Albert Breer on Jaylon Smith

[AzorAhai]

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?

When you say he'll continue to improve, are you basing that on the fact that his nerve is indeed firing? If so does that mean that since it's firing he should continue to gain more and more function or is there a point where it is firing, but won't recover any further? A point less than 100% functionality.

 

[LittleD]

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!

Think what you said... No Doctor, not even the best orthopedic surgeon in the world, can know ahead of time how well a repaired nerve will
respond and how long it might take. Modern medicine has progressed far but, there are still unknowable certainties. The human body
doesn't respond the same way for every person and Doctors can only make their best statistical guesses for prognosis. There is risk with every
injury and every recovery. That's just the nature and frailty of the human body who tries to play a game that exacts a great price for the effort.

 

[waldoputty]

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.

very interesting.

how would she rate his movement ?
back to normal? 90% etc?

what did she say about his foot apparently lifting itself back up?
can a new space age brace do that or is that a sign of recovery?

could you post a picture of what one of these space age braces look like?

if money was no object, can they do an even better brace?

 

[LatinMind]

This is very discouraging. Those that remember Robert Smith remember the guy was awsome. Then this injury took away everything. Guy wasnt even half of what he had been. Damn Cleveland for taking Ogbah and the titans taking Dodd. If either of them are not drafted Smith is not a Cowboy. If Foster or Cunningham are there, i wouldnt 2nd guess taking either.

 

[jazzcat22]

does anyone know the difference between the braces of 20 years ago and now?

Even though my foot drop, in both feet, were causes by extremely different circumstances. It was still a foot drop regardless.
Yes these braces are 1,000 times if not 10,000 times better than the archaic devices I had, early to mid 70's. And though not on a competitive organized level, i still played all types of sports and was still good at it. Yes, I lost my speed, but then again, it was in both legs and feet, not just foot drop.
I bet I could have played in an organized level of some kind, other than our College softball team. I just didn't try otherwise, as i was told I would not be allowed to participate. Now days, we go to court over such things.

I have no doubt from the videos I seen lately, and even in this photo, Jaylon Smith will play at a high competitive level.
I was able to push off, run, jump, do everything I did before, except as I said, just was not as fast. And I had major surgeries on multiple ligaments and tendons, including both Achilles. My rehab was grueling and long, and basically had to learn to walk again. Started out walking in a pool so the water would keep the weight off as I pushed off.

So yes, I feel he will play very well. Even if in a rotation, or situational type plan to start out.

 

[jazzcat22]

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?

Thank you!

 

[waldoputty]

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.

there is so much misspeak and rehash upon rehash upon rehash of people who are not doctors talking about terms they dont understand.

 

[CowboyRoy]

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/03/06/myles-garrett-combine-cleveland-browns-nfl-draft

Jaylon Smith’s Drop Foot

Photo: Max Faulkner/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images
Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith is still recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered in his final collegiate game at Notre Dame.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Dallas reporters on Saturday that 2016 second-round pick Jaylon Smith would be able to play in the fall with the help of an AFO (ankle/foot orthoses) brace.

Now, the whole truth, as I understand it: The team very much views any and everything it gets from Smith in 2017 as a bonus. In last year’s draft, nerve damage and a resulting case of drop foot knocked Smith, previously a potential top-5 pick, out of the first-round altogether. The nerve has started firing again, and he’s gained foot activation, but he’s nowhere close to full strength and may never get there.

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.

“A hinged AFO will allow you to have your foot flex up, but not have it slap down,” Gill said over the weekend. “So basically you wear a brace so when you’re running or walking, your foot can have clearance when you swing your leg forward. But it’s not built for speed.

“Robert Edwards, he played with it for a while but lasted less than a season doing that. And he was a running back. You have to be a freakish athlete where you can afford to lose 20 or 25 percent of your speed, at least, and 45 percent of your power, and still be able to compete in the NFL.”

And playing with the ailment isn’t without risk, either.

“The risk is that you’re going to be more prone to injury. Your foot’s going to get caught in an awkward position,” Gill continued. “So if you’re in a pile-up, you know the classic high ankle sprain mechanism where the guy falls on the back of your leg? That leg’s going to be a lot more prone to getting caught in an awkward position, because he can’t point his toe.”

Now there’s a chance the nerve improves over time and Smith gets back to full speed down the line. But Dallas isn’t counting on anything like that in the short term.

When will Jerry learn. If he had taken someone that could rush the passer with the 2nd pick last year, maybe we make the SB.

 

[JoeKing]

very interesting.

how would she rate his movement ?
back to normal? 90% etc?

what did she say about his foot apparently lifting itself back up?
can a new space age brace do that or is that a sign of recovery?

could you post a picture of what one of these space age braces look like?

if money was no object, can they do an even better brace?

Wow, I thought I was pretty thorough in asking her every question that anyone could want the answer to that she may have about this subject but you my friend have proven me wrong. When I talk to her again, I'll try to get you your answers. She is a Cowboys fan and is very interested in Jaylon's progress so I don't think she'll mind if I keep bugging her about this.

 

[Cowboys22]

there is so much misspeak and rehash upon rehash upon rehash of people who are not doctors talking about terms they dont understand.

He used very specific terms that we have all been waiting for. Refire and foot activation. Do you think he just made that up and doesn't know what they mean? Using those specific terms makes me think they were told to him by someone within the team or Jaylons inner circle.

 

[DogFace]

If it is firing he'll make a near full comeback. He is the rare athlete that could overcome the drop foot of it isn't firing. He'll either be great or good.

 

[waldoputty]

He used very specific terms that we have all been waiting for. Refire and foot activation. Do you think he just made that up and doesn't know what they mean? Using those specific terms makes me think they were told to him by someone within the team or Jaylons inner circle.

only jaylon and his doctors know where he is at.
i would not put much into what the FO or these press people say, whether positive or negative.
people are just rehashing terms like firing which frankly is not very descriptive nor quantitative.
there are different degrees to which a muscle can work or not work.
i see no description of such data.
there is a good reason for that - the doctor is not allowed to release such info - doctor/patient confidentiality.

 

[Doc50]

When you say he'll continue to improve, are you basing that on the fact that his nerve is indeed firing? If so does that mean that since it's firing he should continue to gain more and more function or is there a point where it is firing, but won't recover any further? A point less than 100% functionality.

These questions and items of opinion and debate have all been posted before; I realize you could spend all day reading up on those, but you can scan my previous posts on the subject and get additional detailed input.

There are several types of nerve injury that can be sustained. Despite the fact that JS's was evaluated and given good prognosis by his expert surgeon, there has continued to be speculation that the nerve was so severely damaged that distal nerve impulses would never return, hence the "firing" question. Well, that question has been answered -- there is sensation and movement in the distal peroneal innervation of the foot, so everyone can stop talking about not "firing".

Now it's just a matter of nerve the healing, slowly, over a period of possibly another year or 2. No one can say whether the healing will eventually be complete, but remember this is a relatively minor function of the foot.

If he has 50% peroneal function, then I'd estimate the function of the leg and foot with assist to be close to 93%, given his fluidity of movement I've seen without any asymmetry, limp, or cadence issues. If he gets to 75% or better on peroneal recovery, then leg function would be approx 95-96%.
I see no reason given his progress thus far to expect at least that, and he may well get to 90% nerve recovery, which would put his leg performance near 99%.

I think we will be pleased with what we see, and should probably worry about other things.

Consider this his rookie year, and I'd speculate that he'll have one of the best rookie Cowboy LB years ever.

 

[waldoputty]

These questions and items of opinion and debate have all been posted before; I realize you could spend all day reading up on those, but you can scan my previous posts on the subject and get additional detailed input.

There are several types of nerve injury that can be sustained. Despite the fact that JS's was evaluated and given good prognosis by his expert surgeon, there has continued to be speculation that the nerve was so severely damaged that distal nerve impulses would never return, hence the "firing" question. Well, that question has been answered -- there is sensation and movement in the distal peroneal innervation of the foot, so everyone can stop talking about not "firing".

Now it's just a matter of nerve the healing, slowly, over a period of possibly another year or 2. No one can say whether the healing will eventually be complete, but remember this is a relatively minor function of the foot.

If he has 50% peroneal function, then I'd estimate the function of the leg and foot with assist to be close to 93%, given his fluidity of movement I've seen without any asymmetry, limp, or cadence issues. If he gets to 75% or better on peroneal recovery, then leg function would be approx 95-96%.
I see no reason given his progress thus far to expect at least that, and he may well get to 90% nerve recovery, which would put his leg performance near 99%.

I think we will be pleased with what we see, and should probably worry about other things.

Consider this his rookie year, and I'd speculate that he'll have one of the best rookie Cowboy LB years ever.

@Doc50
what you said about peroneal function vs. leg function is very interesting.
i recall the nerve regeneration researchers saying a similar kind of thing.
they said you do not need full nerve regeneration to get full functional recovery.
where did you get the 50%-->93% from?
when you say 50% recovery, i presume that is some type of nerve conduction measurement?

thanks!

 

[JoeKing]

The damaged nerves that cause the "drop foot" can be firing at such a diminished level that it is not detectable even by Jaylon unless he is wearing his space age brace. Even after talking to my previously mentioned insider in the technology I get the impression that the only ones that truly have the full range of info on Jaylon and his progress is his doctors and Jaylon. He seems to be improving from week to week so we should all be excited for his return to the field during OTAs and training camp.

 

[OldCoach]

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.

I hope this is true. Seems to be a good hard working young man. He deserves a chance.

 

[DFWJC]

It was an unnecessary gamble with the 36th pick in the entire draft...or very nearly a 1st pick.
I feel terrible for Jaylon, but I'm still a bit perturbed with us for taking him that early.

25% of his rookie deal is already gone with no return, and it looks like on the optimistic side--if all goes right--that we may someday get a player that can be on the field and contribute some

 

[Cowboys22]

only jaylon and his doctors know where he is at.
i would not put much into what the FO or these press people say, whether positive or negative.
people are just rehashing terms like firing which frankly is not very descriptive nor quantitative.
there are different degrees to which a muscle can work or not work.
i see no description of such data.
there is a good reason for that - the doctor is not allowed to release such info - doctor/patient confidentiality.

You don't think Jerry and everyone else knows everything Jaylon knows? Get real. Every bit of improvement is instantly conveyed to the front office people, trainers, coaches, etc. to think otherwise is ridiculous. Yeah, Jaylon is keeping everything a big secret. You can stay negative if you want but I was waiting for very specific keywords to be reported. Refiring and foot activation were the two at the very top of the list and they now have been reported in association with his recovery. It has to be assumed that someone with the team or Jaylon passed those terms to him. That means he is on the right path and should continue improving. No one knows how far his improvement will go but if this report is accurate, it is finally time to be optimistic.

 

[Verdict]

You don't think Jerry and everyone else knows everything Jaylon knows? Get real. Every bit of improvement is instantly conveyed to the front office people, trainers, coaches, etc. to think otherwise is ridiculous. Yeah, Jaylon is keeping everything a big secret. You can stay negative if you want but I was waiting for very specific keywords to be reported. Refiring and foot activation were the two at the very top of the list and they now have been reported in association with his recovery. It has to be assumed that someone with the team or Jaylon passed those terms to him. That means he is on the right path and should continue improving. No one knows how far his improvement will go but if this report is accurate, it is time to be optimistic.

I don't know how anyone could watch his last video and not be totally optimistic about his recovery.

 

[waldoputty]

You don't think Jerry and everyone else knows everything Jaylon knows? Get real. Every bit of improvement is instantly conveyed to the front office people, trainers, coaches, etc. to think otherwise is ridiculous. Yeah, Jaylon is keeping everything a big secret. You can stay negative if you want but I was waiting for very specific keywords to be reported. Refiring and foot activation were the two at the very top of the list and they now have been reported in association with his recovery. It has to be assumed that someone with the team or Jaylon passed those terms to him. That means he is on the right path and should continue improving. No one knows how far his improvement will go but if this report is accurate, it is time to be optimistic.

ok, i can accept jaylon passing the info to the FO.
but then why all the positive and negative stories when it should be a simple story
beyond writers needing something to write.