Pittsburgh Steelers rookie safety Ryan Watts could have neck surgery after his season was ended on the final play on the Steelers’
preseason. Watts was spotted after the injury in a neck brace for two weeks, and while he has shed that now, there is still significant risk for Watts.
The injury occurred against the Detroit Lions when Watts went to make a tackle and came in head down. He lay motionless for a long time before walking off the field. Watts was placed on season-ending injured reserve following the injury, but the question remains if he needs surgery.
The Steelers have experience with an injury similar to this. Last year, safety Trenton Thompson dealt with a neck injury that plagued him for the entire end of the season and ultimately ended his season. The Steelers cut Thompson after offseason training activities when he did not appear to be the same player following the injury. Thompson did not get surgery, but it forced him to go through extensive physical therapy throughout the offseason.
Even if Watts is not headed for surgery, and Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reports that trainers and doctors are still deciding if that will be necessary for the Texas product, he seems to have a lengthy recovery in front of him after the injury, which is much worse than the ‘stinger’ the Steelers first called it.
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