Video: Doctor details Cowboys LB Damone Clark's spinal fusion & return timetable

[aikemirv]

I did 30 years of Neuro Trauma nursing. Y'all best keep your fingers crossed. This could heal well enough that we could cover his rookie contract and get good service out of him.

I didn't watch the whole bit by the sports doc (only half) but I'll add my thoughts. Each level of the spine has multiple joints allowing flex in your trunk (chest and abdomen areas). There are 26 vertebrae with discs between the individual vertebrae that act as shock absorbers. With Clark one of these burst so the surgeon went in and got the spacing correct then built a bridge (fusion) across the disc from good/stable vertebrae to good/stable vertebrae. Healing time is the time for the bridge to be overgrown by new bone. This bridge can be made out of the patient's own bone (generally the iliac crest) or cadaver bone. Once the bone overgrows the fusion it makes all the joints around the this fusion less flexible to totally immobile.

End result is part of the spinal column loses flex. This will inevitably put new and different stressors above and below the repair job, Something has to pick up the new dynamic forces because instead of flexible joint faces you now have a chunk of immovable bone. In spinal repair surgery we often see these new injuries local to the old injury. In the average joe this may not show up for years. In a finely tuned collision athlete, who knows, start having high speed impacts and see. Backs are fickle.

Given any other profession it sounds like this guy should never have surgery on this. The only thing that bothered him about it as occasional stingers that he probably never gets if he does not play. I understand the decision and I would probably make the same one in his shoes but from what I read from one poster here, the fusion surgery was a regret.

I hope it works out for him well. Maybe he gets a few good years of earnings in for the risk!

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm going to go on a bit of a limb and say Clark will be practicing in October. I don't know that he will make it onto the game day roster but it's 2 months post op and he doesn't appear to have significant neuropathy.

Cervical fusions are entered from the throat. That sounds scary but when they go through the lower back they have to move and work around large nerve bundles to put in the plates and screws. You inflame nerve bundles via crush cut or stretch and you go for a ride on the hella pain train.

I've seen guys 2 months post fusion that are basically bed/couch ridden from neuropathy. Seems like in Clark's case they got it before the nerve damage got bad and the surgery itself didn't create any that is apparent. Any complications like an infection or poor fusion haven't manifested. The bone in your back has the same 4-6 week timeframe as any other bone.

Nerves are obviously more problematic and inscrutable. I'm still bullish on his ability to play this year.

You are correct and I have a 1.5 inch scare to prove it. Going through soft tissue from throat area made recovery quicker. Granted I don't play contact sports any longer but I was back to a fully normal and active life within 3 months. I expect Clark recovery will not be an issue but I would more than likely think not be this season.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

LOL, so true.

But in fairness, a 5th round flier on this kid seems like a solid risk. I'd rather take a shot on this guy than some 6-6, 145 lb CB they found playing football in Punta Cana.

What bothers you guys about discussing the medical side of things?

 

[TNCowboy]

Brought to you by the same Drs who couldn't figure out Jaylon Smith was a cripple.

 

[Doomsday101]

Brought to you by the same Drs who couldn't figure out Jaylon Smith was a cripple.

Thankfully this injury situation is no were near what Jaylon Smith was contending with. Heck Clark was not feeling any ill effects and did not know he had it until the medical exam at the combines. The procedure is fairly simple and recovery should not be an issue.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Brought to you by the same Drs who couldn't figure out Jaylon Smith was a cripple.

It really that simple to you?

He did make the probowl that one year. Yeah he was an alternate but he was at least better than average for that year. Of course I wasn't coming onto injury threads and complaining about anti-intellectuals who poo pooed everything.

 

[JoeKing]

Jaylon did play pretty well for a season or so, so I'm not sure how much his recovery had to do with his play. His problem seemed to be more with trying to go around blocks instead of taking them on and ending up in the wrong spot. I think the injury clearly robbed him of some mobility, but I don't think it is what messed up his career.

I'm not saying Damone Clark's pro career will emulate that of Jaylon Smith so stop getting defensive about it. I'm only saying the drafting of both players was clouded by uncertainty but also optimistic speculation.

 

[Hardline]

Why can't we STOP drafting players with major injury concerns!!!!!

Because the GM has no fear of losing his job.

 

[Point-of-the-Star]

Given any other profession it sounds like this guy should never have surgery on this. The only thing that bothered him about it as occasional stingers that he probably never gets if he does not play. I understand the decision and I would probably make the same one in his shoes but from what I read from one poster here, the fusion surgery was a regret.

I hope it works out for him well. Maybe he gets a few good years of earnings in for the risk!

Surgery is for relief of pain or weakness caused by nerve impingement. If weakness is prolonged in an extremity the result is muscle atrophy. If it happens in the body's trunk area it can cause incontinence of bowel or bladder. And most of us understand sciatic pain.

But in this case it sounds like he was asymptomatic. I didn't read about the stingers. Usually those are cervical (neck) in nature.

Just hope this is a problem that never bothers the young man again.

 

[Sydla]

What bothers you guys about discussing the medical side of things?

Nothing bothers me about discussing the medical side of things. But there is zero question some will ignore the realities of what this kid is goin through and act like they know what's going on with this kid based on what they have pilfered off of Google and WebMD and other sites. We saw that with Jaylon Smith where a bunch of people turned into internet doctors overnight.

I think it was a smart risk to take this kid where they did. But I also know his surgery is a fairly serious surgery and that there exists the possibility that this kid may never play at a high level again. If we have actual doctors and experts giving us information in this thread, that's great. But what visionary and I are laughing at are the people who will deep dive into Google searches and the Mayo Clinic website and now feel like they are competent enough to opine on the medical history of this kid and his future success or failure of this kid based on their internet research.

 

[LucaBrasi]

Why can't we STOP drafting players with major injury concerns!!!!!

Because when these decisions don’t pan out, there are no consequences for those making the decisions. Nobody loses a job, well, maybe the player or the head coach, but certainly not the teflon front office

 

[starfrombirth]

Why can't we STOP drafting players with major injury concerns!!!!!

It was a 5th rd pick. We lose nothing!

 

[Zekeats]

I hear you, but using a late 5th round pick to gamble on LB Damone Clark was a good gamble
..in my opinion.

Using a costly 1st, 2nd or 3rd on an injured player is what hurts us.

Very true but coulda packaged our 3rd rounder with this pick to move up to get Dean.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

medical experts: Jerry, he has spinal issues.
Jerry: But if he pans out, I will be a football genius!

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

"You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done"

Cheers!!!

The Gambler, one of the worst songs of all time. That and the "Girls on Me Mind" by Benny Hill.

 

[fredp22]

reading reviews on him they are poor at best. I really dont expect much
heres an average review-

Overall
Damone Clark has a trait combo that is very enticing – size/IQ. He has true NFL size, and he diagnosis plays at a true NFL level. It’s not absolutely necessary for Linebackers to have elite athleticism, like Luke Kuechly, for example. He wasn’t a phenomenal athlete, his cerebral abilities, elite size, and tackling prowess made him a likely NFL Hall-of-Famer.
Unfortunately for Damone Clark, outside of his size and his processing, he is bad nearly everywhere else. His Man Coverage and Zone Coverage abilities were very poor, and he will likely be a liability at the next level. He also doesn’t have the toughness or physicality to be a heavy blitzer, and he often even slowed down to heavy contact or traffic. That combo will make it very hard to find a scheme fit for him. Linebackers who can’t cover or blitz won’t be in high demand. If he had the speed or explosiveness, he could make up for that. Being able to diagnose, get to the spot quickly, and tackle, is arguably the biggest job for a Linebacker. Despite having other issues, that would’ve been enough. However, he has lackluster speed as well.
Damone Clark’s prospects are truly murky, and while his size and processing might earn him a job, he has too much working against him. He is a solid dart throw in the later rounds, but no more than that.

 

[Sydla]

reading reviews on him they are poor at best. I really dont expect much
heres an average review-

Overall
Damone Clark has a trait combo that is very enticing – size/IQ. He has true NFL size, and he diagnosis plays at a true NFL level. It’s not absolutely necessary for Linebackers to have elite athleticism, like Luke Kuechly, for example. He wasn’t a phenomenal athlete, his cerebral abilities, elite size, and tackling prowess made him a likely NFL Hall-of-Famer.
Unfortunately for Damone Clark, outside of his size and his processing, he is bad nearly everywhere else. His Man Coverage and Zone Coverage abilities were very poor, and he will likely be a liability at the next level. He also doesn’t have the toughness or physicality to be a heavy blitzer, and he often even slowed down to heavy contact or traffic. That combo will make it very hard to find a scheme fit for him. Linebackers who can’t cover or blitz won’t be in high demand. If he had the speed or explosiveness, he could make up for that. Being able to diagnose, get to the spot quickly, and tackle, is arguably the biggest job for a Linebacker. Despite having other issues, that would’ve been enough. However, he has lackluster speed as well.
Damone Clark’s prospects are truly murky, and while his size and processing might earn him a job, he has too much working against him. He is a solid dart throw in the later rounds, but no more than that.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/damone-clark-lsu-lb-nfl-draft-scouting-report-2022/

He ran a 4.57 at the combine. So prior to the surgery the notion he had limited speed like your “report” claims is a bit peculiar.

Who knows where he will be post surgery but I’d take the analysis you linked with a large grain of salt.

 

[Corso]

reading reviews on him they are poor at best. I really dont expect much
heres an average review-

Overall
Damone Clark has a trait combo that is very enticing – size/IQ. He has true NFL size, and he diagnosis plays at a true NFL level. It’s not absolutely necessary for Linebackers to have elite athleticism, like Luke Kuechly, for example. He wasn’t a phenomenal athlete, his cerebral abilities, elite size, and tackling prowess made him a likely NFL Hall-of-Famer.
Unfortunately for Damone Clark, outside of his size and his processing, he is bad nearly everywhere else. His Man Coverage and Zone Coverage abilities were very poor, and he will likely be a liability at the next level. He also doesn’t have the toughness or physicality to be a heavy blitzer, and he often even slowed down to heavy contact or traffic. That combo will make it very hard to find a scheme fit for him. Linebackers who can’t cover or blitz won’t be in high demand. If he had the speed or explosiveness, he could make up for that. Being able to diagnose, get to the spot quickly, and tackle, is arguably the biggest job for a Linebacker. Despite having other issues, that would’ve been enough. However, he has lackluster speed as well.
Damone Clark’s prospects are truly murky, and while his size and processing might earn him a job, he has too much working against him. He is a solid dart throw in the later rounds, but no more than that.

Cool. I anxiously await you deriding a late 5th round pick a few years later.

 

[speedkilz88]

reading reviews on him they are poor at best. I really dont expect much
heres an average review-

Overall
Damone Clark has a trait combo that is very enticing – size/IQ. He has true NFL size, and he diagnosis plays at a true NFL level. It’s not absolutely necessary for Linebackers to have elite athleticism, like Luke Kuechly, for example. He wasn’t a phenomenal athlete, his cerebral abilities, elite size, and tackling prowess made him a likely NFL Hall-of-Famer.
Unfortunately for Damone Clark, outside of his size and his processing, he is bad nearly everywhere else. His Man Coverage and Zone Coverage abilities were very poor, and he will likely be a liability at the next level. He also doesn’t have the toughness or physicality to be a heavy blitzer, and he often even slowed down to heavy contact or traffic. That combo will make it very hard to find a scheme fit for him. Linebackers who can’t cover or blitz won’t be in high demand. If he had the speed or explosiveness, he could make up for that. Being able to diagnose, get to the spot quickly, and tackle, is arguably the biggest job for a Linebacker. Despite having other issues, that would’ve been enough. However, he has lackluster speed as well.
Damone Clark’s prospects are truly murky, and while his size and processing might earn him a job, he has too much working against him. He is a solid dart throw in the later rounds, but no more than that.

Did you write that?

 

[America's Cowboy]

The Gambler, one of the worst songs of all time. That and the "Girls on Me Mind" by Benny Hill.

Lol. Estas loco!