The Penn State standout is dealing with a stress reaction in his right foot.
Some major news has broken on the eve of the start of NFL Scouting Combine workouts.
Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter, one of the top names floated as the potential No. 1 pick in next month’s NFL Draft in Green Bay, could undergo surgery to take care of a stress reaction.
Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said that Abdul has a couple of options on his table.
Via ESPN:
One, he could have pre-emptive surgery, have a screw inserted in his right foot, and be expected back in eight weeks.
Two, he could bypass the surgery, conduct his pro day at Penn State on March 28 and prove to NFL teams that he doesn’t need it.
A stress reaction is like a step before a stress fracture, so “pre-emptive surgery” is being discussed to prevent a much more serious injury from occurring.
The 2024 Unanimous All-American recorded 12 sacks in his final season with the Nittany Lions, establishing himself as one of the premier players in all of college football. In a year where there’s no undeniable quarterback talent worthy of the No. 1 overall pick, Carter has been thought of as the potential top choice of the Tennessee Titans (or whomever gets the No. 1 pick if the Titans trade down).
This probably doesn’t impact the Seattle Seahawks given they pick at No. 18, and I doubt any precipitous fall is looming for Carter when you watch his game film, but it’s still possible that it shakes up the top of the draft board just a bit. To what extent there could be a cascading effect is obviously all down to speculation. It’s nevertheless an important development concerning one of the best NFL Draft prospects.