The Dallas Cowboys’ rookie defensive end, Marshawn Kneeland, sustained a knee injury in their 20-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Sunday. He was chasing down Pittsburgh quarterback, Justin Fields, and while taking him to the ground sustained an injury to his knee. He immediately grabbed his knee and after being evaluated on the field, needed help walking off the field. After spending time in the blue tent undergoing further evaluation there was a fear of a season ending ACL tear, which would be a massive hit to the Cowboys’ defense. He received good news after his MRI on Monday, which indicated that the ACL was intact. The MRI indicated a lateral meniscus tear, and Kneeland has been scheduled for surgery Tuesday. Cowboys’ fans will be happy to hear that he will be back out on the field in 4-6 weeks.
Marshawn Kneeland will be undergoing surgery to address the lateral meniscus tear Tuesday. He will be having a surgery called a meniscectomy. It is arthroscopic surgery which means it involves a few small incisions and usually takes just under an hour to complete. Kneeland can expect to walk out of surgery with the knee bandaged and wrapped in an ACE wrap. He will begin physical therapy in the next day or two.
Physical therapy for a knee meniscectomy is straightforward and ensures a speedy recovery to return to activity. Kneeland will start with exercises to improve his range of motion and strength. Manual therapy will be used to decrease any swelling and reduce the scar tissue formation and the incision sites. As he progresses through PT, he will complete higher level strength exercises such as squats, lunges, bridges, and step ups. Kneeland will also undergo dynamic single leg balance training to improve his ability to perform high level single leg activity. He will then progress to higher level sport specific activities involving agility training and plyometric exercises. He will perform activities such as ladder drills, box jumps, and sled pushes to improve his sport tolerance and reduce the risk of re-injury.
Kneeland can expect to return to the field in about 6 weeks. His knee will be ready to resume cutting, sprinting, and all other explosive movements. He will be a force to be reckoned with on the field. Dallas fans will be very happy to see their defensive weapon return to the field wreaking havoc on opposing offenses!
Don’t forget to give Portsmouth PT a call if you run into any injuries so we can help you get Back to Sports, Back to Work, and Back to Life!
Published October 12, 2024 | Posted in NFL Injury Spotlight.