This type of injury with everything else in the knee coming out clean is a 4 week injury. Everyone speaks about how amazing of shape James got in this summer; that can only help him rehab quicker. It seems like Narduzzi is being cautious, so I am giving him 8 weeks to recover instead of 4, but that would still get him back to the field for NC or ND. He is good as gone next year so we might as well run him as much as possible before he is in the NFL!
Conner Could be Back For North Carolina or Notre Dame
- Thread starter mehinpgh
- Start date
Dont get me wrong, our tb situation is precarious. Even a half year of a rusty JC would be a welcome sight.
But, scholarship notwithstanding, he is not being paid by Pitt. Coming back too soon and causing more damage could jeopardize his chance to play FOR pay. He has put up a solid body of work for scouts. He has little to prove, other than maybe more experience in receiving and picking up rushers. NFL teams may not want him doing that stuff either though.
But, scholarship notwithstanding, he is not being paid by Pitt. Coming back too soon and causing more damage could jeopardize his chance to play FOR pay. He has put up a solid body of work for scouts. He has little to prove, other than maybe more experience in receiving and picking up rushers. NFL teams may not want him doing that stuff either though.
If the rehab goes well and the doctors/trainers give the emphatic green light, gotta leave it up to Conner and his family.
Only Conner's surgeons are qualified to declare him game ready. Not sure why that's is hard for people to understand.
Narduzzi and anyone else can question medical consensus by spending 4 yrs in undergrad, 4 yrs in medical school, 5 or 6 yrs in residency, and 1 or 2 years in fellowship becoming a sports ortho.
Narduzzi and anyone else can question medical consensus by spending 4 yrs in undergrad, 4 yrs in medical school, 5 or 6 yrs in residency, and 1 or 2 years in fellowship becoming a sports ortho.
That's my sentiment as well. And, that's who he and his family will listen to most of all. So... Yep.
If James Conner returns for Notre Dame, that place will erupt. Even without their starting qb, Notre Dame should be a highly ranked team coming into the game. I know our team would be pumped too, the kids really seemed to rally around James when he was healthy.
Thought this was a dead issue with Narduzzi saying that even if healthy he wouldn't have Connor back since it could jeopardize his NFL career opportunity if injured again.
Agreed. The kid's health and future is always first.
Quick question though: Say he doesn't play this year, comes back next year, and still does not feel comfortable going pro. This is hypothetical probably would never happen, but technically he could still be here in 2017 with a medical redshirt right?
If I'm James, I come back only if we are in contention for the Coastal and the doctors say I'm 100 percent. I dont risk it to help the team get to 6-6 or whatever.
This would mean we probably need to beat VT, UVa, and UNC assuming a GT loss.
This would mean we probably need to beat VT, UVa, and UNC assuming a GT loss.
Hopefully he comes back healthy and ready to pick up where he left off in 4 weeks; but not at the expense of his future.
He should be healthy for the ACC Championship game.. No doubt, 100% for the BCS game..
I would refer to Brian's article on the pay board.
"Maybe I should say he can't, and maybe he'll come back," Narduzzi said of Conner.
From the Narduzzi press conference:
"Ask James. I don’t think so. He’d be crazy and we’d have a big, long talk. That doesn’t mean he won’t be ready to play, but will we do that? I can’t tell you he won’t be ready..."
"Ask James. I don’t think so. He’d be crazy and we’d have a big, long talk. That doesn’t mean he won’t be ready to play, but will we do that? I can’t tell you he won’t be ready..."
I'm sure everyone involved will talk more about this subject if he really gets to be 100%. After all, big money on the line for James. Whatever is in his best interest for him is what I say.
Its better for recruiting if James C. does not return this season. Bottom line really.
If the knee gets back to what the doctors/rehab professionals say is 100%, and there is still time for him to make sure he's in shape and get some practice in, then certainly James should play.
If you say that James shouldn't play at this point because of the risk of injury hurting his NFL career, then Tyler Boyd shouldn't be playing, for the same reason.
Go Pitt.
If you say that James shouldn't play at this point because of the risk of injury hurting his NFL career, then Tyler Boyd shouldn't be playing, for the same reason.
Go Pitt.
Last edited:
Where do you get the idea a MCL repair is a 4 week injury? I'm not sure what grade tear it was, but it's 4-6 weeks in a brace with limited weight bearing before he can even begin the several months of rehab and strengthening.
It's not like going back to a desk job here. There are few activities more stressful on the knee tendons and ligaments than being a running back. He's out for the year.
There were several articles from reputable news reporting outlets stating this injury "was typically a 4 to 6 week injury". I, by no means, am a doctor or have knowledge about the injury first hand, but just relaying what I have read. Most reports are that he will be ready for the end of the season, but the question will be should he stay out for his future career?
Yeah I'm no doctor either, but if I were to guess I'd say he's not coming back this year unless he's fully healthy by the last game or two and winning those games would put us in ACC Championship game. I don't see them risking further injury and his future just to get to 6 or even 7 wins. The only reason I even think there's a slight chance he returns if we're in that position is because of his competitiveness. If the doc says he can play, no way anyone talks him out of playing in a game with huge implications. That's one of the worst parts about this, JC worked harder and wanted to win more than just about anybody on the team.
It had to be a grade 3 sprain (complete tear), because he wouldn't have had surgery if it wasn't.
"but it's 4-6 weeks in a brace with limited weight bearing before he can even begin the several months of rehab and strengthening"...says who? Sounds like the acl recovery guidelines. Not being smart, but there is limited info on mcl recovery times out there in that it is not usually even surgically repaired....
I think you're right. He's confusing ACL and MCL injuries. MCLs heal much faster. ACL tears can't be fixed, the ACL is actually replaced. MCLs often heal on their own and surgery isn't that common. Even when it is done, like in this case, the MCL is repaired, not replaced.
yeah, tore my knee up in 82'. Back then (barbaric by today's standards) they shaved off a chunk if my quad tendon to reconstruct the ACL. My mcl was also torn and they repaired it as an afterthought. The odd thing about Conner is that the mcl being torn without any other damage is rare and that is terrific news for him down the line....You pretty much tear a ligament with any type of ankle sprain. Sometimes they require surgery but most times they do not and your long term prognosis is good. This is more akin to an mcl ligament tear than an acl tear.
I have no idea when he'd be healed.
That said, while I don't think Narduzzi would rush him back at 70%, if the doctors clear him to play at some point during the season, guess what, he's going to play, whether the scenario is Pitt competing for the Coastal division title or wallowing at 5-5.
I forget off the top of my head who it was, but there was an NFL player this past weekend who tore his MCL. He is expected to miss at least eight weeks.
UPJ, I opted for the cadaver no patella separation for me.
I think James come back this year... For his future benefit ($) I hope he does not.
No kidding. That's a problem when surgeons have not told him his season is over.
He actually said Conner would be crazy to come back even if his doctors clear him.
Exactly what does this Narduzzi know that these doctors don't? Can't wait to hear what he learned in freakin Youngstown that these orthos didn't learn at HSS or Jefferson or Penn or wherever they did their fellowships.
