Kelce MCL, Partial ACL, Scope Will Tell
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Kelce MCL, Partial ACL, Scope Will Tell
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Eagles head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said Monday that center Jason Kelce has an MCL tear and a partial ACL tear in his right knee. Burkholder said the injury isn't necessarily season-ending; he said team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Peter DeLuca will do an arthroscope Tuesday and assess the state of the ACL. If it doesn't need repair, the Eagles might decide to brace the knee and let it heal on its own, in which case Kelce might be sidelined only 4 to 6 weeks.
Burkholder said around the league, treatment of similar injuries has been a "mixed bag." If DeLuca determines the ACL tear requires surgical repair, Kelce will be sidelined for the season.
Eagles coach Andy Reid said Dallas Reynolds will continue as Kelce's replacement. The team would seem to need to make a roster move to add a backup (Julian Vandervelde? Jamaal Jackson?) but until it is sure what the prognosis is for Reynolds, that's a tough call. Reid raised the issue of the new IR designation, which allows for one player to go on IR and return that season. But you don't want to use that slot for Kelce now and have DeLuca find tomorrow that there is no way Kelce is coming back in 2012. So, bottom line, there almost certainly won't be a roster move today.
Reynolds talked to reporters today about stepping in cold against the Ravens, about his three years on the practice squad, and about his unfortunate name; Reynolds joked that he was affronted the first time he walked into a meeting room and saw "Dallas Sucks" on the white board.
Reynolds said that it actually probably was better he "didn't have time to think about anything" when Kelce went down in the middle of a TD drive in the third quarter.
"Your training and your preparation just kind of pays off and takes over," Reynolds said.
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Reid said left tackle King Dunlap (hamstring) will start this week at Arizona if he's healthy, but Reid indicated that is unlikely. Reid acknowledged Demetress Bell did a starting-quality job stepping in for Dunlap against the Ravens.
Reid said Jeremy Maclin added another hip contusion on top of the one he had and is sore. No indication of whether he'll be able to play.
Other injuries didn't seem serious -- Colt Anderson hyperextended his other knee, the one that didn't have the ACL tear, Jason Babin sustained a slight ab strain but continued to play.
ouch this one might be a big set back, need Dallas Reynolds to step up. Hopefully Kelce is back before Dallas and Washington.— willbert31- Mr Montgomery, Dallas Reynolds DID step up, as nary a botched snap or missed block occurred. The Birds have always commented that this guy's pass blocking skills are a plus in one on one drills, but just needed to fill out and get stronger...gametime is different, and with the center's responsibilities,expect teams to try to confuse with stunts. — bearsfriend
- Thought Vandervelde got picked up by someone? Tampa? JJax? Wonder what kind of shape he's in?— tpizza
- The anthem singer did indeed get scooped up by the Buccaneers Practice Squad,burning the Eagles, who would have put him on theirs...Expect him to be re-acquired. — bearsfriend
- Aha! Thought he was on the 53 roster so they CAN get him back. Could be worse and a better option than JJax. Mudd will earn his $$ this season. — tpizza
- Get will big guy! The team needs you!— srcdaddy1216
- gotta get Jamaal Jackson while u can— lefty1117
Go back and watch the game footage when Reynolds came in. He played very well, kept his blocks and was pushing back the Ravens defensive line. They'll be just fine. Sign Jamaal Jackson as a back up mostly because he knows the offense.— thegamepa- Not worth taking a chance, for Kelce's sake. Put him on IR and repair the MCL and then do what's needed for the ACL partial tear after the MCL graft heals. He can then be back at least 90% by the time training camp opens next year.— fentonhardy
- I agree...Jason Kelce's greatest attribute is his mobility and footwork, and combination tears to me is something that shouldn't be fooled with. — bearsfriend
- This comment has been deleted.— JE42
- He did play very well, but mysteriously the Ravens played alot more coverage and brought much less pressure in the second half,rushing 3 guys at times. (?) — bearsfriend
- maybe if he shaved off that disgusting fungus from his face, he'd be able to breathe and see better !— the_chief
- The MCL will need 4-8 weeks to heal. The partial ACL tear does NOT heal. It can't, it has to be reconstructed. If his knee is not too loose, he may be able to play with the partial ACL tear for a month, a year or forever, nobody knows. The ACL doesn't cuase any pain either but the MCL is a painful bugger!— Mark1npt
- We have turned the ball over 9 times in 2 games and we still sit ALONE a top the NFC East....ahhhhh Life is good:)— mainstreet
