly three months recovering. Unfortunately, his return was brief as he began experiencing inflammation and soreness in the area. He returned for the postseason, but fantasy owners who invested in Harvin got one lone reception for their gamble.
Fortunately, timing is everything and by having his surgery when he did, Watkins is set up far better than Harvin. He will be able
Sammy Watkins
The Bills are set to open training camp Friday, and the team expects its 22-year-old receiver to be available after he underwent hip surgery for a labrum tear sustained in late November. The extent of damage was minimal enough for Watkins to finish out the season with the injury before undergoing surgery in February.
The body is equipped with four labrums, one in each shoulder and one in each hip. Each labrum is comprised of fibrocartilage and is designed to help stabilize the appropriate joint. In the hip, the labrum deepens the acetabulum of the hip so that the head of the femur is able to move freely while remaining secure. Neighboring ligaments and muscles fortify the area, though a violent impact or excessive and repetitive motion can cause the labrum to tear or fray.
Watkins' issue was not caused by a chronic instability and his tear was reported as "small." However, he won't have to look far to be reminded of the possible complications of such a procedure. Teammate Percy Harvin suffered a "slight" labrum tear while training prior to the 2013 season and missed nearly three months recovering. Unfortunately, his return was brief as he began experiencing inflammation and soreness in the area. He returned for the postseason, but fantasy owners who invested in Harvin got one lone reception for their gamble.
Fortunately, timing is everything and by having his surgery when he did, Watkins is set up far better than Harvin. He will be able to gradually ramp up his activity during camp and any developing signs of soreness and inflammation can be addressed prior to the regular season. Watkins will have a small degree of risk on draft day, but that should continue to drop as he progresses through camp.
Le'Veon Bell
Reports that Bell appeared to be "noticeably explosive" on the first day of training camp should help temper fears that his lingering right knee is an issue. Bell injured the knee Week 17 last season and was unable to play in the Steelers' postseason loss to the Ravens. The injury was described as a hyperextended right knee, but no ligament damage was reported. The fact that the problem lingered for multiple months is a good reminder that the term "hyperextension" simply tells us how the injury occurred and does little to tell us what structures are involved. When a knee is hyperextended, ligaments, tendons, bone and even the meniscus can be exposed to possible damage. We may never know what exactly was bothering Bell, but the fact that he looks uninhibited is a positive step.
Turf Burns
Odell Beckham Jr.: The man behind "the Catch" will come with a catch on draft day. His chronically troubled hamstring remains a noteworthy red flag on his profile. He continues to insist he will be fine, and it's hard to argue given his productivity last year even with the injury. However, it's significant enough to prevent me from recommending him in the first round. Keep a close eye on how the situation is handled once he reports to camp, but, as of now, tread cautiously.
Todd Gurley: It is growing increasingly likely that the St. Louis rookie will avoid the physically unable to perform (PUP) and instead be placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) List. By placing him on the NFI, the Rams can activate Gurley whenever they see fit. Gurley, still recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear sustained in college, will be handled conservatively with the team heavily invested in his future health. Tre Mason likely will see the bulk of the carries early in the regular season as Gurley is eased into things. This shouldn't be viewed as a setback, but a smart play by the Rams to ensure the 10th overall pick is at his best before beginning his professional career.
DeVante Parker: Miami is managing Parker's surgically repaired foot extremely carefully and appears to be OK with him seeing limited action early on. While all reports on the area have been positive, rushing Parker back after opting to be proactive with their treatment options would make little sense. Receivers, including Atlanta's Julio Jones, have had success coming back from this type of injury, but the risk of re-injury will linger throughout the year. The rookie wideout has plenty of upside, but balancing potential and draft position may prove difficult with the injury still unresolved.
Adrian Peterson: The Vikings plan on giving Peterson a "heavy" workload despite him missing 15 games last season. There have been some questions if the time off will negatively affect a 30-year-old running back with a history of injuries, but I'm leaning the opposite way. The time off saved Peterson from a season of wear and tear and should allow him to return in top shape.
Caleb Sturgis: I don't often talk about kickers in this column because a serviceable replacement is generally available. However, when someone is injured playing kickball, I'll make an exception. Sturgis suffered a left quadriceps injury during a team-sponsored kickball game. The injury was to his non-kicking leg and was initially expected to sideline him for four weeks. The Dolphins are confident he will be ready for training camp, but any lingering effects could affect his power and accuracy.
