Todd Gurley, Sony Michel, and degenerative knees
***Last week, Mike Reiss wrote Sony Michel was "likely" being held out of minicamp workouts for "health / medical reasons." A trusted and knowledgeable beat writer like Reiss cannot always bluntly write what he knows. But Reiss wasn't idly speculating about a medical concern. It was no surprise to learn Michel had an arthroscopic knee procedure in the past month.
Michel has now had procedures to address a balky knee in consecutive offseasons. This year's procedure was performed much earlier in the offseason calendar than last year's joint aspiration, which necessitated over a month of rehab and kept Michel from playing in Week 1. I'm not sure an earlier procedure is a clear positive here, however. Michel should be able to recover from what's likely an offseason maintenance procedure before Week 1. However, Michel hasn't stressed his knee joint in football-specific ways since the end of last season and is already requiring maintenance procedures.
We're now on PUP-watch with Michel. It's possible -- and may even be likely -- he'll not pass his entrance physical. If he starts camp on the PUP list, an always murky New England running back projection will grow even more difficult to parse.
***There's been resistance to using the term "arthritis" in discussions about Todd Gurley's knee for months. Semantics are important to teams when discussing injuries. Providing details is considered giving away a competitive edge. But the team's resistance to using the term doesn't change the degenerative condition of Gurley's knee joint.
Gurley's trainer didn't pull any punches this week. Travelle Gaines confirmed the obvious in an interview this week -- Gurley has an arthritic joint. This really isn't news. Players with joint injuries often sustain cartilage damage. Cartilage (and meniscus tissue) doesn't heal well. Scarring and poorly cushioned joint surfaces -- arthritic changes -- are the inevitable result.
Gaines -- and Gurley -- have repeatedly said the running back feels healthy right now. But there are good reasons Gurley has taken some weight off and worked on strength and agility this offseason and the Rams are smartly looking for ways to limit Gurley's workload.
***Many players have wear-and-tear conditions that require management during the season. Adding Gurley to the list doesn't mean his career is over or that he cannot have extended periods of elite play. Maurice Jones-Drew, Frank Gore, and Adrian Peterson had multiple knee injuries and likely degenerative conditions who went on to have many years of success.
While these injuries can be managed and overcome, we still need to see how much maintenance will be necessary and whether Gurley -- and Michel -- can continue to play effectively on limited practice time and limited game touches.
EARLY OFFSEASON NOTES on Todd Gurley, Carson Wentz, Travis kelce and more...
All offensive skill positions are now combined into a single feature and table below. If you missed articles from earlier in the offseason, you missed a close examination of Todd Gurley's knee condition, which is more straightforward than the Rams would have us believe, deep dives on Cam Newton and Carson Wentz, and details on the post-season surgeries and recoveries on Travis Kelce and Jack Doyle.
You can find all those discussions -- updated through early June -- and more here:
Quarterback Update
Running Back Update
Wide Receiver Update
Tight End Update
| Quarterbacks | ||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Andrew Luck | Ind | Calf strain | Offseason 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Cam Newton | Car | Arthroscopic shoulder procedure | Late January 2019 | Limited participation in OTAs | Probable for training camp | Now cleared to throw |
| Carson Wentz | Phi | Lumbar stress fracture | Mid-December 2018 | Participating in OTAs | Ready for training camp | |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | SF | Left ACL reconstruction | Early October 2018 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | Expected in 7v7 during OTAs |
| Marcus Mariota | Ten | Ulnar nerve contusion | Recurrent stinger | Multiple episodes 2018 | Ready for OTAs | Ready for training camp | |
| Andy Dalton | Cin | Right thumb ligament repair | Late November 2018 | Ready for OTAs | Ready for OTAs | |
| Alex Smith | Was | Right tibia/fibula fixation | Post-surgical infection | Late November 2018 | Early December 2018 | Unlikely to play 2019 | Unlikely to return to NFL | |
| Colt McCoy | Was | Right fibula fracture fixation | Follow up procedures | Early December 2018 | March & April 2019 | Ready for training camp | Probable for training camp | |
| Running Backs | ||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Todd Gurley | LAR | Left knee inflammation | Recurrent 2018 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Christian McCaffrey | Car | Shoulder surgery | Early offseason 2019 | Ready for training camp | Ready for training camp | |
| Devonta Freeman | Atl | Core abdominal muscle repair | Mid-October 2018 | Participating in OTAs | Ready for training camp | |
| Ito Smith | Atl | Left knee meniscus repair | Mid-December 2018 | Ready for training camp | Ready for training camp | |
| Sony Michel | NE | Chronic knee condition | June 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Derrius Guice | Was | Left ACL reconstruction | Mid-August 2018 | Ready for training camp | Probable for training camp | Individual work in OTAs? |
| Bryce Love | Was | Right ACL reconstruction | Mid-December 2018 | Questionable for training camp | PUP to start camp | |
| Phillip Lindsay | Den | Right wrist fracture / ligament sprain | Late December 2018 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Aaron Jones | GB | Right MCL sprain | Mid-December 2018 | Expected in OTAs | Ready for OTAs | |
| Kerryon Johnson | Det | Left knee sprain | Mid-November 2018 | Ready for OTAs | Ready for OTAs | |
| Jerick McKinnon | SF | Right ACL reconstruction | Mid-September 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Matt Breida | SF | Pectoral muscle tear | Mid-May 2019 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Raheem Mostert | SF | Right forearm fracture | Early November 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Bilal Powell | NYJ | Cervical microdiscectomy | Late October 2018 | Cleared to return | Ready for training camp | Re-signed by NYJ |
| Frank Gore | Buf | Left foot sprain | Mid-December 2018 | Ready for OTAs | Ready for OTAs | |
| Chris Carson | Sea | Knee procedure | Offseason | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| C.J. Prosise | Sea | Core abdominal muscle repair | Early December 2018 | Ready for OTAs | Ready for OTAs | |
| Miles Sanders | Phi | Hamstring strain | June 2019 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Josh Adams | Phi | Shoulder labrum repair | January 2019 | Questionable for training camp | Questionable for training camp | |
| Corey Clement | Phi | Right knee sprain | Early December 2018 | Questionable for training camp | Ready for training camp | |
| Ryquell Armstead | Jac | Hamstring strain | Early June 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Isaiah Crowell | Oak | Achilles tendon repair | Mid-May 2019 | Injured reserve | Injured reserve | Out for 2019 season |
| Kenneth Dixon | Bal | Undisclosed | June 2019 | Returned to practice | Probable for training camp | |
| Jeremy Hill | NE | Right ACL reconstruction | Early November 2018 | Questionable for training camp | Questionable for training camp | |
| Jay Ajayi | FA | Left ACL reconstruction | Early October 2018 | Questionable for training camp | Questionable for training camp | Free agent |
| Rodney Anderson | Cin | Right ACL reconstruction | Late September 2018 | Ready for training camp | Probable for training camp | |
| Wide Receivers | ||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| DeAndre Hopkins | Hou | Right AC sprain | Early January 2019 | Ready for training camp | Ready for training camp | |
| Will Fuller | Hou | Right ACL reconstruction | Late October 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Questionable for training camp | |
| Julio Jones | Atl | Foot injury | June 2019 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Mike Evans | TB | Hamstring strain | Early June 2019 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| A.J. Green | Cin | Right plantar plate repair | Early December 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| John Ross | Cin | Tightness (unspecified) | Mid-May 2019 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Cooper Kupp | LAR | Left ACL reconstruction | Mid-November 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Doug Baldwin | FA | Core abdominal muscle repair / Arthroscopic knee surgery | April 2019 / February 2019 | Released by Seattle | Expected to retire | |
| T.Y. Hilton | Ind | High ankle sprain | Recurrent 2018 | Participated in OTAs | Ready for training camp | |
| Deon Cain | Ind | ACL reconstruction | Early August 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Questionable for training camp | |
| Jarvis Landry | Cle | Undisclosed | May 2019 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Marvin Jones | Det | Right knee bone contusion | Mid-November 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Kenny Golladay | Det | Chest injury | Late December 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Anthony Miller | Chi | Left shoulder labrum repair | Mid-January 2019 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Emmanuel Sanders | Den | Left Achilles tendon repair | Early December 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Questionable for training camp | |
| Christian Kirk | Ari | Left fifth metatarsal fixation | Early December 2018 | Partial participation in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Marquise Brown | Bal | Left Lisfranc joint reconstruction | Early January 2019 | Did not participate in OTAs | Questionable for training camp | Ravens expect in camp |
| Miles Boykin | Bal | Hamstring strain | May 2019 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Paul Richardson Jr | Was | Right AC joint reconstruction | Early November 2018 | Individual drills in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Demaryius Thomas | NE | Left Achilles repair | Late December 2018 | Cleared to run | Likely PUP to start camp | |
| Marqise Lee | Jac | Left ACL reconstruction / PCL repair | Late August 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Likely PUP to start camp | May return late in camp |
| Albert Wilson | Mia | Right hip injury | Late October 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Jakeem Grant | Mia | Achilles surgery | Late November 2018 | Probable for training camp | Probable for training camp | |
| Deebo Samuel | SF | Hip injury | June 2019 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Cole Beasley | Buf | Core abdominal muscle repair | April 2019 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Breshad Perriman | TB | Shoulder injury | May 2019 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Allen Hurns | Dal | Left ankle dislocation / fibula fracture | Early January 2019 | Did not participate in OTAs | Likely PUP to start camp | |
| Mack Hollins | Phi | Core abdominal muscle repair | Early September 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Questionable for training camp | |
| Nelson Agholor | Phi | Lower body injury | June 2019 | Did not participate in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Cameron Meredith | NO | Arthroscopic knee surgery | Early November 2018 | Did not participate in OTAs | Questionable for training camp | |
| Tight Ends | ||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Travis Kelce | KC | Ankle surgery | Late February 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Jack Doyle | Ind | Hip surgery | Late February 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Questionable for training camp | Labral repair? |
| Eric Ebron | Ind | Core abdominal muscle repair | April 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Evan Engram | NYG | Undisclosed | Early June 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Greg Olsen | Car | Right fifth metatarsal fracture fixation revision | Late December 2018 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | Cleared to return |
| Ian Thomas | Car | Leg injury | June 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Hunter Henry | LAC | Right ACL reconstruction | Late May 2018 | Participating in OTAs | Ready for training camp | |
| Austin Hooper | Atl | Ankle injury | June 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Delanie Walker | Ten | Right ankle dislocation/fibula fracture | Early September 2018 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Jonnu Smith | Ten | Left MCL sprain | Early December 2018 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Trey Burton | Chi | Core abdominal muscle repair | Early January 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Hayden Hurst | Bal | Foot stress fracture / Hamstring strain | August 2018 / Early June 2019 | Limited in OTAs | Ready for training camp | |
| Tyler Kroft | Buf | Right foot fracture fixation revision | Late May 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Likely PUP to start camp | |
| Cameron Brate | TB | Hip labrum repair | Mid-January 2019 | Not participating in OTAs | Questionable for training camp | |
| Tyler Eifert | Cin | Right ankle dislocation/fibula fracture | Late September 2018 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
| Jordan Reed | Was | Right toe sprain | Mid-December 2018 | Skipped voluntary workouts | Probable for training camp | |
| Garrett Celek | SF | Concussion | Late December 2018 | Not participating in OTAs | Questionable for training camp | Yet to be cleared |
| Will Dissly | Sea | Right patellar tendon repair | Early October 2018 | Not participating in OTAs | Likely PUP to start camp | |
| Geoff Swaim | Jac | Left wrist fracture fixation | Mid-November 2018 | Participating in OTAs | Ready for training camp | |
| Jake Butt | Den | Left ACL reconstruction | Late September 2018 | Not participating in OTAs | Questionable for training camp | |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | FA | Core abdominal muscle repair | Early October 2018 | Limited in OTAs | Probable for training camp | |
Check back for more injury analysis throughout training camp and follow on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news, commentary, and analysis of injury news around the NFL
