It was revealed that the main prospect of the NFL ABDUL Carter Draft had a stress reaction on his right foot during the NFL Combine tests in February.
A stress reaction is an early sign of bone stress injury and can become a stress fracture if it is not properly treated.
Carter, 21, had a medical response in Indianapolis last week that showed that the stress reaction is healing, and surgery will not be needed, according to ESPN.
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The defensive line of Penn State, Abdul Carter, during the combination of exploration of the NFL 2025 at the Indiana Convention Center on February 27, 2025. (Kirby Lee-Imagn images)
“It should be a non -factor with the teams at this time,” said Carter Drew Rosenhaus agent through ESPN.
Dr. Erica Urquhart, orthopedic surgeon certified by the Board, spoke with Pak Gazette Digital about stress fractures and what they mean for athletes. Urquhart said that, in general, stress fractures are caused by excessive use.
“Excessive use is related to repetitive activity or the activities they generate, again using the word, stress in a localized area of the body could result in a stress fracture,” said Urquhart.
Urquhart said that stress fractures and an “incomplete fracture” of the bone that are initially treated with rest.
“We would encourage rest, immobilization to allow the body to heal itself,” said Urquhart.
The immobilization could come in the form of a cast or an orthopedic device.
Draft Prospect of the NFL Abdul Carter fold in his favorite active player
The Irish field marshal of Notre Dame Fighting, Riley Leonard, #13, directs the ball pressed by the defensive wing of Penn State Nittany Lions Abdul Carter, #11, during the second half of the Orange Bowl in Hard Rock Stadium on January 9, 2025. (Images of Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn)
“In general terms, we immobilize that area, and create an artificially context where that area can rest through launch or by reinforcements,” said Urquhart.
Urquhart said that the recovery time generally to rest is a matter of weeks, and it is generally six to eight weeks. However, if a stress fracture is not completely cured, then the athlete may require surgery.
“For a soccer player, stress fractures can certainly happen again and depending on how it has been treated.
“However, if there is still radiographic signs or even clinical signs of injury, then we have not returned to the baseline and if that athlete resumes the activities that precipitate the injury initially, then, of course, we could see that as a rejurio, but it is really a continuum of having an injury that has not been completely cured.”
The recovery time of surgery is six to eight weeks, but Urquhart said that because the foot is a bone with a full weight, which for six to eight weeks is not a definitive schedule. Surgery also does not prevent an athlete of future injuries to the bone.
“Surgical treatment is certainly a more definitive treatment and, in a healthy young individual, one would expect the recovery to be full, but the demands of athletics certainly make that discussion in the athletes a little more complicated,” said Urquhart.
The defensive wing of Penn State Nittany Lions, Abdul Carter, #11, celebrates with Heisman’s pose after defeating Broncos from the state of Boise at the Bowl party at State Stadium. (Mark J. Rebila-Imagn images)
Carter was the best defensive player of the Big Ten in 2024 with 68 cups, 23.5 Tacle for losses and 12 captures last season for Penn State. In his career, Carter has 39.5 tacle for loss, 23 captures and 14 defeated passes.
For any team that selects the Penn State star, they expect the stress reaction to be completely cured and it is not something that becomes a recurring problem that would force him to lose the games in the fall.
The winner of Travis Hunter of the Travis Hunter of Carter and Heisman is widely considered as the two main perspectives in the NFL Draft of 2025 and could slide as a starter and have an immediate impact on the first day.
