Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
The clock has started ticking against Terrell Owens' Super Bowl dream.
He has 45 days - 61/2 weeks - to rehabilitate the right ankle that was surgically repaired yesterday by Mark Myerson at the Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
If he's not ready by then, T.O. will be nothing more than a supportive spectator should the Eagles break through their NFC championship barrier and advance to the Feb. 6 NFL title game in Jacksonville, Fla.
The odds of the Eagles' getting to Jacksonville remain better than the odds of Owens playing in the Super Bowl.
"Under normal circumstances, this type of surgery takes eight to 10 weeks to heal the tissues and the ligaments sufficiently for someone to return to an athletic activity," Myerson said in a post-surgery news conference.
The doctor, who inserted two screws and a plate in Owens' ankle during a one-hour operation that closed two torn ankle ligaments, offered some hope for Owens and Eagles fans, but not without a series of ominous qualifiers.
"I think there is a reasonable possibility that he will return to play in about six or seven weeks," Myerson said. "But that is not predictable, and a lot will depend on his recovery and his rehabilitation over the next month or two. While it is not unreasonable to hope that he returns, it's not something that we would expect."
Myerson said there would be some risk involved if Owens returned too soon and that he'd have to play with the two screws and the plate that were inserted yesterday.
"What happens, because it takes eight to 12 weeks to heal normally, if the ankle is not hurting and he is able to commence running - in particular with cutting activities - there is a risk of the screws and plate breaking during that activity.
"It is something we recognize ahead of time, but if he is not hurting, we accept that and allow him to proceed with activities and return to sporting activity. Under normal circumstances, we leave the screws in place for about three to four months and, at that stage, the ligaments have healed sufficiently, so we can remove the hardware."
Owens also suffered a broken bone in his leg just below his right knee, an injury that did not require surgery.
The doctor, who declared the surgery a success, allowed that Owens is a tremendously conditioned athlete, and he said that is the only reason there's even a modicum of hope that the Eagles' star receiver could get himself ready to play by Super Bowl Sunday.
"He is an extremely well-conditioned athlete, and the access he has to rehab and health care will play a vital role in his healing process," Myerson said. "But generally, it takes between eight and 10 weeks for athletes and nonathletes alike."
If Owens does not play in the Super Bowl, Myerson expects that he will be fully recovered by the time the Eagles open training camp in late July.
"One hopes that is the case," Myerson said. "There's no reason to think this will lead to any chronic ankle problems. Once this is stabilized and the ligaments heal, the ankle should be functioning on a normal basis."
Myerson said that Owens would remain on crutches and in a protective boot for the next two weeks, but that his rehab with the Eagles' training team at the NovaCare Complex would begin in the near future.
"We'll get him into the pool... and allow him to exercise in a non-weight-bearing environment starting soon," Myerson said. "Movement of the ankle will begin in approximately two weeks. By three to four weeks, we'll get him on a bike and start doing some other lower-extremity rehabilitation. In four weeks, the weight-bearing process begins."
Inquirer Staff Writer
The clock has started ticking against Terrell Owens' Super Bowl dream.
He has 45 days - 61/2 weeks - to rehabilitate the right ankle that was surgically repaired yesterday by Mark Myerson at the Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
If he's not ready by then, T.O. will be nothing more than a supportive spectator should the Eagles break through their NFC championship barrier and advance to the Feb. 6 NFL title game in Jacksonville, Fla.
The odds of the Eagles' getting to Jacksonville remain better than the odds of Owens playing in the Super Bowl.
"Under normal circumstances, this type of surgery takes eight to 10 weeks to heal the tissues and the ligaments sufficiently for someone to return to an athletic activity," Myerson said in a post-surgery news conference.
The doctor, who inserted two screws and a plate in Owens' ankle during a one-hour operation that closed two torn ankle ligaments, offered some hope for Owens and Eagles fans, but not without a series of ominous qualifiers.
"I think there is a reasonable possibility that he will return to play in about six or seven weeks," Myerson said. "But that is not predictable, and a lot will depend on his recovery and his rehabilitation over the next month or two. While it is not unreasonable to hope that he returns, it's not something that we would expect."
Myerson said there would be some risk involved if Owens returned too soon and that he'd have to play with the two screws and the plate that were inserted yesterday.
"What happens, because it takes eight to 12 weeks to heal normally, if the ankle is not hurting and he is able to commence running - in particular with cutting activities - there is a risk of the screws and plate breaking during that activity.
"It is something we recognize ahead of time, but if he is not hurting, we accept that and allow him to proceed with activities and return to sporting activity. Under normal circumstances, we leave the screws in place for about three to four months and, at that stage, the ligaments have healed sufficiently, so we can remove the hardware."
Owens also suffered a broken bone in his leg just below his right knee, an injury that did not require surgery.
The doctor, who declared the surgery a success, allowed that Owens is a tremendously conditioned athlete, and he said that is the only reason there's even a modicum of hope that the Eagles' star receiver could get himself ready to play by Super Bowl Sunday.
"He is an extremely well-conditioned athlete, and the access he has to rehab and health care will play a vital role in his healing process," Myerson said. "But generally, it takes between eight and 10 weeks for athletes and nonathletes alike."
If Owens does not play in the Super Bowl, Myerson expects that he will be fully recovered by the time the Eagles open training camp in late July.
"One hopes that is the case," Myerson said. "There's no reason to think this will lead to any chronic ankle problems. Once this is stabilized and the ligaments heal, the ankle should be functioning on a normal basis."
Myerson said that Owens would remain on crutches and in a protective boot for the next two weeks, but that his rehab with the Eagles' training team at the NovaCare Complex would begin in the near future.
"We'll get him into the pool... and allow him to exercise in a non-weight-bearing environment starting soon," Myerson said. "Movement of the ankle will begin in approximately two weeks. By three to four weeks, we'll get him on a bike and start doing some other lower-extremity rehabilitation. In four weeks, the weight-bearing process begins."
