Packers fans remember watching Jordy Nelson’s ACL injury happen on live TV. Those who watched could tell right away – this was bad. That sickening feeling when a player goes down with something that’s obviously bad, right from the get go.
Next came the news that the worst fears were confirmed. Nelson suffered a serious ACL injury. Most assumed that would take time to heal and be out for the season. What is known about this type of injury? Is there anything new, and what should be expected next? Is this going to be the same Jordy Nelson seen before the injury, a better one, or a worse one?
Jordy Nelson’s ACL: What to Expect in 2017
When archaeologists excavate a human skeleton, they find the kneecap resting loosely on top of the knee joint. It literally just sits on the joint, and isn’t attached to anything – the archaeologist can just pluck it up. That’s because the kneecap, i.e. the patella, isn’t hinged, or attached, with bones to the other bones. Instead, the small triangular cap stays in place by way of tendons – one from the tibia and one from the quadriceps. The purpose for the patella is, of course, to protect the knee joint.
The actual joint is the meeting point between the long bones in the leg. These are stabilized and held in place by the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), which crisscrosses with the posterior cruciate ligament. These two short ligaments connect the lower leg to the upper leg, in a manner of speaking. They also prevent the bones and cartilage from grinding.
The NFL ACL Injury Epidemic
Injuring an ACL is fairly easy, even for non-athletes. With joints now having to support an ever heavier population, they are not able to adjust fast enough. Oftentimes, all it takes for an obese person to sustain an ACL injury is to step off a curb “funny”. While NFL players are not necessarily obese, they are frequently heavy with muscle. The average quarterback now weighs more than most 1960s linemen. The average NFL offensive lineman weighs just over 300 pounds. That’s a lot of weight for a miniscule ligament to manage. Sure enough, as players’ weights have increased, so have injuries to their ACLs. The league is now at a point where some are calling ACL injuries an epidemic within the NFL. As a result, there is also more research. Some of it has shown that ACL injuries are some of the most career damaging injuries out there.
ACL Injuries a Game-Changer for Most
A significant number of players never return to the field after an ACL tear. Research shows that while “most” players do return to play, they only regain 80% of their prior performance levels. The post-surgery recovery time is also relatively long, an average of 378 days.
Additionally, players who had undergone ACL surgeries have shorter careers relative to players who had suffered other orthopedic injuries. Oftentimes the injury is a players’ second or third ACL injury, i.e. re-tears or one to the opposite knee.
Ex-Packer Aaron Kampman is a textbook case: Kampman tore his left ACL in 2009 while with the Packers. He had surgery in Green Bay in December of 2009. His knee was ready for a return to football with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2010, but then Kampman tore his right ACL. He never fully recovered from that injury and retired in 2013.
Recovering – With the Team
Jordy Nelson, you may recall, tore his right ACL in a pre-season game and missed the Packers’ entire 2015 season. He was coming off his best NFL season when he jumped to catch a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He landed awkwardly and spun, tearing his ACL in the process. A true team effort ensured that Nelson was able to come back for the 2016 season despite the severity of the injury; Nelson to do the physical work, team physician Dr. Patrick McKenzie to perform the surgery to repair the ligament, and athletic trainers Bryan Engel and Nate Weir to create a rehab regimen and take Nelson through the exercises and drills. And let’s not underestimate the importance of an engaged and invested family in rehabilitation. Nelson’s wife and the couple’s two children made sure dad wasn’t bored. For the body to heal, the mind had to stay positive.
Jordy Nelson 2.0: Coming Back Stronger
So what about Jordy Nelson – what should be expected? Midway through last season, it was pointed out that Nelson had lost some of that dangerous pre-injury speed. Can he ever get it back, and how important of a factor is that? Well this is where it becomes interesting! Nelson came back last season to put up numbers close to his career best season in 2014. He somehow seemed to be playing “smarter.” That may be a result of having to sit back and dissect the game from afar while he was sidelined. The Aaron Rodgers – Jordy Nelson combination is difficult for opposing teams to beat, and Nelson still has size in his favor.
Combining those factors with recent post-ACL injury stats, there is reason for optimism; the latest research suggests that many athletes come back stronger two years after ACL surgery. This season may prove to be a turning point for Nelson – for better or for worse.
