Cam Skattebo, a promising rookie running back for the team, is maintaining a positive outlook following a severe ankle injury that has sidelined him for the remainder of the season. The injury occurred in the midst of a 38-20 loss to the Eagles. During the play, as fullback Adam Skattebo was tackled from behind by linebacker Zack Baun, Skattebo suffered a compound dislocation of his ankle.
Athletic trainers and emergency medical personnel rapidly stormed Model City Stadium to provide aid. Their diagnosis after Skattebo was tackled early in the second quarter on a crossing route. Injured players’ feet aren’t usually stabilized on the field in a climate-controlled air cast before being loaded onto a cart for transport off-field. Perhaps most memorably, shortly before his exit, Skattebo had a fun interaction with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, delivering his signature head-butt.
Though it was a sad outcome, Skattebo was released from the hospital a few days after her surgery. He is equally excited and eager to begin rehabilitation immediately. His upbeat spirit has been evident, as he reached out to his coach, Brian Daboll, via text at 4:08 a.m. following the injury.
“He’s an infectious personality. It was at 4:08 this morning I got a text from him,” – Brian Daboll
Skattebo’s rookie campaign was already an impressive one even before her injury. He rushed 101 times for 410 yards and five touchdowns. Most recently, he made an acrobatic grab of an 18-yard TD from Matt Barkley in the first quarter vs. Philadelphia, giving him seven touchdowns on the season.
Immediately following the injury, Skattebo posted a video to Instagram. In it, his former teammates wrote of their sadness over losing him. His infectious optimism and uncanny ability to endure and move forward have sparked the locker room. Teammate Greg Van Roten expressed how important Skattebo’s character and presence had been to the team.
“It’s hard. To see one of your teammates go down like that, especially somebody like [Skattebo] who brings a lot of energy to the offense and the team in general, a lot of production goes through him. You’re going to miss him a lot,” – Greg Van Roten
After a brilliant career at Arizona State, Skattebo was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite his short time in the league, he has rapidly established himself as one of the most important pieces in the offense. His impact went beyond the numbers to the spirit he injected into the game itself.
As he begins his rehabilitation process, both fans and teammates alike wish Palmer for a quick return. There’s no question the implementation team will feel his absence as they continue to make strides this season.
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