Brian Westbrook to have ankle surgery Friday
Philadelphia Eagels running back Brian Westbrook will have ankle surgery tomorrow to remove bone spurs, per Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Although this is viewed as a "minor" surgery, this will be the Westbrook's second surgery of the off-season. Westbrook had surgery in February to clean out his knee.
"I would say running would be difficult for 6 weeks, minimum. Conservatively, 8 weeks. Could he run sooner? Sure. But he's got a lot of time right now to work," [former Eagles Dr. Art] Bartolozzi said.
The surgery will be performed by Mark Myerson in Baltimore - not Bartolozzi.
In Week 3 of the last season, Westbrook suffered a high ankle sprain. Westbrook missed Weeks 4 and 6 of the season.
The ankle surgery that Westbrook will have tomorrow "has nothing to do with the high ankle sprain," Westbrook's agent Todd France told ESPN.com.
In 2007, Westbrook had career highs in rushing yards (1333), receptions (90) and receiving yards (771). However, he had only 936 rushing yards, 54 receptions and 402 receiving yards in 2008 with the health limitations.
Westbrook turns 30 on September 2nd. Although he's one of the most versatile running backs in the league, backs typically decline quickly when they reach 30. Add in two off-season surgeries and a return to 2007 form is very unlikely.
Although this is viewed as a "minor" surgery, this will be the Westbrook's second surgery of the off-season. Westbrook had surgery in February to clean out his knee.
"I would say running would be difficult for 6 weeks, minimum. Conservatively, 8 weeks. Could he run sooner? Sure. But he's got a lot of time right now to work," [former Eagles Dr. Art] Bartolozzi said.
The surgery will be performed by Mark Myerson in Baltimore - not Bartolozzi.
In Week 3 of the last season, Westbrook suffered a high ankle sprain. Westbrook missed Weeks 4 and 6 of the season.
The ankle surgery that Westbrook will have tomorrow "has nothing to do with the high ankle sprain," Westbrook's agent Todd France told ESPN.com.
In 2007, Westbrook had career highs in rushing yards (1333), receptions (90) and receiving yards (771). However, he had only 936 rushing yards, 54 receptions and 402 receiving yards in 2008 with the health limitations.
Westbrook turns 30 on September 2nd. Although he's one of the most versatile running backs in the league, backs typically decline quickly when they reach 30. Add in two off-season surgeries and a return to 2007 form is very unlikely.
