Additional evidence surfacing ignites suspicion that Carson Wentz has more than just an ACL tear.

Wentz was seen on the sidelines with a crutch and has now progressed to a cane, but he remains in a long post-operative brace, which appears to be purposefully locked to prevent knee motion.

Carson Wentz is off crutches, uses a cane now, heading to practice👍🏼



His fellow QBs told me he comes in with them at 6am, helps with gameplan, breaking down opponent, recommending plays



He’s obsessed with football and is helping Nick prepare just like he would be#Eagles pic.twitter.com/T0k1q8ltvR — John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 17, 2018

As an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist who has performed thousands of ACL surgeries and is part of the prestigious worldwide ACL study group www.aclstudygroup.net, my goal for isolated ACL patients is to have them off crutches, into a shorter functional brace and walking normally, bending their knee at two weeks post-surgery.


Of course, due to pain and swelling, not everyone reaches that milestone. But the early goal of rehabilitation is to regain full motion. At just over five weeks out from ACL surgery, Wentz walking with a stiff knee gait either means he is not doing well (this seems doubtful, as Mike Garafalo reports Wentz’s rehab has started positively) or his knee is being purposefully restricted from bending to protect other structures as it heals.

This, as well as video analysis, is why I believe Wentz suffered more than an ACL tear against the Rams on Dec. 10.

The day the injury happened, we worried here that by video it appeared Wentz may have injured the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) on the outside of his knee in addition to the ACL tear. Later, Ian Rapoport did report an injury to the IT band, which is near the LCL. Another possibility would be that Wentz had a meniscus repair (suturing, not menisectomy/trim)

This is not meant to be portending doom and gloom.


Having additional damage is not uncommon and not the end of the world.

In fact, at this point, it would be good news if Wentz had something in addition to his ACL repaired. Because if he didn’t and doctors were not restricting his motion and his knee was that stiff, that would be bad news, as it would mean he is not doing very well five weeks out.

If he simply had loss of motion, that could be a significant problem. The better news now would be that he had additional damage and his medical team is limiting his knee motion for now.

Expect the bigger brace to come off and for us to see knee motion after the six-week mark.


It is a good sign he is allowed to bear weight when he walks, indicating no significant articular cartilage damage, as that is most precious.

If, indeed, the LCL or neighboring posterolsteral corner were injured or repaired, this would explain the long brace and not allowing Wentz to bend his knee while walking as it heals.

If a primary repair was performed here in addition to ACL reconstruction, provided things go smoothly, Wentz still could be on track to perform as a pocket quarterback by the start of the season. It would take longer (to mid- or late-season) to become the same run/pass threat he has been.