Alabama looks like one of the best college football teams in the country, but they’ll have to continue their quest for another national championship without the help of one of their top players. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle suffered a significant foot injury on the opening kickoff against Tennessee on Saturday as he was tackled while returning the kick.
It was later confirmed that Waddle suffered a broken ankle and a high ankle sprain on the play, which you can see around the 1:05 mark of the video below.
It’s a tough loss for Alabama, as Waddle is projected to be a first round pick in this year’s NFL draft. It’s also a tough break for Waddle, who will now have his sights set on rehab instead of a national championship.
Dr. Silverman Discusses The Injury
This is a classic external rotation injury to the right ankle. This type of force typically results in a Weber B or Weber C ankle fracture, which means that the medial malleolus and the fibula both break. Sometimes this type of trauma can result in ligamentous injury around the ankle, leading to what one might classify as a severe high ankle sprain. Based on his inability to bear weight on the area after the play, it likely means that the ankle joint is unstable and that surgery is his best option for correction and return to function.
If the ankle hadn’t fractured with this type of trauma, Waddle could likely have gotten by with a minimally invasive procedure to help strengthen the ligaments. However, based on the news that he’s suffered a fracture, an open procedure will likely be used. This involves slightly larger incisions so that a surgeon can better access the surgical site and insert fixation devices like plates or screws to help ensure the ankle heals exactly as it should.
Waddle’s recovery will be measured in months, not weeks, but it’s far from a death blow to his NFL prospects. Surgery should be able to ensure the ankle heals in a stable position, and strengthening the ligaments with an operation and during rehabilitation can actually make the ligaments stronger than they were prior to the injury. It will take plenty of work, but barring a setback during rehab, he should still be a first round draft pick this spring. Here’s hoping everything goes as planned with his surgery and recovery.