Under a Microscope: 12 Players Whose Combine Medicals Need to Check Out

Many critics of the NFL Combine refer to the event as a “dog and pony” show, placing an inordinate amount of emphasis on agility and strength drills than on football related skill. While that particular debate will likely continue on unfinished, it’s the often over-looked parts of the combine that can ultimately make or break a prospects future.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Combine for some future pros is the medical evaluation that they will be put through. NFL doctors and trainers will put athletes coming off of surgeries or those who have missed games due to injury through the proverbial ringer in order to compile an accurate assessment of a players physical health. 

A positive outcome could mean millions of dollars for a prospect, while one that doesn’t clear up concerns, like Michael Crabtree or Jahvid Best in recent years, can hurt a players draft stock.

Here are the twelve players who have the most to lose, or gain, during the medical evaluations.

Robert Quinn, DE North Carolina- Everybody is focus on how Quinn works out after a year off due to his suspension from the Tar Heel program, but I bet just as many NFL teams are going to be wondering about the surgery that Quinn had during his high school Senior year to remove swelling in his brain caused by a tumor. While a five-hour surgery resulted in the decrease of swelling and a biopsy on the tumor came back benign, the tumor itself was never removed. Anytime an athlete deals with a potential brain injury, concerns are justified and teams will want to make sure that the tumor is still nothing to worry about.

Aldon Smith, DE Missouri- Smith fractured his fibula in September of this year, causing him to miss three games. Although he was able to return and display effective skills by the end of the season, he never seemed 100%.

Kyle Rudolph, TE Notre Dame- Rudolph missed the entire 2010 season after surgery on his hamstring.  More serious than your typical hamstring injury, the tendon in Rudolph’s hamstring came off of the bone. He was the #1 Tight End in the draft prior to the injury.

Martez Wilson, LB Illinois- Although Wilson played this entire season and has shown dynamic athleticism, he missed almost the entire 2009 campaign after debilitating pain in his neck led to surgery for a herniated disc. Anytime the neck is involved in football injuries, teams pay special attention.

Nate Irving, LB NC State- Irving was one of the feel-good stories of the year after missing all of the 2009 season following a car accident that left him with a broken leg and a collapsed lung. He didn’t display the same burst and agility as he possessed before the accident, so teams will be interested to see how much of that can be regained through rehabilitation.

Graig Cooper, RB Miami- Once a first round prospect, Cooper tore his ACL on a kickoff return during the Hurricane’s Champs Sports bowl to end the 2009 season. He came back and played in the first game of the season despite having been through surgery seven months prior, but only accumulated 35 carries on the season and was never the featured back.

Da’Quan Bowers, DE Clemson- The potential top overall pick in the draft recently underwent a knee scope that was revealed to be to repair a torn meniscus. His availability to work out in Indianapolis is in question.

Cam Heyward, DE Ohio State- After dominating his bowl game, Heyward had to undergo surgery to repair a rotator cuff injury that he suffered during the game. He hasn’t been able to workout since and might not be able to participate in full at the Combine.

Bruce Carter, OLB UNC- Carter didn’t have the year that was expected of him in 2010 and then in November was forced to undergo surgery for a torn ACL. As a potentially dynamic OLB, teams will need to be assured that Carter will not lose too much of his agility.

Stephen Paea, DT Oregon State- After a stellar season, Paea was hoping to be among the first DTs drafted this year until a lateral meniscus injury suffered during Senior Bowl week forced him into surgery. If his knee checks out, he could provide great value.

DeAndre Brown, WR Southern Mississippi- Brown suffered one of the most gruesome broken leg injuries in recent memory and appeared to be only a shell of his former self in 2010. If he can ever regain that explosion and agility, he could be a true dynamic pass catcher.

Taiwan Jones, RB Eastern Washington- A small school standout, Jones missed the last two games of the season with a broken bone in his foot. He has NFL size and speed, but if he can’t show those skills, he risks plummeting in the draft.