01-19-2024, 12:46 PM
(01-18-2024, 08:50 PM)casear2727 Wrote:
I have read everything from 9 months to a year, and each time with the disclaimer that it could be career ending. Jamal Adams took a took 13 months.
"Quadriceps tendon tears are usually season-ending injuries and may be career ending. Even with acute, primary surgical repair, only about half will return to competitive play." American Journal of Sports Medicine
Anecdotal evidence certainly supports careers ended:
- Center LeCharles Bentley tore his patellar tendon as a 26-year-old in 2006. Despite the fact he was coming off a Pro Bowl season, he never played again.
- Running back Cadillac Williams suffered back-to-back patellar tendon injuries to separate knees in 2007 and 2008. The former 1,000-yard rusher battled back to start 24 games in 2009 and 2010, but he averaged just 3.8 yards per carry during that period. His career came to an end the next year.
- Running back Ryan Williams suffered a torn patellar tendon as a rookie in 2011. The second-round pick returned for five games in 2012 but never played another snap after that. "Growing up I thought that the worst injury you could have is the ACL," Williams said last year, per Fox Sports. "Nah, when you tear that patellar tendon and your kneecap shifts to your thigh, that's something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy."
- Safety Jim Leonhard suffered the injury late in 2011. He had started 53 games in four seasons but started just 13 over the next three years before retiring.
- Wide receiver Greg Childs tore both patellar tendons before his rookie season in 2012. He never played a regular-season game.
- Wide receiver Brandon Gibson tore his patellar tendon midway through the 2013 season, returned to play 14 games with the Miami Dolphins in 2014 but hasn't played since.
- Linebacker Jerod Mayo suffered the injury as a 28-year-old in 2014. He played sparingly in 2015 before announcing his retirement.
There are some positives, however:
- Safety Nate Allen has never been a star, but he represents hope. The 2010 second-round pick suffered a torn patellar tendon late in his rookie season but missed only the first two games of the 2011 campaign and was a regular starter for each of the next four years with the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Cornerback Patrick Robinson missed most of the 2013 season because of the same injury, but the former first-round pick has battled back to play 30 combined games the last two seasons with the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers.
- Cornerback Morris Claiborne missed most of the 2014 season through the same injury, but the former first-round pick battled back to start 11 games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.
DJ Reader tore his OTHER quad in Game 5 in 2020, he came back in 2021 to have a very good season.
In 2021, despite tearing the quad in week 5 the previous year, he started week 1 and played in 15 of 17 games. We rested the starters the last week.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/ReadD.00/gamelog/2021/
Reader has already had the surgery and started rehab. Absolutely no hint of the injury being career ending. He said rehab is going better this time (though as a FA, what would he say, so, grain of salt there). Still, he did not look worried, in the slightest. PFF isn't worried. Spotrac isn't worried. They all think he is gonna get paid.
He'll be ready by October, if not sooner. 9 months is 9/16.
This career ending talk is, in my opinion, much exaggerated. Still a long way to go. In two months we will have a better idea.
