Will Erasmus James ever get an NFL career off the ground?

[Patler]

Just named a starter at DE last week, now this:

Erasmus James' comeback from major knee surgery lasted all of three or four plays.

The Minnesota Vikings defensive end was placed on injured reserve Friday and will need surgery again to repair the ACL in his left knee.

[KYPack]

No.

Chronic knees in an edge rushing DE?

He's done. These kind of players help a D so much, but most of 'em wash out. When ya get a Freeny, you've struck gold. But you only find a nugget now and then.

[Rastak]

No.

Chronic knees in an edge rushing DE?

He's done. These kind of players help a D so much, but most of 'em wash out. When ya get a Freeny, you've struck gold. But you only find a nugget now and then.

I agree. He hasn't been the same since he hurt his knee last year. If he screwed it up again I can't imagine him coming back. He looked great last year in pre-season too. I think he would have come into his own. He's a real nice guy too. That's real unfortunate.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I thought players came back from these knee injuries. I wouldn't write him off yet.

[Badgerinmaine]

I'm not optimistic about him, but I loved watching him for the Badgers and hope he can come back.

[Rastak]

I thought players came back from these knee injuries. I wouldn't write him off yet.

Well, he isn;t back from the first one and now he's screwed it up again.


You might be right.

[Lurker64]

Even without injuries, it wasn't really clear to me that he'd have much of an NFL career. Wasn't the knock on the guy that he didn't really love football and he only had one good year (which was admittedly a really good year.)?

[Harlan Huckleby]

Even without injuries, it wasn't really clear to me that he'd have much of an NFL career. Wasn't the knock on the guy that he didn't really love football and he only had one good year (which was admittedly a really good year.)?

He was a HELL of a player in college. And no, I wouldn't say at all that he didn't like football. He was a skinny kid from ... Jamaica or some other carribean Island, who made TREMENDOUS improvements each year of college.

[mraynrand]

I thought players came back from these knee injuries. I wouldn't write him off yet.

Jamal Reynolds sure recovered well from his knee injury.

[Cheesehead Craig]

He's done as anything but a servicable backup at this point (assuming he can stay healthy). He's not a star, he's not a starter. Everything that made him special has been taken away by the injuries. His speed and quickness are gone.

[b bulldog]

Boy,I hit that one on the head.

[Partial]

Sad, sad stuff. He was one hell of a Badger.

[Harlan Huckleby]

His speed and quickness are gone.

How do you know? Was he slow in the few plays he had in his comeback?

People are jumping to conclusions.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Not sure what to make of James. He wasn't really great in college. He was great for one year, but an injury derailed him. He was solid in another year. Another year where he was hurt. He was great for about 10 games. I haven't really seen anything to get excited about--even when he was healthy. However, I felt that he was young and he needed time. Not sure what this does--other than further cementing the fact that he's extremely injury prone. I think he's had one healthy season in 6 years (college and pros combined).

[Scott Campbell]

His speed and quickness are gone.

How do you know? Was he slow in the few plays he had in his comeback?

People are jumping to conclusions.

People are jumping to conclusions on Harrell. There are lots more data points on James, with a mounting pile of solid evidence that he is a bust.

However, it's not yet completely beyond the realm of possibility that he turns it around.