David Chao, MD: Carson Wentz Likely To Miss Start Of Regular Season With Foot Injury

The information on Carson Wentz is limited. There is no video. Stitching together the facts using insider knowledge as a former NFL head team physician, the new Colts quarterback is headed to missing the start of the season.

Here is what we know. It happened while rolling out and was a non-contact injury. Wentz felt a "pop" and it appears to involve "bone and a ligament."

Surgery is on the table and he will miss the entire preseason.  Reports are he has had a MRI and a second opinion with a foot specialist is pending.

At least it is not a Lisfranc midfoot injury. 

Putting this all together, it seems Wentz may have injured a sesamoid (small "floating" bone at the bottom of the great toe) fracture. This scenario would fit the info that is out there now. Either of the two small bones (or "mini kneecaps" at base of the turf toe joint) are hard to heal due to lack of blood flow and the stress for push off. typically, excision surgery is needed.

I would expect the on-field reunion with his old offensive coordinator (now head coach) Frank Reich to be delayed by an injured reserve stint. Hopefully it will just be the three-week minimum. It should not be season ending but it will affect the year. 

The over/under for return is likely the six-week mark of the regular season. The good news is that Wentz is likely to be able to play and be effective. His predecessor played the playoffs last year with a turf toe injury. Wentz can try to return early as well. If this injury were on a DB or WR, I might put the timeline for return as late season.

Let's see what the second opinion says. Brace for news of surgery and let's hope for an October return for Wentz.

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