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August 6, 2015Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery later today to repair a torn meniscus. Reports vary somewhat as to how long he’ll be out, but the consensus is up to four weeks.
From the Akron Beacon Journal‘s Nate Ulrich:
The injury occurred in a recent practice, the source said. Mingo practiced Tuesday before sitting out Wednesday.
Mingo’s knee felt structurally sound in a medical exam Wednesday, but an MRI later revealed a slightly torn meniscus, the source said.
Mingo did not participate in practice yesterday, instead spending time with the medical staff. It is unclear when he suffered the injury.
“He’s got something,” head coach Mike Pettine said Wednesday. “He was getting evaluated today. We’ll know a little bit more soon.”
St. Louis Rams physician Dr. Matthew Matava discussed knee injuries last year. Note that Mingo’s meniscus tear is said to be partial, not a complete tear.
The meniscus is an entirely different structure [than the ACL, MCL, or PCL]. There are two menisci in each knee and they look like two little C-shaped rings of cartilage. They have the consistency of an eraser. They act as shock absorbers between the femur and the tibia. They’re very important in order to enhance the shock absorbing capacity of the knee, like when you jump, run or even walk. Without the meniscus, you significantly increase your probability for arthritis in the future because there’s less cushion in the knee joint.
…20 or 30 years ago, if you had the same injury that Jadeveon Clowney had [last year] — a meniscus tear — you would have a 3- or 4-inch incision on the side of your knee. You would be admitted into the hospital for four or five days and would be in a cast for several weeks. Now, it’s a 15-minute operation to trim out the torn meniscus. There are three or four small holes and no incision. There is no cast or brace. You would be able to return to play within three to six weeks.
The knee injury is the latest setback for Mingo, who has struggled a bit in his two NFL seasons. Mingo, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2013 draft out of LSU, has totaled 55 tackles and 7 sacks in his 30 NFL games (14 starts). He started 11 games last season, but was hampered by a shoulder injury for much of the year.
There was no shortage of competition for Mingo’s outside linebacker spot before his injury. The Browns selected Utah pass rusher Nate Orchard in the second round of this year’s draft, and journeyman Scott “Bloodbath” Solomon is in the mix as well.
“There are a lot of spots [being contested],” Pettine said last Wednesday. “Defensively, all of those guys on the D-line compete for playing time; the outside ‘backer room where we made some changes – Scott Solomon coming on late and drafting Nate Orchard – to challenge Mingo.”
Defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil was high on Mingo back in June, though his words are now a bit ominous in light of the knee injury.
“When we came out of training camp last year, we thought Mingo was one of our best outside ‘backers. We all know about the injury he suffered in play two of the season [last year]. He is going to have to compete for playing time on early downs. He’s going to have a role in our sub-packages. No one is guaranteed anything on the defense. Joe Haden knows that, Donte Whitner knows that and Karlos Dansby knows that. You’re going to have to earn playing time. We’re deep in every position group.
“Mingo is going to have to come back ready to go, and he’s going to have to earn it.”
8 Comments
Year 1 – out with bruised lung. Year 2 – hampered by shoulder which requires off-season surgery. Year 3 – torn meniscus, surgery. Not an auspicious start for the underweight guy drafted high to be your pass rushing beast.
Hellloooo, Mr. Solomon … there’s a gleam, man, a clear path to a career in this league. Show ’em what ya got.
One more tremendous first round draft pick to mark down since this storied franchise’s return.
Underweight for an NFL DL/LB maybe, but not for a…
Safety!
Pass-rushing safety! Cutting edge, baby! Inadvertent Chip Kelly kinda OTB thinking.
I’m thinking along the lines of Cam Chancellor.
Whitner + Gipson (w/ Poyer backing ’em up) — I think we’re okay at safety
If we want to go all position-change happy with him, then why not Daryl Washington type super-fast ILB?
#MingoAintNoSafety
that’s ok, they drafted Barkevious Jr. to take his place!
Chancellor holding out in Seattle despite being under contract.