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Ferguson could miss rest of season
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 16, 2006
Green Bay - Wide receiver Robert Ferguson has been diagnosed with a dreaded Lisfranc injury to his right foot and conceivably could miss the rest of the season.
Ferguson got the news Monday from Patrick McKenzie, the Green Bay Packers' team physician and an orthopedic surgeon.
"I found out today that's what it is. Lisfranc," Ferguson said as he stood on crutches near his locker. "I don't even know the history of it. I haven't got that far yet."
Ferguson has been sidelined since suffering damage to his right foot as he returned a kickoff Oct. 2 in Philadelphia.
Besides Ferguson, the Packers have four wide receivers on the roster. But with Koren Robinson facing possible National Football League suspension for off-the-field conduct, the team might place Ferguson on injured reserve and add another player at the position.
Lisfranc injuries, which are so-named after Napoleon Bonaparte's surgeon, have been rare in Green Bay over the years. However, indications are that defensive tackle Kenderick Allen also suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot Sept. 24 against Detroit.
Allen, who remained on crutches last week, went on injured reserve Oct. 4.
With 26 bones in the human foot, damage can be hard to determine and correct. The Lisfranc joint, where the metatarsal bones attach to the rest of the foot, is a complicated joint involving numerous bones.
Physicians often differentiate Lisfranc injuries as sprains, fractures or dislocations. The severity or description of Ferguson's injury isn't known. But injuries in the Lisfranc joint are often subtle and difficult to assess.
The metatarsal bones tend to move as a unit. When they do, it can create tears in multiple ligaments across a wider area of the foot. Such injuries can drag on and on. Sometimes they require surgery but then might never heal perfectly, especially if not addressed early.
Allen, who informed his agent that he had a broken foot, hasn't had surgery. It remains to be seen if surgery is in Ferguson's future.
Lisfranc injuries can be hard to realign perfectly and also can result in arthritis, further complicating recovery.
For Ferguson, whose last three seasons were shortened by injury, it's another debilitating blow to a player whose career began as a second-round draft choice.
"Rehabbing . . . it's the story of my life," Ferguson said. "At least in Green Bay."
Asked how the injury can be treated, he replied, "Rest, from what I understand. Stay off of it."
On Monday, offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said he had never even heard of a Lisfranc injury. But Jagodzinski should consider himself fortunate for not having coached for a team with a player afflicted by the injury.
Errict Rhett, a running back for the Cleveland Browns, suffered a Lisfranc injury in October 2000 and never played in another regular-season game.
Duce Staley, a running back for Philadelphia, underwent surgery in October 2001 for a Lisfranc fracture but battled back to rush for 1,029 yards in '02.
The Eagles have had an amazing run of Lisfranc injuries. Tight end Chad Lewis had surgery in January 2005 but returned 10 months later. Safety Brian Dawkins returned after missing nine games early in 2003 with a Lisfranc sprain. Running back Brian Westbrook sat out the last four games in 2005 with what the club said was a Lisfranc sprain.
Mike Rosenthal, the starting right tackle for Minnesota, underwent surgery to repair a Lisfranc fracture and dislocation suffered in Week 2 of 2004. He came back to play 16 games in '05.
Former New England cornerback Ty Law underwent surgery for Lisfranc damage in late 2004 but made it back to start all of '05 for the New York Jets.
Packers tackle Mark Tauscher received a scare in training camp when his foot injury initially was thought to be a "Lisfranc."
"But it was one day and it got better," Tauscher said. "That’s a serious deal. That’s a bad one to get."
Donald Driver, Ferguson’s teammate for six years, feels for his friend.
"I’m hoping he can come back from this," Driver said. "I know the type of person he is and he’s not going to let himself get down. This is not something you would wish on anyone but it happens."
Ferguson could miss rest of season
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 16, 2006
Green Bay - Wide receiver Robert Ferguson has been diagnosed with a dreaded Lisfranc injury to his right foot and conceivably could miss the rest of the season.
Ferguson got the news Monday from Patrick McKenzie, the Green Bay Packers' team physician and an orthopedic surgeon.
"I found out today that's what it is. Lisfranc," Ferguson said as he stood on crutches near his locker. "I don't even know the history of it. I haven't got that far yet."
Ferguson has been sidelined since suffering damage to his right foot as he returned a kickoff Oct. 2 in Philadelphia.
Besides Ferguson, the Packers have four wide receivers on the roster. But with Koren Robinson facing possible National Football League suspension for off-the-field conduct, the team might place Ferguson on injured reserve and add another player at the position.
Lisfranc injuries, which are so-named after Napoleon Bonaparte's surgeon, have been rare in Green Bay over the years. However, indications are that defensive tackle Kenderick Allen also suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot Sept. 24 against Detroit.
Allen, who remained on crutches last week, went on injured reserve Oct. 4.
With 26 bones in the human foot, damage can be hard to determine and correct. The Lisfranc joint, where the metatarsal bones attach to the rest of the foot, is a complicated joint involving numerous bones.
Physicians often differentiate Lisfranc injuries as sprains, fractures or dislocations. The severity or description of Ferguson's injury isn't known. But injuries in the Lisfranc joint are often subtle and difficult to assess.
The metatarsal bones tend to move as a unit. When they do, it can create tears in multiple ligaments across a wider area of the foot. Such injuries can drag on and on. Sometimes they require surgery but then might never heal perfectly, especially if not addressed early.
Allen, who informed his agent that he had a broken foot, hasn't had surgery. It remains to be seen if surgery is in Ferguson's future.
Lisfranc injuries can be hard to realign perfectly and also can result in arthritis, further complicating recovery.
For Ferguson, whose last three seasons were shortened by injury, it's another debilitating blow to a player whose career began as a second-round draft choice.
"Rehabbing . . . it's the story of my life," Ferguson said. "At least in Green Bay."
Asked how the injury can be treated, he replied, "Rest, from what I understand. Stay off of it."
On Monday, offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said he had never even heard of a Lisfranc injury. But Jagodzinski should consider himself fortunate for not having coached for a team with a player afflicted by the injury.
Errict Rhett, a running back for the Cleveland Browns, suffered a Lisfranc injury in October 2000 and never played in another regular-season game.
Duce Staley, a running back for Philadelphia, underwent surgery in October 2001 for a Lisfranc fracture but battled back to rush for 1,029 yards in '02.
The Eagles have had an amazing run of Lisfranc injuries. Tight end Chad Lewis had surgery in January 2005 but returned 10 months later. Safety Brian Dawkins returned after missing nine games early in 2003 with a Lisfranc sprain. Running back Brian Westbrook sat out the last four games in 2005 with what the club said was a Lisfranc sprain.
Mike Rosenthal, the starting right tackle for Minnesota, underwent surgery to repair a Lisfranc fracture and dislocation suffered in Week 2 of 2004. He came back to play 16 games in '05.
Former New England cornerback Ty Law underwent surgery for Lisfranc damage in late 2004 but made it back to start all of '05 for the New York Jets.
Packers tackle Mark Tauscher received a scare in training camp when his foot injury initially was thought to be a "Lisfranc."
"But it was one day and it got better," Tauscher said. "That’s a serious deal. That’s a bad one to get."
Donald Driver, Ferguson’s teammate for six years, feels for his friend.
"I’m hoping he can come back from this," Driver said. "I know the type of person he is and he’s not going to let himself get down. This is not something you would wish on anyone but it happens."
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