Chicago Bears fans did not get the news they were hoping for when the diagnosis came in regarding the Leonard Floyd injury. Head coach Matt Nagy revealed on Monday that the outside linebacker had broken his index and middle fingers, requiring surgery on Sunday. He’s done for the preseason. Nagy said the team remains optimistic he can be ready for Week One up in Green Bay.
That at least is good news. The problem is Floyd was already inconsistent as a pass rusher even when healthy. So can he really be effective going against Aaron Rodgers, something the Bears will desperately need? Thankfully they got a bit of optimism from an informed source.
Dr. David Chao was the team physician for the San Diego Chargers from 1997 to 2013. He’s now an expert on SiriusXM radio and a contributor to the San Diego Union-Tribune. His assessment of the Floyd situation comes with years of experience and knowledge of how the game of football works.
Leonard Floyd injury should not impact his overall performance too much
Chao revealed that the ailment Floyd is dealing with is far more common in the NFL than people think. Players have played with it before and found ways to still be effective. It’s simply part of the sport. Even more encouraging is the two fingers he broke don’t have much bearing on his responsibilities as a pass rusher.
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“During the season, as a team doctor in the NFL, there were numerous occasions where a player broke his hand, had surgery and played the following week.
What Floyd is dealing with is more severe, as it involves two bones. But with three weeks before the season, he has the extra time.
I don’t expect him to need a bulky club in the game. A smaller partial cast or splint will be sufficient by then.
I even expect him to be effective. Remember, grip is mostly with the fourth and fifth fingers. (Hold and practice swinging a golf club or baseball bat with one had to prove it to yourself.)
My anticipation is the Bears medical staff will only have protection/splint on the index and middle finger allowing most of his grip to be intact.”
Typically it requires between four and six for broken finger bones to heal properly. This is why it’s good new that Floyd has three weeks before the opener in Green Bay. So at most he’d have to wear the protective cast for three games this year with a minimum of just one. Bears fans should breath easy and remind themselves it could be a lot worse.
That said this setback may have been the trigger to convince GM Ryan Pace he may have to make an additional move at the edge rusher position. Floyd continues to show he’s unreliable health-wise. As for the depth behind him? Let’s just say it leaves a lot to be desired.
