A pair of sports medicine websites say their experts believe the hip injury that has sidelined Ja’Marr Chase is similar to the one that ended superstar Bo Jackson’s NFL career in 1990.
Chase’s injury report caught the NFL world by surprise last week.
After all, the Cincinnati Bengals star had just gone for 130 yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Bengals have not released specifics on Chase‘s injury, saying only that he is expected to miss four to six weeks and will not go on the IR. But ESPN reported Saturday that Chase has a hairline fracture and torn labrum. The sports medicine website Inside Injuries compared it to the injury Jackson suffered while being tackled.
Inside Injuries and another website, Sports Injury Central, analyzed the play where Chase hurt his hip, on a touchdown catch against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6.
Sports Injury Central noted, “The injury mechanism is similar in nature to that of Bo Jackson and Ryan Fitzpatrick, who suffered much more significant damage and underwent career-changing surgeries.”
Inside Injuries says the good news is, Chase played in Week 7, and excelled.
“This is a positive because it likely means the fracture is not severe,” the website noted. “In severe cases, acetabular fractures can cause extensive bleeding and other significant injuries that require immediate attention.”
It is very important to note that these are outside experts who have not examined Chase or had access to his test results. Also, neither website suggests in any way that there is any reason to doubt the Bengals’ official four-to-six weeks guideline on when Chase will be able to return.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.