In recent comments, Haliburton shared that he and Jones connected during their recoveries, noting that having the same surgeon helped spark conversations throughout the rehabilitation process.

Read the full article at clutchpoints.com. 

This article also published in Yahoo! Sports.

Listen to the full episode at ESPN West Palm Tonight.

The article also explores the growing focus on Achilles injuries in professional sports and the evolving treatment approaches that are improving outcomes for athletes. Dr. O'Malley expressed confidence in both players' recoveries, noting their commitment to the rehabilitation process and predicting a "return to greatness." 

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Jones’ surgery was performed by Martin O’Malley, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS, who also performed Achilles repairs on NBA stars Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers.

Read the full article at yardbarker.com.

Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has a long road to recovery from reconstructive surgery to his left knee.

“The recovery can take anywhere from nine months up to 12 months,” Dr. Nawabi, explained. “Many players have had that surgery. As an elite quarterback, he would definitely need that surgery to return back at the highest level.”

The Falcons declined several requests to interview team physician Dr. Kyle Hammond of Emory Healthcare.

“He had his surgery,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday. “It went well. Obviously, he got a chance to do that yesterday. I’m really fired up about that. I’m really fired up about when he comes back and is playing.”

If Penix can complete his rehab in nine months, he could return in time to start the 2026 regular season. If it takes longer, he could miss the first month of the season — or more.

Either way, the Falcons will be in the quarterback market looking for a possible backup good enough to be a starter for a three or four games. Kirk Cousins is the starter for the rest of this season, but isn’t expected to be with the team next season with a $57.5 million salary-cap hit.

Penix had a bone bruise to his left knee early this season that caused him to miss the Miami game Oct. 26. He was hit in that general area in the Panthers game Nov. 16. He tried to get up and walk, but couldn’t.

The ACL might have been injured as part of the bone bruise and made the knee unstable. After an MRI, the team said Penix would undergo season-ending surgery for a partially torn ACL.

“An ACL reconstruction involves replacing the torn ACL with a graft,” Nawabi said. “The one thing that is interesting about his injury is when you are sacked or have a collision with the knee bent or flexed, the PCL can get injured. An isolated PCL tear typically doesn’t need surgery. But if the PCL gets injured in a knee which may have been compensating for a partially torn ACL from a prior bone bruise early on this season, then you can unmask an ACL tear resulting in knee instability.”

The Falcons have talked with Penix about his approach and how he’ll be off his feet for 10 to 12 weeks.

“Once you get back into it, and you’ve got the ability that you’re mobile and do some of those things, you want to keep your mind fresh,” Morris said.

The Falcons will want him to take part in the classroom portion of organized team activities and minicamps.

“The same thing with Mike, being able to get back in, doing some things on offense just to make sure his mind is fresh,” Morris said. “Then, once you get back to being able to do some things, obviously on the grass, that’s what he’ll be doing with our guys and our people that are getting him right. But, you definitely want to keep those guys fresh.”

Working out as much as he can with the team will be key. Also, nickel back Billy Bowman Jr. has Achilles surgery coming up.

“You definitely want to keep those guys within the game plans,” Morris said. “You definitely want to keep those guys knowing exactly what’s going on. They’re pretty much both the quarterbacks of our defense, talking about the nickel and our quarterback. Getting those guys to stay involved with the daily game plans and the daily rhythm and routine, that won’t happen for a little bit, up until they can get back and be mobile enough to do those things. You obviously want to get those guys back as quickly as possible.”

How much offseason work Penix, who has started 12 NFL games, gets will be key.

“No, it’s not out of the question to do some off season,” said Dr. David Chao, a former NFL team doctor. “But it will impact him. That’s what they’re working through. How much of the offseason we have … he still needs offseason development.”

In 2011, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson returned from ACL and medial collateral ligament surgery in eight months and rushed for 2,097 yards the following season. Akers, then with the Rams, returned after 5½ months in December 2021.

Penix has had two ACL surgeries on his right knee, one in 2018 and the other in 2020.

“He was always at a higher risk of tearing the ACL in the other knee,” Dr. Nawabi said. “The risk of tearing the ACL in the other knee goes up once you’ve torn the ACL in one knee. The risk increases three to fourfold in the other knee. … So, this was, unfortunately, an injury that he was at increased risk for.”

The previous rehabs might help Penix this time around.

“That nine-to-12 months number is for the general population,” Dr. Nawabi said. “A high-performing athlete, who has access to the best facilities for rehab, the best physical therapists at their disposal working on them everyday after the surgery, I don’t think it would be unusual at all for Michael to return in nine months or maybe even sooner.”

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Watch the full interview at 11alive.com.

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In the segment, Dr. Positano explains what turf toe is, how it occurs, and the impact it can have on athletes’ performance and recovery.

Watch the video at youtube.com. 

Read the full article at muscleandfitness.com. 

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This year’s winner is Vanessa Tepper, a high school flag and tackle football player from Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill, New York.

Read the full article at si.com. 

According to Dr. Pareek, for ACL injuries, pro athletes typically aim to return within 9-12 months. MCL injuries, especially minor ones like sprains or partial tears, often show up with ACL tears but usually don't change the return-to-play timeline. Most of the time, MCL injuries heal with rehab alone, and players can stay on track for recovery. However, in cases where the MCL tear is more severe and needs surgery, the process can take longer—adding 1-3 months to the return to sport timeline. That timeline can shift depending on factors like the player’s position, surgical variability, and individual rehab progress. If both the ACL and MCL need surgery, it makes recovery more complex, and some of the usual milestones, like running or cutting drills, might get delayed. Fortunately, surgery for the MCL is less common, which helps keep most players on the standard recovery path.

Read the full article at si.com. 

“Achilles injuries are different,” said Dr. Positano. They may be healed physically, but there’s a significant psychological component as well. Every time an athlete coming off a recent Achilles injury moves, somewhere in their mind they could be wondering whether they’ll re-injure it. It takes time to overcome that and often the timeframe for true recovery is closer to two years.”

Read the full article at athlonsports.com. 

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The Jerry “Hawk” Rhea Award for Outstanding NFL Team Physician is presented annually by PFATS to a member of the NFLPS. First awarded in 1998, it is named for Jerry Rhea who was the Head Athletic Trainer for the Atlanta Falcons from 1969 until 1994 and worked as Assistant to the President of the Falcons from 1994 to 2001.

Read the full article at nflps.org. 

He was honored by New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones during a ceremony in the Giants’ team locker room at MetLife Stadium.

Jones, alongside Samuel A. Taylor, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS and Associate Team Physician for the New York Giants, surprised Recinos, alongside his team and family — handing him the grand prize trophy.

“I have had the honor of being a part of this 10-year program recognizing local tri-state student athletes who demonstrate what it takes to have a Heart of a Giant,” Dr. Taylor said. “Through this initiative, we have acknowledged incredible students within our local communities, and I am delighted to celebrate today with Eduardo.”

The USA Football's Heart of a Giant is presented by HSS and the New York Giants. The program celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. In that time, it has expanded to highlight not only high-school tackle football players, but all Tri-State flag football athletes, student managers, student mascots or other designated student team members who demonstrate a relentless work ethic and unmatched love for the game.

Read the full article at Patch.com. 

Mr. Jones suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a game on Nov. 5, according to a Nov. 22 report by espn.com. 

The recovery time for the surgery is eight to 10 months, giving Mr. Jones the possibility of returning at the start of training camp for the 2024 NFL season. 

Read the full article at beckersspine.com. 

“Our first job as a team physician when we hear about an injury is to get the information. Talk to the player, see what happened, get them in right away, and evaluate them. I work with my colleague Bob Hotchkiss, our hand and wrist expert and get all the imaging studies. Dr. Hotchkiss did the surgery and did a wonderful job as far as restoring anatomy. But the biggest issue in the recovery process is getting the motion back. Fingers and hands tend to get stiff," said Dr. Rodeo.

“If you put him in a cast for three months, the bone would heal, but then he couldn't move his fingers. But if you move faster than the bone is healed, then that alignment issue that you are trying to protect becomes compromised. So that is the balance,” said Dr. Hotchkiss. 

"When we first started working together, Xavier's entire hand was really tight, so we've been working a lot on opening the span, stretching out and making a first. Once he's warmed up and did some soft tissues massage, it's easier for him to get some motion on his own and his strength is coming back, said Aviva. 

Read the full article at giants.com. 

Dr. Drakos had a fellowship with the Giants and was on the committee charged with making a recommendation about different synthetic turf surfaces for MetLife Stadium -- home of the Giants and Jets -- before its inaugural season in 2010. Dr. Drakos said grass wasn't an option. The two teams had played on synthetic turf for all but three seasons since they began sharing the old Giants Stadium when it opened in 1976. Dr. Drakos wasn't in the room when the surface was chosen, but he gave his opinion ahead of time. "Me and probably six or seven other doctors were sitting there listening to all these different presentations [from turf companies]," Dr. Drakos said. "And at the end, I said, 'Listen, from a medical standpoint, we should do grass.'"

MetLife stuck with synthetic turf because natural grass did not hold up for the busy fall schedule with two teams, 20 NFL home games and the Northeast climate.

But then and now, Dr. Drakos' research found grass is best for players' health, particularly when it comes to ankle and noncontact knee injuries. He said: "The data is pretty conclusive." He also said turf is stickier and less forgiving, which can cause the foot to catch and send torque up to the knee.

Read the full article at ESPN.com. 

Dr. Elliott  looked at the slowed-down footage of in his first start for the New York Jets on Monday night and knew an Achilles injury would be the diagnosis. 

"When I saw the reverberation clip, yes," Dr. Elliott told Fox News Digital when asked if he saw the clip where a clear pulse went through Rodgers' calf. 

So does that mean Rodgers can return next season by Week 1?

"I think that’s a very doable date," Dr. Elliott, who has performed over 350 minimally invasive Achilles tendon repairs, said decisively. 

Jets fans may be thinking there is no way a 40-year-old quarterback can be ready for next season after suffering that kind of injury, but Dr. Elliott broke it all down to give everyone a better understanding of the process Rodgers will be entering and why he can still play at his elite level once he returns. 

Read the full article at Foxnews.com.

Aaron Rodgers was just a few minutes into his career as a New York Jet when he suffered one of the cruelest injuries in professional sports: a torn Achilles tendon. He’s done for the season before he ever completed a pass for his new club. But what about the rest of his career? 

Doctors are also in agreement that his recovery will be more difficult owing to the simple fact that he’s 39 years old. That may be relatively young for the general population, but it also makes him one of the oldest players in the NFL.

“Trying to get your muscle unit to come back is probably harder every year of your life,” said Dr. Elliott. “He’s not 30. He’s almost 40.”

“But you look at him,” Dr. Elliott added, “and he’s in great shape.”

Read the full article at wsj.com. 

Watch the segment here on today.com. The segment also aired on broadcast on TODAY on September 13, 2023. 

“The blood supply for that Achilles tendon will decrease by almost one third after age 30. That means less blood which translates into less elasticity, less strength, and more of a likelihood of a person who is around 35 to 45 injuring their Achilles tendon,” explained Dr. Positano. 

This segment aired on New York 1 on September 12. 

The Niners provided an update on Purdy’s condition after the rookie quarterback suffered a devastating injury to his throwing arm during the Niners' first possession of their 31-7 loss in the NFC title game to the Philadelphia Eagles.

David W. Altchek, MD, co-chief emeritus of the HSS Sports Medicine Institute said an internal brace was a "good" option for Purdy. "It’ll work, and he’ll be able to return. I don’t think six months is out of the question. I really don’t." 

Read the full article at foxnews.com. 

Robinson is recognized for his academic achievements as a straight-A student, the captain of the St. Peter's Prep football team, and individual who gives back to his community through volunteering with organizations including his local soup kitchen. He was selected as the 2022 award recipient for being a role model to his fellow classmates and teammates. 

His mother, Joi, his teammates, coaches and classmates were all on hand in the St. Peter’s Prep gymnasium for what was a surprise ceremony. Robinson originally thought he was being named a finalist, but when New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard walked up to him with the grand-prize trophy, he experienced nothing but pure shock.

Read the full article at nj.com. 

Additional coverage: news12.com

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The award is presented annually by HSS and the New York Giants, which honors nominees for their commitment, teamwork, will, character and dedication.

Dr. Taylor said, “Those are some things that most people would just succumb to and crumble, and [Devian] did the exact opposite of that. There’s no question that you’re tough on the football field and that you’re tough in your heart despite all of these odds stacked against you.”

Read the full article at Tapinto.net. Additional coverage: Patch.com and Bronx.news12.com.

Dr. Dines explained, “Sometimes people will try to treat these conservatively, but in a situation like this, fixing it surgically where you sew the tendon back to the bone from which it tore is going to give them give a better return to their strength and probably decrease the risk of happening again.”

He continued, “I tell patients and athletes all the time, that the surgery is the easy part, the repair takes about an hour, but the recovery is where you have to go slow for the first six weeks to let the tendon heal before you start loading it with weights. Especially getting back to the NFL, it’s typically about 5-6 months before you can stress the muscle at that level.”

The segment aired on December 7, 2021.

Watch the full video at Giants.com.

“Bike HSS is the perfect way that we can try to raise money to help support all of the research and clinical needs that we focus on at the hospital,” noted Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA, surgeon-in-chief at HSS.

Toomer said, “HSS is special to me because they put both of my knees together. I had double ACL surgeries and ended up in the ‘Giants Ring of Honor’ which never would have happened if I hadn’t have gotten my knees put together the right way.”

Watch the full story at Giants.com.

While not involved with the NFL, Dr. Williams applauds the league’s efforts to educate players about the vaccine and the overall compliance. “Also, having high rates of vaccination is going to enhance player availability,” he noted.

The segment aired during the 4 p.m. news hour on September 12.

Dr. Carr cited that soft tissue injuries are the most common during the football preseason, such as hamstring strains, calf muscle strains or oblique muscle strains. “The injuries can be related to a lot of factors: hydration, conditioning and overall strength and endurance as the players continue to build that back up,” he noted.

To avoid soft tissue injuries in the football offseason, Dr. Carr recommended appropriate conditioning prior to training camp. “Most players will take extended time off to recover at the end of the football season…and it’s important to take an extended time leading into training camp to build up muscle strength, endurance and flexibility and get acclimated to the heat. All those things need to occur for a football player to report at their maximum fitness and minimize risk of injury regardless of level – middle school, high school, college and professional.”

Dr. Carr discussed the evolution of baseball and how he has adjusted management approaches for professional players. “We have to manage workload to prevent injury, but when it does occur we do everything we can to get them as back as fast and as safely as we can without risk of re-injury,” he said.

Dr. Carr explained how HSS Florida is serving the West Palm community. “We are a comprehensive place for caring for the community, professional athletes and athletes of all levels. If you find yourself sidelined by an injury we want to get you back in the game and want to do it better than anyone else,” he concluded.

The segment aired on September 2, 2021.

St. Paul Pioneer Press spoke to Sabrina M. Strickland, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS, who did not treat Smith but has performed more than a thousand meniscus surgeries and provided commentary on the recovery for this type of injury.

Dr. Strickland said if the tight end needs just a trim done of his meniscus, he likely would be out three to six weeks. Most surgeries are trims, but if a repair is needed, Smith could be out four to six months, she added.

“They’re not saying, but they should know more or less based on the MRI already,” Dr. Strickland noted.

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Additional coverage: Twincities.com.

Though she is not treating the players, Dr. Johnson explained that a more likely timeline for return to sport is 8-12 weeks, but not a lot of research among athletes with these injuries has been done.

She noted a small pool of six athletes who had a piece of the fifth metatarsal removed were studied and data was published in 2011, and those athletes' average return to play was 11.5 weeks.

Dr. Johnson said that this type of injury can be very painful. “When the fractured part of the bone doesn't heal back to the main bone, it can create inflammation and just a very small amount of motion is painful and it swells,” adding, “When you take that piece out, it alleviates the pain.”

Read the full article at Indystar.com.

Dr. Rodeo said, “I’ve learned so many COVID-19 management and mitigation strategies and protocols from the NFL that I’ve been able to translate to our Olympic swimmers.”

He added, “The bigger point is the lessons you learn from watching these great athletes. The focus on working toward a goal and swimming for their country - there is a lot of pride in that and it’s a pleasure to take care of these athletes.”

Watch the interview at Giants.com.

“The most likely injury would’ve been a concussion when you have that amount of force that you kind of get hit to the head,” noted Dr. Wang.

This segment aired at 7pm on May 13, 2021.

Dr. Rodeo, who is also a team physician for the New York Giants since 2015, has participated in medical reviews that have examined the vast database of injuries from the combine from 1987-2000. Players who had anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery in college did not play fewer games or have shorter careers, but those who had meniscus procedures before entering the NFL played about two fewer seasons.

Dr. Rodeo explained why meniscus issues can be red flags for NFL teams. “Meniscus injuries often lead to progressive arthritis over time,” he said. “They are important shock absorbers for the knee. Loss of meniscus does increase the risk of degenerative changes in the knee. In particular, the lateral meniscus, which is the outer side…And we don’t have great solutions. Whereas with ACL surgery, the results are predictively good as far as the ability to stabilize the knee.”

Another finding that Dr. Rodeo highlighted: Linebackers and linemen who had shoulder instability that required surgery before entering the NFL had shorter careers, which, he noted, made sense given the “demands of the position.”

Read the full article at SFchronicle.com. A subscription is required to access.

Drs. DiFiori (who is the director of sports medicine for the NBA), McElheny (who is the associate team physician for the New York Mets) and Kinderknecht (who is a team physician for the New York Giants), highlight the protocols for testing and quarantines in the respective leagues, and how these leagues are approaching play going forward during the pandemic.

Watch the discussion at Medscape.com.

Dr. Rodeo noted, “I think the NFL frankly did a fabulous job in guiding us through this. Starting with leadership, Alan Sills, the chief medical officer in assembling a panel of experts. Infectious disease specialists, cardiologists, a tremendous communication from the NFL to all of our team medical staffs. And our job was to translate that information to our teams.”

Dr. Kinderknecht added, “A lot of it was just learning patterns. We have a data base that really was never achieved before – in terms of spread and testing.”

Watch the full interview at Giants.com.

“Yosue, I’m inspired by you, and I know so many others are, as well,” said Dr. Taylor, who applauded Gomez for carrying a 3.7 grade point average. “Getting good grades, dedicating yourself to sports and having the life challenges - which I can only imagine the stresses and the uncertainty and all the anxiety that comes with that - really isn’t easy. It all together speaks of the quality of the man.”

Read the article at NJ.com.

Additional coverage:

• Giants.com
• Patch.com/new-jersey/wayne
• Giants Access Blue on January 16, 2021 at 1PM

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