Triage Time: Wish You Were Here, Floyd
November 5th, 2009 by Will Carroll
Wide Receiver Mike Floyd, Notre Dame – Collarbone
Much is being made about Floyd’s “early return” from fracturing his clavicle. In fact, his return is just about on schedule-6-8 weeks for complete healing of a fracture. This fracture was undisplaced (bone ends in line) and it really should be no surprise that he is being cleared 6 weeks post-injury. Notre Dame has an excellent medical staff and they would not clear Floyd before he was medically ready. Floyd will be used in “spots” this week against Navy, which will serve primarily as a confidence booster for him as he returns to game action. His speed hasn’t diminished and his hands are still great, so look for him to be a major contributor as Bowl eligible Notre Dame looks to finish the regular season with a flourish.
Running Back Jahvid Best, California– Ankle
Best re-injured his ankle last week and sat out the second half of the game. He could probably use this week to rest and rehab the ankle, but there are two factors in play; namely, (1) a fairly wide-open conference title battle and (2) Best’s fading hopes for Heisman consideration. While his chances for the award are fairly slim at this point, if he sits out another game, they may disappear completely. With his ankle securely taped or braced, Best should be able to play some in this week’s game against Oregon State and then hope for the best during the remainder of the Bears’ schedule. Look for situational spot duty this week and then back to his starring role for the remainder of the season.
Running Back Michael Smith, Arkansas– Hamstring
Smith has bilateral hamstring strains that have been bothersome for a month. He sat out last week in hopes of being able to perform up to his capacity this week against South Carolina. He has had lots of treatment, but hamstrings are slow healers for athletes who have to accelerate rapidly, an occupational requirement for running backs. Arkansas’s season has been disappointing and their offense is their only true weapon, so look for Smith to be on the field against the Gamecocks to add the threat of a running game to the Razorbacks passing attack. Expect Smith’s productivity to be limited and probably not up to his pre-injured form for the rest of the season.
Wide Receiver AJ Green, Georgia– Pulmonary Contusion
Green’s injury is actually a contused rib, which subsequently caused (by compression) a bruise on his lung. While significant, this injury is not as bad as it sounds and not uncommon in a collision sport like football. Georgia’s Ron Courson is one of the top Athletic Trainers in the country, so you know he is on top of this situation and Green will not be cleared to play until it is medically safe for him to do so. Fortunately, Georgia has a breather in Tennessee Tech this week, so it is a no brainer that Green will not be playing. Look for Green to return next week against Auburn as the Bulldog’s try to salvage a disappointing season by at least becoming Bowl eligible. Green is their leading offensive weapon and his services will be needed if that six win season is to become a reality.
Wide Receiver Marshall Williams, Wake Forest — Hamstring
William suffered a hamstring injury against Miami and had to leave the game. Williams is a speed receiver and hamstring strains heal slowly and are put at stress during acceleration activities. A neoprene sleeve can be utilitized for compression and to keep the muscle warm, but the appliance can only do so much. Look for Williams to be unable to play this week and questionable for the following week. With three games remaining on the schedule, Wake needs to win at least two of them to become Bowl eligible and an injured Williams make that task even more difficult.
Quarterback Mike Kafka, Northwestern– Hamstring
Reports out of Evanston indicate that Kafka’s hamstring injury is not as bad as earlier thought-most likely a low grade 2 strain in the belly (middle of the muscle in the back of the thigh). A little rest and a neoprene sleeve or compression wrap and Kafka should be ready on Saturday against Iowa. Passing should present no problem, but his running may put him at risk for reinjury. Look for the medical staff to pull the plug on Kafka if any signs of reinjury occur.
Running Back Nick Grigsby, Arizona — Shoulder
A-C sprains (damage to the ligament that attaches the collarbone to the shoulder blade) do not get better when you are playing. Grigsby’s “off and on” injury has truly been “on” constantly since his early season injury. Every time he thinks it is getting better, he gets hit again in a game or lands hard on the shoulder and basically is forced back to square one injury-wise. He is at the point where no more structural damage is being done; just the pain is going to return when the right impact occurs. Look for Grigsby’s season to continue as it has the last several weeks and for the injury to fully heal during the off-season.
Quarterback Todd Reesing, Kansas– Groin
Reesing has been dealing with his groin (adductor muscle) strain for several weeks and it has affected his performance. Groin strains make it difficult to change directions laterally and to plant the foot to throw the football. This injury has been treated to control the inflammation, but true healing cannot occur without rest, a scarce commodity for football players at this point of the schedule. Reesing is listed as probable this week against surprising Kansas State and he will be securely wrapped to limit abduction (movement of the leg away from the midline of the body), but his effectiveness may be limited.
Quarterback Tony Pike, Cincinnati– Wrist
Pike’s sprained wrist has had almost three weeks to heal and the Bearcat’s are still undefeated. He has taken some snaps in practice this week and will be in uniform Saturday against Connecticut, but it is unlikely if he will have more than sport duty barring a Zack Coliaros meltdown against the Huskies. Pike has been allowed to heal properly and this will pay dividends when he returns to full-time duty running the Bearcat’s offense the following week.
Wide Receiver Brandon Banks, Kansas State — Shoulder
Banks is two weeks post-injury A-C sprain. For a lot of positions, this injury could be well padded and the played would be able to perform with few restrictions. However, if you are a wide receiver, you make your living with your arms extended, diving for balls, and being hit while still in the air after jumping to catch a pass– which can lead to falls to the turf landing on the shoulder. None of these possibilities bode well for Banks. It is a rivalry game this week against Kansas and Banks definitely wants to be on the field, but his status is questionable at best, and may be a game day decision by the KSU medical staff.
Quarterback Christian Ponder, Florida State — Rib
Ponder suffered a rib contusion last week against North Carolina State and is listed as “probable” for this week against Clemson. Ponder has practiced this week without problem, but he hasn’t been hit. As a dual threat quarterback, he will be hit a lot in a game. He will have a rib protective vest, but that offers minimal protection against a hit by a 300-pound lineman or a safety coming on a blitz at full speed. Look for Ponder to perform well, but also look for him to be vulnerable to that one “big” hit which could knock him out of the game.
***Dr. William Carroll is the Director of Athletic Training Education and a Professor at the University of Mobile. His experience in professional and college athletic sports medicine goes back 40 years, which means he started when he was nine. Will Carroll, his son, has actually been doing this since birth, which gives him almost as much experience. ‘The Carroll Guide to Sports Injuries’ will be published in October.
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