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Players will report to training camp over the next ten days. Minicamp and OTAs give us a glimpse into the injury status of key players, but camp will provide the first true indication of how close a team feels its injured stars are to being game ready.
In 2012, fantasy owners wondered whether summertime reports of a miraculous recovery for Adrian Peterson were fluff pieces or evidence that he may actually be the NFL’s version of Superman. Last summer, the NFL community was debating whether Rob Gronkowski could somehow be ready for opening weekend after a major infection, three arm surgeries and a back surgery.
There may not be a high profile case of that order this offseason, but there are as many key injuries to track as ever this year. Who’s likely to be ready early in camp? Are there any players likely to be surprise additions to the PUP list as camp begins? What subtle signs will tell us whether we should be reassured about a player’s recovery or nervous that there may be more concern than the team is letting on?
Injury Classifications
Active / PUP: Any player who is not ready to practice in camp due to a football related injury can be placed on the Active/PUP list. This type of PUP designation is available to teams during the preseason only. Once a player participates in a camp practice, he is ineligible for this list. There is no minimum amount of time a player must remain on the Active / PUP list. Many players who start camp on Active/PUP will come off the list and begin practicing quickly. Others will stay on the list through training camp.
Active / NFI: Any player who is not ready to practice in camp due to a non-football related injury – and this includes injuries that occurred before the player was drafted by an NFL team – goes on the NFI list. Like the Active/PUP designation, once a player participates in a camp practice, he is ineligible for this list. There is no minimum amount of time a player must remain on the Active/PUP list and players can be activated from the list at any point during camp. We’ll often see this list used to stash players who show up to camp out of shape.
Before the regular season, players on either list must be either activated, transferred to the Reserve/PUP list (i.e. regular season PUP), placed on the injured reserve with a designation to return or put on injured reserve.
I’ll have a followup feature next week – PUPdates – detailing the expectations of each key player put on the Active/PUP or Active/NFI list by their team at the start of camp.
With those procedural terms out of the way, here are the key players I’m watching most closely as camps begin:
Julio Jones (foot surgery | October 2013)
I've been sent more questions on Jones via email and Twitter this offseason than everyone else I'll feature in this article combined. And with good reason. Stress fractures, broken surgical screws and multiple injuries to the same foot in a player who relies heavily on his speed and change of direction ability rightly generates concern.
However, as I detailed last month, there is good evidence -- from a series of patients with similar injuries treated by the same surgeon -- Jones will completely recover. If he can avoid a conditioning injury early in camp, Jones will have an excellent chance for a healthy and productive season.
Rob Gronkowski (ACL repair | January 2014)
Two weeks ago, a writer for the Patriots' official website posted his opinion that "all signs point toward Gronk being ready to go in Week 1." Many reports had Gronkowski moving well in OTAs and there's been no indication of any setbacks in his rehab and recovery.
While I don't believe we'll see Season 2 of the Gronk PUPwatch reality show this season, expect to see Gronkowski open camp on the PUP list. The Patriots will want to leave all roster options open while observing the last stages of his rehab and conditioning closely. A complete recovery in nine months is possible here, especially for a young and elite athlete like Gronkowski.
Like many other veterans I'll cover in this feature, it will be the first two weeks of practice that are most critical for Gronkowski. If he can get into football shape and survive the first few padded, full-speed practices, his outlook for 2014 should be favorable.
Arian Foster (microdiscectomy | November 2013)
Foster was cleared in March and fully participated in offseason workouts. The medical clearance wasn't a surprise. Five months of recovery and rehab isn't out of the range of expectation. But Foster's participation in offseason workouts is reassuring for two reasons.
Teams hold injured veteran players out of offseason workouts as a matter of routine. There's no reason to risk aggravating an injury that could cost a player critical repetitions closer to the season. The Texans have no established options behind Foster on the current depth chart. Since they were comfortable allowing Foster to practice fully this offseason, it's clear they have no reservations with the status of his back.
More importantly, however, Foster's full participation in May and June means he should be fully conditioned for the start of camp. That's very important for a player who has battled mid and high grade hamstring and calf strains in camp in recent seasons. If Foster is allowed to practice on consecutive days and can avoid a soft tissue injury in the first two weeks of camp, it will be a very positive sign for his 2014 season.
Cam Newton (ankle surgery | March 2014)
I wrote about Newton’s procedure in March, noting that the team’s stated expectations for a full recovery in four months were reasonable. Newton did some throwing on the side during June workouts and was cleared to work out in July, in line with his rehab expectation. There’s a chance Newton will start camp on the PUP list – he posted that he wasn’t “quite at 100%” on his Instagram account in early July – but there’s been no indication that he’ll miss significant camp time.
Robert Griffin III III (ACL / LCL repair | January 2013)
I don’t think there’s ever been a consensus on Griffin’s recovery process. Reports shortly after his surgery had him smashing rehab expectations – but included notes of caution. Minicamp reports last spring had him impressing observers – but included reports of post-practice swelling and debates over whether Washington should limit their playbook to protect his knee. Training camp reports seemed reassuring, with Griffin saying he was “pretty certain” he would have no mental hurdles to overcome in game action. Most felt his 2013 season was a disappointment, questioning his movement and decision-making in the pocket.
This offseason, practice reports are again positive. Recently, Griffin’s college coach said he believed Griffin rushed back too quickly while Washington’s new offensive coordinator blamed a restrictive brace for his 2013 struggles.
Can we trust that this summer’s glowing practice reports are more trustworthy than last year’s? Probably – he’s had another year of recovery after a major injury. But don’t underestimate the severity of his 2013 injury. He blew out an already reconstructed ACL, shredded his LCL enough that it needed to be repaired and also damaged his meniscus. Regardless of how impressive his rehab was in the first weeks after surgery, an ACL graft rupture and high grade LCL injury is a tough combination to overcome.
I’m not saying I think Griffin cannot regain the form he showed as a rookie in 2012. But I’d like to see him moving fluidly and confidently in and out of the pocket this preseason before I’ll confidently write that his injuries have become a non-issue.
David Wilson (cervical fusion | January 2014)
Wilson wasn't cleared for contact in early June, but multiple local and national media reports expect him to be cleared after his MRI early next week. Wilson said his bone graft hadn't yet fully fused as of early June. Though he clearly was hoping that his graft was ready last month, it's not unusual for the process to take 4-5 months.
If Wilson isn't cleared after his next MRI, it raises questions about the success of the fusion or whether there may be continued concern over any residual spinal stenosis. If Wilson is cleared as expected, his conditioning should be good enough to begin taking camp reps in pads immediately.
I'll have more on Wilson next week after a decision is made on his status.
Tony Romo (microdiscectomy | December 2013)
Every report on Romo’s progress this offseason has been positive. Jerry Jones told reporters Romo was ahead of schedule in his recovery in March and the Cowboys’ quarterback was able to run, lift and then throw on schedule this spring. He’s expected to be fully cleared to participate in camp next week. Though his smooth recovery is reassuring, Romo’s long term outlook is fragile. He’s had two spinal surgeries in the past 15 months. It’s believed that those surgeries were not related and addressed problems at two different spinal levels. That puts the 34-year old Romo at high risk of further degenerative changes, either at his previous surgical sites or nearby. The Cowboys will undoubtedly manage his practice reps closely throughout camp.
Shane Vereen (wrist injury | September 2013)
In May, eight months after his surgery, Vereen told reporters that his wrist was still not 100%. There are two ways to read his comment. Neither are very reassuring.
In the days after his injury, there were reports that Vereen had dislocated and/or broken his wrist. No specific details were shared but what was shared was suggestive of an injury to Vereen's scaphoid bone. That area of the wrist is notorious for poor healing, especially when associated with a dislocation in the area.
So, it's possible that Vereen's injury has yet to fully heal. That would put him at very high risk of another injury in the same area. Vereen played in the final eight games of 2013 and participated in offseason workouts, however, which leaves room for hope that poor healing isn't the reason Vereen is not yet 100%.
Even if the fracture/dislocation has adequately healed, it's likely that Vereen will have to deal with some loss of strength and range of motion in that area. I think that's probably what Vereen was trying to tell reporters. Those deficits may not be significant but they could affect how well Vereen can catch and carry the ball this year.
Vereen didn't appear too bothered after his return last year, but his acknowledgement that he's not fully healthy is notable. I'll be watching to see what type of splinting, if any, he's using in camp and whether he's fighting to catch or hold onto the ball early in camp.
One Good Question
NaVorro Bowman: Does Bowman have any shot of making the active 53 or will the Niners admit he's a near lock for the Reserve/PUP list at preseason's end?
Geno Atkins: Is the radio silence from Cincinnati a sign that Atkins won't be ready for the start of 2014?
Jordan Reed: Is it only a matter of time before Reed's next concussion and prolonged recovery?
Jermichael Finley: Will the conservative Green Bay medical staff medically clear him and leave the decision in the hands of the Packers' front office or will Finley have to convince another team he's healthy enough to risk signing?
Tre Mason: If his wrist injury is a scaphoid fracture that hasn't fully healed, can he make it through camp without a re-injury or deciding to have surgery after all?
Chris Johnson: Has he recovered sufficiently from meniscus surgery to practice on consecutive days without swelling?
Dwayne Allen: Will he be in condition and close to the form he showed before last season's hip injury or was the extended recovery a sign he has a degenerative condition that will hamper him throughout his career?
Travis Kelce: Has Kelce finally recovered enough from last season's microfracture knee surgery to get on the practice field or will he start in PUP-limbo?
Marcus Lattimore: Are the Niners just keeping options open by placing him on the NFI list to start camp or is he on the verge of spending another season on injured reserve?
Follow on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news, commentary and analysis of this injury and others around the NFL.