This oughta clear things up.
Making Sense of the Jamaal Charles Reports
The rapidly moving news cycle stresses the limits of patience. But sometimes, that's exactly what's needed.
by Jene Bramel, August 12
Photo: Denny Medley, US Presswire
Jamaal Charles injured his foot in practice early this afternoon. Unfortunately, that's where the clarity ends.
What followed over the next few hours highlights the difficulty in getting accurate injury information -- from even the most reliable sources -- in today's fast paced world of Twitter and competing media outlets. It's frustrating to fans and fantasy owners who want a clear answer as soon as possible. But it's fascinating to me.
We had two ESPN insiders giving radically different "sourced" reports. Both reported that Charles suffered a foot strain and negative x-rays, but Adam Schefter had sources
telling him the team was "bracing for the worst" while Ed Werder had sources telling him that the team
didn't feel the injury was serious. Mike Florio had sources telling him that the Chiefs privately felt the
injury was a sprain (implying a ligament injury) though Andy Reid told reporters it was a strain (implying muscle injury) after practice. Adam Caplan
tweeted a transcript of Andy Reid's comments that suggested the team wasn't yet sure how Charles would respond, shortly after Chiefs GM John Dorsey
told Sirius XM that Charles' treatment had been "more precautionary than anything else."
Later in the day, Schefter casually and respectfully acknowledged Werder's report but didn't back down at all from his earlier report. Then, Chris Mortensen
casually tweeted that Charles would have an MRI in response to a follower. Strangely, that tweet is no longer in his timeline. It's still on my feed because I retweeted it.
(Edit: A reader pointed out that I had the "no replies" setting marked. Mortensen's tweet is still there.)
Is it possible to make sense of all this? Probably not. If you're looking for a definitive answer, you'll have to wait for the MRI result. Even then, it's possible we won't get the whole story.
To be absolutely clear, a positive outcome with a short absence is still possible for Charles. But there are reasons for concern.
- The most trustworthy injury sources in the above paragraph -- Schefter, Florio, Caplan and Mortensen -- all have varying levels of concern. All of them are hearing that there's more going on than what the Chiefs are saying publically. Notably, Schefter didn't back down from his report after Werder's.
- A negative x-ray is reassuring. But only that Charles doesn't have a broken bone or obvious dislocation. An x-ray cannot accurately diagnosis or grade a muscle strain or ligament injury. It cannot rule out all foot conditions, including some Lisfranc and other midfoot sprains. The negative x-ray does not mean Charles does not have a severe injury.
- Florio's strain vs sprain distinction is relevant. Those two terms are often used interchangeably and incorrectly. If Charles' injury is in fact a strain, it's likely a muscle injury. If it's a sprain, it means the Lisfranc ligament or other more concerning midfoot structures are on the list of possible diagnoses.
- There's no reason for Andy Reid or John Dorsey to report concerning information until they have it. Under Reid, the Eagles deflected concerns about a Michael Vick concussion by saying he had dirt in his eye. They're the least trustworthy public sources currently commenting.
If you're looking for optimistic signs, you'll want to hear that the Chiefs have decided the injury is so minor that an MRI isn't necessary. Though Mortenson's tweet is no longer on his timeline, it would be shocking if Charles didn't have an MRI to better define his injury. You'll also want to hear that Charles is allowed to bear weight immediately and does not need a walking boot and crutches. The best news, obviously, would be a quick return to light work on the sideline this week.
What you don't want to hear is that Charles' MRI is concerning, that his actual diagnosis is in fact a sprain, or that he needs to see a foot specialist, specifically Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte.
As frustrating as it may seem, however, it's time to exercise a little patience. It's too early to assign a percentage chance that Charles has a serious injury like a Lisfranc sprain or guess at a timetable. We'll know when we know. If you're a Chiefs fan, it's nail biting time. If you're forced to a decision on Charles tonight, drop him a tier (or more) based on your risk tolerance and draft him only if you're comfortable with an extended absence.
I'll have more on Twitter as the story unfolds. Follow
@JeneBramel for the breaking injury news updates, commentary and analysis.
