Sports Medicine on Tap

In one of the most critical sports medicine situations of the NFL season, Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has been placed on Injured Reserve and shut down following the diagnosis of a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Bilateral Pulmonary Emboli (PE).

In this episode of Sports Medicine on Tap, certified athletic trainer Brandon Olaya and board-certified orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Steven Frey break down the complete clinical timeline of Hurts' condition—from the initial calf contusion against the Rams, the transatlantic flight to London, and the initial Superficial Vein Thrombosis (SVT), to the clot's progression into the pulmonary arterial bed. We explore Virchow’s triad, flight stasis risk factors, why therapeutic blood thinners rule out contact sports, and historical NFL return-to-play case studies.

Plus, we examine a massive wave of surgical headlines across the league:

• Davante Adams: Ruptured semitendinosus repair with Dr. Neal ElAttrache—why a distal tendon debridement/repair carries a 6-to-10-week return window versus a season-ending proximal avulsion.

• Terry McLaurin: Suspected patellar tendon rupture on Monday Night Football and the demanding 9-to-12-month extensor mechanism rehab protocol.

• Blake Grupe: The brutal reality of kickers tackling in open space leading to a non-contact torn ACL.

• Romeo Doubs: Acute shoulder impact injury and 4-week IR shutdown.

• Sideline Safety: Coach Mike McCarthy heading into the blue medical tent for an ankle evaluation.

A huge thank you to our episode sponsors:

🏥 Virtua Health Orthopedics & Spine – Over 120 providers, 20+ rehab facilities, and surgical centers across South Jersey. Find your specialist at https://www.virtua.org/ortho

🛡️ Protect3D – Custom, 3D-printed protective bracing ordered via a 30-second iPhone scan. Learn more at https://www.protect3d.io

#NFLInjuries #JalenHurts #FlyEaglesFly #BloodClots #PulmonaryEmbolism #DavanteAdams #TerryMcLaurin #BlakeGrupe #SportsMedicine #AthleticTraining #VirtuaHealth #Protect3D #SportsMedicineOnTap

Week 3 brought pivotal injury storylines across the league. In this episode of Sports Medicine on Tap, we break down the medical protocols, joint mechanics, and rehab timelines behind the week's biggest headlines:

- Sideline Spotter Protocols: Jalen Hurts' MNF concussion evaluation, the authority of booth AT spotters, and Nick Sirianni's handling of the sideline medical staff.

- De'Von Achane: Non-contact knee injury mechanics and ligamentous concerns.

- Baker Mayfield vs. Drew Brees: Dislocated throwing thumb, UCL stability ("skier's thumb"), and whether an InternalBrace-style recovery timeline applies.

- Justin Jefferson & Breece Hall: Deltoid/high-ankle mechanics and post-groin kinetic chain quad strain loading.

- Surgical Reports: Leo Chenal's cervical fracture surgery and spine-board execution, plus Jaxson Dart's meniscus repair.

- Fantasy & Waiver Takeaways: Priority replacements and injury stashes.

Sponsored by:

🏥 Virtua Health Orthopedics & Spine (virtua.org/ortho)

🛡️ Protect3D (protect3d.io)

Week 2 delivered a massive wave of injuries across the league. In this episode of Sports Medicine on Tap, we examine the clinical reality, tissue mechanics, and fantasy implications behind the biggest names banged up across the NFL.

Topics Covered:

- Jaxson Dart: Knee injury mechanics and navigating potential surgical concerns vs. isolated MCL sprains.

- Jayden Daniels: Recurrent non-throwing elbow dislocation, capsular laxity, and long-term stabilization discussions.

- Caleb Williams: Non-contact eccentric hamstring strain and expected recovery windows.

- Saquon Barkley: Cervical spine evaluation and brachial plexus stinger management.

- Pass-Catchers: Dallas Goedert's MCL sprain, Jayden Reed's spine board scare, and Alec Pierce's left heel re-injury following his March surgical clean-up.

- Fantasy Football Implications: Waiver wire priorities and injury replacements.

Sponsored by:

🏥 Virtua Health Orthopedics & Spine (virtua.org/ortho)

🛡️ Protect3D (protect3d.io)

Live from NATA Radio Row with Jay Ostia, MS, LAT, ATC, USMC Reserve Veteran and the founder/product visionary behind Nexus Sports Medicine!

Jay shares his journey from art school to sideline athletic training and entrepreneurship. We talk about the creation of Nexus, translating tactical military design into purpose-built athletic training gear, solving sideline gear frustrations, and rethinking sideline readiness at every level of sport.

A massive thank you to our official NATA Radio Row sponsor, Pivot by TenCate (@pivot_by_tencate), for supplying our mobile studio turf setup!

We are sitting down on NATA Radio Row in Philadelphia with Dr. Shelly DiCesaro, PhD, LAT, ATC, Associate Professor at University of Pittsburgh

Dr. DiCesaro brings decades of academic leadership and clinical insight to the mic. We dive into the management of pediatric and adolescent sports injuries, the evolution of collegiate athletic training education, and how athletic trainers can navigate academic leadership while fiercely advocating for the profession.

A massive thank you to our official NATA Radio Row sponsor, Pivot by TenCate (@pivot_by_tencate), for supplying our mobile studio turf setup!

From our NATA Radio Row series in Philadelphia with Joe Vogler, MS, ATC, Supervisor of Athletics at Unionville High School!

Having served as both a frontline head athletic trainer and now an athletic administrator, Joe offers a unique dual-perspective on high school sports. We discuss how athletic trainers can better communicate with athletic directors, funding sports medicine budgets, building emergency action protocols, and aligning district leadership with student-athlete healthcare needs.

A massive thank you to our official NATA Radio Row sponsor, Pivot by TenCate (@pivot_by_tencate), for supplying our mobile studio turf setup!

Live from NATA Radio Row at the Pennsylvania Convention Center! We sit down with Dr. Shawn Hanlon, PhD, ATC, CSCS, Assistant Professor and MSAT Faculty at California State University, Fullerton.

Dr. Hanlon dives into the latest clinical research surrounding tendinopathy management, tendon loading mechanics, and bridging musculoskeletal research into sideline practice. We also explore the future of MSAT education and how young clinicians can incorporate evidence-based practice into daily clinical workflows.

A massive thank you to our official NATA Radio Row sponsor, Pivot by TenCate (@pivot_by_tencate), for supplying our mobile studio turf setup!

We are live from NATA Radio Row in Philadelphia with Kevin Briles, MS, LAT, ATC, ATSNJ Hall of Famer and Head Athletic Trainer at Delsea Regional High School!

In this episode, Kevin shares the realities of life on the secondary school sidelines, managing high-volume scholastic athletic departments, building foolproof Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), and the ongoing advocacy needed to protect high school athletic trainers at the state and national levels.

A massive thank you to our official NATA Radio Row sponsor, Pivot by TenCate (@pivot_by_tencate), for supplying our mobile studio turf setup!

Draft season is here! In this special episode of Sports Medicine on Tap, we analyze the 2026 fantasy football draft board from a sports medicine and clinical perspective.

We break down reported training camp injuries, surgery timelines, and tissue mechanics for the biggest names in fantasy:

- Recent Training Camp Landmines: Breece Hall (groin), Ja'Marr Chase (hyperextension), Chuba Hubbard (hamstring), and Jeremiyah Love (high ankle sprain).

- The Tight End Tightrope: George Kittle’s rapid return from a January 2026 Achilles tendon repair.

- Surgical Comebacks: Patrick Mahomes (ACL/LCL reconstruction), Jonathon Brooks (revision ACL), Malik Nabers (ACL reconstruction & debridement), and Rashee Rice.

- Rapid-Fire Verdicts: The biggest draft-day injury traps, value buys, and high-risk gambles.

Sponsored by:

🏥 Virtua Health Orthopedics & Spine (Virtua.org/ortho)

🛡️ Protect3D (protect3d.io)

A true legend joins us on NATA Radio Row! We are honored to sit down with NATA Hall of Famer Dr. Rod Walters.

With decades of experience across collegiate athletics, the NFL, MLB, and national sports safety consulting, Dr. Walters drops invaluable pearls on risk management, catastrophic injury prevention, emergency protocols, and the history of our profession.

A huge thank you to our official NATA Radio Row sponsor, Pivot by TenCate (@pivot_by_tencate), for supplying our mobile studio setup!

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