Albert Breer on Jaylon Smith

[KingintheNorth]

Can he be effective playing with the brace? This sounds harsh, but it’s unlikely.

The brace is designed to allow the most basic of things—your foot to clear the ground when you take a step forward. It’s designed to stabilize but it doesn’t recreate the energy you normally generate when you push off your foot. And that’s why Dr. Thomas Gill, the former Patriots team doc who saw ex-New England RB Robert Edwards go through this scenario almost two decades ago, is skeptical on Smith.

Fan Boys won't like this one bit.

 

[Teague31]

Expecting nothing from him. Another wasted second round pick.

 

[Doc50]

One of the clearest explanations I have seen on JSmith. I'm still very curious of how he performs in the off-season.

This is not at all pertinent.

This article is written as though the author has no knowledge of the specific injury and progress of JS.

He needs minimal assist in raising (dorsiflexing) the foot, and has tremendous strength in the push-off (plantar flexion) movement.

And he'll continue to improve to the point that he'll probably not need the AFO.

There is no ankle or knee instability, and he will be at no increased risk of injury.

Can we all just relax on this and quit overreacting?

 

[Doc50]

Expecting nothing from him. Another wasted second round pick.

Wrong.

 

[speedkilz88]

Fan Boys won't like this one bit.

If Robert Edwards didn't have nerve damage do you still think he comes back from that injury 100%? That was one of the worst knee injuries possible.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

This is not at all pertinent.

This article is written as though the author has no knowledge of the specific injury and progress of JS.

He needs minimal assist in raising (dorsiflexing) the foot, and has tremendous strength in the push-off (plantar flexion) movement.

And he'll continue to improve to the point that he'll probably not need the AFO.

There is no ankle or knee instability, and he will be at no increased risk of injury.

Can we all just relax on this and quit overreacting?

This. He will play and he will be better than any LB currently on the roster except Sean Lee.

 

[Cowboys22]

This is the first time an article specifically states that the nerve has begun to refire and that he is beginning to get some control of his foot. If that is true, it is huge news and nothing but positive. It means the nerve regenerated correctly reaching the proper spot in order to control the muscles needed. Now it is a matter of time to see how close to 100% he can get to. I would not let him play with the brace as long as he is continuing to improve. This article states what I have been saying. The other parts of his leg will be in serious jeopardy for a major injury simply because his foot will not have the proper range of motion necessary to absorb the many hits, twists, and turns that a NFL LBs body takes. If someone falls on him in a pile, that leg could snap or his knee could shred simply because his foot didn't move in a normal fashion. I would only let him play with the brace when his rehab hits a wall and it is nearly certain his leg will not improve anymore and that it's play with the brace or retire. Until it's put to that decision, he needs to keep working hard and let it get as close to 100% as possible. If that means he sits another year, so be it. I thinks that's what's best for him and the team. You already gambled with the pick so let the bet lay until it pays off. There is no need to double down and gamble even more when the original bet still has a chance to pay off in a big way.

 

[KingintheNorth]

If Robert Edwards didn't have nerve damage do you still think he comes back from that injury 100%? That was one of the worst knee injuries possible.

and where it happened made it even worse... playing flag football in a NFL Pro Bowl event.

 

[Zordon]

How do you figure? We've heard nothing from smiths doctors and for good reason Hippa. So everyone is basing things off of opinions of others past experience. Nobody but Smiths Doctors and the team have smiths medical records.

Z I see nothing that would lead anyone to come to the conclusion that the one of the best sports medicine doctors misdiagnosed Smith or was pressured to do so. Not sure what was said in that article that hasn't been said before? If anything we now see the type of AFO he's been wearing and have confirmation the nerve is firing (but isn't up to speed with his body/mind). Nothing in that article should change anyone's mind one way or another IMO

Because we're at a point now where anything he gives us in 2017 is a "bonus". That's what Breer says in this article. I guarantee you we didn't draft him in the high 2nd round to be a "bonus" player 1-2 years later. The risk was taken based off of inside information and the hope that he'd be a pro bowl type player after sitting out a year. If all of these new ominous reports are true about his real condition then something went wrong during the eval process. This shouldn't be happening when you have the doctor who preformed the surgery on your staff...it's embarrassing!

 

[waldoputty]

I think if the nerve is actually firing he will attain a full recovery. The biggest risk was that the nerve would never fire or innervate the muscle. Since the pathway has been established it should continue to get stronger.

there is different levels of 'firing'

 

[waldoputty]

My daughter is a orthotic & prosthetic technology specialist. I just talked to her about this specific case and she confirmed to me that the materials they use now days are far superior in recreating realistic movement of human appendages. She is very familiar with the brace that athletes use to overcome "drop foot" and suggested to me that Jaylon should have no problem adapting to the device and resume being all he can be.

could you please show your daughter the video of jaylon jumping up and down and running around?
ask her whether she thinks he is wearing a brace of any sort?
thanks

 

[Verdict]

there is different levels of 'firing'

True. But it isn't likely to get worse. Lol. It is likely to get better over time.

 

[waldoputty]

True. But it isn't likely to get worse. Lol. It is likely to get better over time.

no it will not get worse unless he god forbid gets a neuroma (nothing to do with surgery etc).

 

[CowboyStar88]

Because we're at a point now where anything he gives us in 2017 is a "bonus". That's what Breer says in this article. I guarantee you we didn't draft him in the high 2nd round to be a "bonus" player 1-2 years later. The risk was taken based off of inside information and the hope that he'd be a pro bowl type player after sitting out a year. If all of these new ominous reports are true about his real condition then something went wrong during the eval process. This shouldn't be happening when you have the doctor who preformed the surgery on your staff...it's embarrassing!

So because Breer says "bonus" and nobody inside the organization has said that word it must be the truth? Come on Z that's not how this works. The risk wasn't based off inside information. Every team received the same medical report, if they didn't that would lead to some serious allegations and not many doctors would put their careers in jeopardy over 1 player. They felt confident because his doctor is the team doctor.

What's embarrassing? He's 15 months out been training like a mad man and has his nerves firing? What's embarrassing about that? Isn't that what we want?

 

[Cowboys22]

there is different levels of 'firing'

Yes but we are the very beginning of it being reported that the nerve has started to fire and it's states he has begun to get foot activation. That means the nerve regenerated correctly and it's just a matter of time to see how close to 100% he gets. I doubt he gets to 100% before the season starts but just getting to the point where no brace is needed would be huge. It's sounds like that point may be coming which is nothing but good news.

 

[Direwolf63]

My daughter is a orthotic & prosthetic technology specialist. I just talked to her about this specific case and she confirmed to me that the materials they use now days are far superior in recreating realistic movement of human appendages. She is very familiar with the brace that athletes use to overcome "drop foot" and suggested to me that Jaylon should have no problem adapting to the device and resume being all he can be.

That's what I figured, but it's nice to get that confirmed from somebody who knows what they are talking about .

 

[Direwolf63]

could you please show your daughter the video of jaylon jumping up and down and running around?
ask her whether she thinks he is wearing a brace of any sort?
thanks

I'm pretty sure he is wearing the brace. His ankles are heavily taped.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Saints' kicker Dempsey kicked a 62 yard FG with a foot missing some toes. JPP is still tackling and sacking missing a few fingers. This too, will come down to Jaylon Smith's heart and how bad he wants to play. We will find out soon.

 

[speedkilz88]

I'm pretty sure he is wearing the brace. His ankles are heavily taped.

It would have to be a different brace with less resistance than the one he had in the spring/summer.

 

[JoeKing]

could you please show your daughter the video of jaylon jumping up and down and running around?
ask her whether she thinks he is wearing a brace of any sort?
thanks

I already did that and she said the brace is not visible to her but these devices are designed to be easily concealable. She said if he still has "drop foot" then he must still be wearing the device to be moving like what is demonstrated in the video.