Abdul Carter, one of the nation’s most sought-after defensive recruits, is likely to be a top-three pick in next month’s NFL draft. Carter is the No. 2 overall prospect, per Mel Kiper Jr. and Jordan Reid. Unfortunately, he’s been hamstrung by injuries suffered over the last couple months. Then in December, he went down with an upper-body injury. Due to this injury, he missed all on-field workouts at the NFL scouting combine. Throughout medical evaluations at the combine in February, doctors discovered a stress reaction in his right foot. This unexpected find made his pre-draft work even more challenging.
That growing reputation for injury risk has influenced strategic decisions dictating Carter’s participation (or lack thereof) in pre-draft activities. He originally intended to participate in the pro day workout too. He decided not to have surgery to put a screw into his right foot. Dr. Dan Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys’ team physician, counseled him not to have surgery until it was needed. Instead, he prescribed a long-term rehabilitation plan to restore their health. Drew Rosenhaus, Carter’s agent, sent word of the medical clearance from Dr. Cooper to any interested NFL teams so that Carter could return to training.
“He is still finishing up rehab on the shoulder injury he had from the Boise State game,” – Drew Rosenhaus
Even through these disappointments, Carter is still focused on proving himself to future NFL franchises. In a statement, his agent said Carter would prove to be “the best player in this draft.”
“He will put on a show at his pro day.” – Drew Rosenhaus
There is still an outside chance that Carter could do a private workout for teams in mid-April. This opportunity could provide scouts and team representatives the chance to assess his physical condition and on-field capabilities ahead of the draft. In the end, he decided against surgery. Instead, he’s taking the route of rehabilitation to stay on track as one of baseball’s best prospects.
Leave a Reply