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Longtime NFL doc and orthopedic surgeon reacts to Joe Burrow’s knee injury

Mark Schipper

By Mark Schipper

Published:

Last year’s college star of stars and Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Burrow, has apparently suffered a serious knee injury in today’s NFL game against the Washington Redskins. 

The number one overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft was carted off the field after a defensive lineman crashed into his planted left leg as Burrow delivered a throw downfield. The knee appeared to buckle and then hyperextend and the rookie quarterback never rose from the field after first crashing into the sod.

He was surrounded both by teammates and opponents wishing him well as he was loaded onto the cart and the potentially catastrophic nature of the injury became apparent. 

Dr. David Chao broke into the Twitter stream from his Pro Football Doc account to make a brief statement on the optics of the injury. 

“The worry is that his season is over,” Chao said.

Dr. Chao did not show the video of the hit on Twitter, claiming Periscope had temporarily banned his account in the past for linking to videos showing injuries. The video breakdown of what might have happened to Burrow can be found at ProFootballDoc.com, according to Chao. 

Dr. Chao was the head team physician for the San Diego Chargers from 1997 to 2013 and is an orthopedic sports injury specialist. 

Burrow had been playing fantastic football as a rookie despite the fact his offensive line had done a generally terrible job of protecting him. Highly drafted rookie quarterbacks often are subjected to brutal early campaigns in the NFL as they join bad teams, and Burrow had been enduring one of the worst in recent memories. Bruises and strains tend to heal quickly in young players, but torn ligaments are another story. More information on Burrow is expected later today and early next week. 

Mark Schipper

Mark Schipper is a reporter, sportswriter, and aspiring novelist living in Chicago, Illinois.