Kyle Trimble is a licensed physical therapist here to provide NFL injury analysis. Read his Trevor Lawrence Injury Watch for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Trevor Lawrence Injury: Left shoulder labrum tear
Presumptive No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence announced on February 5 that he has a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing, shoulder.
This was discovered during a “comprehensive” physical. However, details of when the injury occurred are not known at this time. Lawrence is slated to throw for teams on February 12 before having surgery to be ready in time for training camp in July.
2021 NFL Draft Outlook
The labrum is a cup-shaped rim of cartilage that assists in deepening the glenoid fossa that articulates with the head of the humerus. This helps make up the shoulder joint and is responsible for maintaining stability during movement. The labrum can be torn due to a fall on an outstretched arm, direct blow/sudden pull to the shoulder, frank dislocation, or repetitive overhead motion, specifically with abduction/external rotation.
Trevor Lawrence Injury Watch For 2021 NFL Draft: Detailed view of labrum injury similar to Lawrence’s on his left (non-throwing) shoulder Credit: ChoosePT.com
Once the labrum is damaged, it may not heal correctly or be as strong as prior to the injury. It may also become damaged further due to repeated partial or full dislocations due to the instability. Surgery assists in repairing the structural integrity of the cartilage to maximize healing. These recoveries can take 4-6 months to recover from but can be longer if the tear is complex.
There is a chance for re-injury to the area with rates upwards of 25 percent with collision sports. However, nearly all athletes return to play at the same or higher level of competition. Based on the timeline that Lawrence has for recovery, he should be cleared for training camp at the end of July and 100 percent by mid-August. Even if Lawrence does re-injure the area during the season, he could play with bracing as Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has done.
Lawrence will very likely be close to 100 percent for training camp and will be fully healthy come Week 1 with no drop off in play from the injury. Whether he suits up for the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 1 overall pick in 2021 NFL Draft) or someone else, he will step onto the field as a healthy, potentially franchise-changing quarterback.
Kyle Trimble is a licensed physical therapist who also works as an injury spotter for Dr. David Chao. Kyle has extensive experience in outpatient orthopedics, skilled nursing, acute care hospital, and home care. He’s also a member of Bills Mafia and runs the website Banged Up Bills.
Disclaimer from Kyle: My opinions are my own. Any thoughts I have on the injuries are based on media reports, my knowledge of the injury, and speculation based on the information currently available including video and print media. This information is subject to change based on the information released by the team.
Now that you’ve read our Trevor Lawrence injury report, stay tuned after the 2021 NFL Draft for his impact on betting lines, odds, and tips for his likely NFL team (likely the Jacksonville Jaguars).
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🏈 Read Trevor Lawrence’s NFL Draft Prospect Profile and see where Lawrence is mocked in The Game Day’s 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft. 🏈
