Getty ImagesIf Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith were healthy, there are people who think he would have gone at the top of the first round of the draft this year but he isn’t after tearing his ACL and MCL during the Fiesta Bowl in January.
That made his outlook for the start of the season a dicey one, but a team picking Smith may need to wait even longer than that. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the exam found “ankle and knee nerve issues” that have added to concerns about Smith’s help. After watching a video that Smith posted online this week noting the lack of a brace for his ligament injuries, former Chargers team doctor David Chao pointed out that he was wearing a brace that indicated a nerve issue.
Per the report, teams believe that Smith will miss “at least” the 2016 season as a result of the problems.
We’ve seen teams use early picks on players coming off ligament tears and other severe injuries plenty of times, but the possibility of a chronic problem will likely prove to have a more significant impact on where Smith lands come the draft. We’ll surely hear more about Smith’s health as teams do further digging into Smith’s health.
Tough break. He had free tuition, I hope he got his degree. I mean a degree from ND is nothing to sneeze at.
Trent, stay away from acl injuries this year… I know they excite you and all, but you must refrain.
Which is why it’s laughable to think he will go in the top20. Best case he comes back by late November but then you have to bench your starting linebacker for a guy who has been out since January.
So there’s a chance he’ll drop below 20?
Looks like a high 2nd rounder.
Have to wonder if the source of this report is from a playoff team, hoping to steal an otherwise top-5 talent towards the end of the first round.
If there’s significant nerve damage, you’re looking Rd 3 earliest possibly. That’s a big gamble on using a 1st or 2nd on a player with a long-term issue.
Marcus Lattimore. Will this finally put to rest the silly homers calling for him to go to the Bears?
As it stands in the LB class right now there’s Myles Jack (even coming off his own injury but far less severe) and everyone else.
Sounds like teams at the bottom of the first round are trying to drag down his draft stock
I have a very hard time believing anything coming from any team’s mouth this time of year.
Nerve damage? Hope not. See Derrick Sherrod.
Baalke was seen rubbing his hands together and smiling like a fat Cheshire Cat when the Smith’s medical report was released.
Da’Quan Bowers was being hyped as a possible #1 pick overall. Went in the second and never lived up to that slotting.
Possible nerve damage? Day 3.
I would take a chance late first or early second round.
The same Dr. Chao who had his surgery privileges revoked by two hospitals in San Diego?
Please it’s not like lattimore it was his first injury ever ,Jaylons work ethic is sick he’ll be back I wouldn’t bet against him he’s not even 20 yrs old yet also ,
spiffybiff says:
Which is why it’s laughable to think he will go in the top20. Best case he comes back by late November but then you have to bench your starting linebacker for a guy who has been out since January.
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No, best case scenario is you give him the time he needs to heal and he realizes his potential and becomes a very good/great/all-pro linebacker. That said, I hope a team smart enough not to rush him back grabs him. Seems like a 2nd or 3rd rounder if this report is true to me.
Sounds like the Sean Spence injury.
He`s slipping a LONG way, with nerve issues. Probably won`t draft in the first three rounds. La`el Collins went undrafted last year, that might happen here with Jaylon. That way he gets to choose his team.
If he is there at 23 I would be fine with the vikings scooping him up. Can you imagine barr kendricks and jaylon smith? Would be a sick lb core.
“Please it’s not like lattimore it was his first injury ever ,Jaylons work ethic is sick he’ll be back I wouldn’t bet against him he’s not even 20 yrs old yet also ,”
June 14th 1995, he`s 20.
spiffybiff says:
Feb 26, 2016 6:18 PM
Which is why it’s laughable to think he will go in the top20. Best case he comes back by late November but then you have to bench your starting linebacker for a guy who has been out since January.
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OR you are a good team with depth that can wait. Those teams do exist.
Some mocks still had him going top 10
Hell be 20 in June ,
Ugh, that’s rough. I’m sure he’ll still go in round 2 or 3 and a team will let him just rehab his way back.
Definitely sounds like teams trying to get him to fall.
He might miss more than 2016? Doubtful. Come September 2017, hell be 21 months removed from the injury.
Unlikely he misses that long.
Also, nerve ‘damage’ is common 6 weeks removed from surgery. Much longer than that, as well.
Saw discussion about the peroneal tendon being involved. Had that surgery 8 months ago, among other things. When operating on multiple things, nerves may be moved around to reach the area. Some feeling may be lost temporarily, and it’s common. Took me 6 months before the numbness was gone in spots. Told it was totally common.
Seems like much ado about nothing. It’s probably preventative and is likely nothing to be overly concered with. Smith will likely have more medical evals in April, for teams to get most up to date diagnosis.
It reminds me of that RB San Fran picked up a few years ago Lattimore? He was a stud in college but occurred a nasty knee injury prior to the draft. He was considered a steal when the 49ers grabbed him in th 3-5th round but now I haven’t heard anything about him. I wish Jaylon the best, he seems like a real stand up kid, I hope he comes back and lights the league on fire.
There seems to be a belief among some fans that there is somehow a new miracle cure today for blown ACLs. As a guy who has torn both my left and my right ACL, I can tell you that this isn’t the case. Yes, the surgery is quicker and cleaner now, and yes they start the rehab sooner, but it is still a long, difficult road back even for guys whose surgery was a pretty straightforward ACL reconstruction. If you have nerve damage, now it gets even tougher, as it is very tough to project how quickly or fully those nerves will regenerate.
Did ya bother following your source’s twitter feed after he threw that out?
I’m expecting CBS Sports to hire him an expert on in-game injuries next.
I wouldnt draft him. Some moron on NFL Networl had him going 9th in his mock. Are you serious? And this clown gets paid. I think it was Mayock or Jeremiah
It’s over before it started, think Lattimore from SC. Maybe if you have multiple 4th or 5th round picks you take him and hope for the best.
The only injury this disgusting, that was non bone break injury, I’ve ever seen work out is Willis McGahee and you could still argue he was never the same.
Man, hope this kid can get back to 100%. Shame to have this happen in your final college game.
Also flying under the radar is the news that Jaylon weighed in 10+ lbs lighter at the combine than his listed college weight. Low 220s IIRC. Of course if he hasn’t been able to work out to keep the muscle on that could be directly related but in any event it’s been a tough few days in Indy for his draft stock.
Tim Benz owns Dr Chao.