Draft prospects flooded Indianapolis in February for the scouting combine and many of them will be back in Indy this weekend when the league holds their annual round of medical re-checks ahead of the first round of the draft.
For some players, the medical re-check can make a huge difference in where they’re drafted because serious injuries sustained during the collegiate season can be better evaluated after more time to heal. Georgia running back Todd Gurley falls squarely into that camp.
Gurley tore his ACL last November and chose not to have it examined in February because of concerns that a thorough examination of the knee at that point might cause problems in Gurley’s recovery. Dr. James Andrews, who performed Gurley’s knee surgery, said at the time that Gurley was ahead of schedule in his recovery and teams will find out just where things stand after this weekend’s examination.
If the news is good, Gurley’s already strong chances of being the first running back off the board should improve because teams will obviously have more confidence that he’ll hit the ground running during his rookie season. A less positive report could leave teams wondering if Gurley will have to start the year on the PUP list and could lead them to consider safer options despite the high ceiling Gurley’s college exploits put on his pro potential.