Tennessee Titans: A positive sign about Robert Woods' ACL injury
The biggest off-season move for the Tennessee Titans so far is undoubtedly the addition of wide receiver Robert Woods. Coming off an ACL injury, the Titans were able to acquire Woods from the Los Angeles Rams for just a sixth-round pick in 2023. For Woods' value on and off the field, it looks like great […]
The biggest off-season move for the Tennessee Titans so far is undoubtedly the addition of wide receiver Robert Woods.
Coming off an ACL injury, the Titans were able to acquire Woods from the Los Angeles Rams for just a sixth-round pick in 2023. For Woods' value on and off the field, it looks like great value. He will be a key cog for a Titans offense that looks to improve upon last year's performance. His health is what everyone wants to know about as a new season approaches. Austin Stanley of A to Z Sports spoke with Dave Kempfert of the Bone and Joint Institute about the injury and recovery for Woods. The positive sign came from Woods, himself, during his press conference with Nashville media on Wednesday with the term "clean tear".
Kempfert is the Director of Physical Therapy for the Bone and Joint Institute. Check out the entire conversation here.
The Breakdown
Austin points out that ACLs have been a hot topic in the past during these segments. Titans OT Taylor Lewan and EDGE Bud Dupree have both been discussed due to ACL injuries. As a WR, Robert Woods and his injury have a bit of a different situation and timeline.
Kempfert mentions that body type and position can play a big role in how physical therapy can be different for different players returning from his injury. Explosiveness, agility, etc. can be affected, and they have to find the most effective ways to rehab those attributes. He also mentions that the early part of the rehabilitation process is pretty standard, with core strength and range of motion exercise. In Woods' case, the stage that he is currently in is past that. The player and physical therapist now have more freedom to do more specific activities and exercises.
For Woods, the fact that his ACL injury was a "clean tear" also plays a role in his recovery and return. Kempfert says that is impactful because it means that Woods most likely avoided structural damage to other parts of his knee. The MCL or LCL could have been seriously damaged alongside the ACL, but Woods avoided that.
The rehab process for the new Titans WR seems to be going as well as anyone could have hoped. Woods is excited to get on the field for the Titans, but he doesn't want to rush anything, either. Fans should have that exact same mindset for his return. His impact will be worth the wait for Tennessee.
Featured Image via USA TODAY-Sports
