Let’s talk about foot drop in a very basic way for a minute.
For the dad bods here, imagine chasing your offspring around the coffee table. You take a turn too quickly and stub your big toe pretty bad. Even after your toe returns to normal color, you may notice your toe getting “caught” on carpet. It flexes into the ground and may pop a little. This doesn’t always happen, but it surprises you every once in awhile. You may think it’s healed, but then 2 years later, it happens again. Let’s be honest, you aren’t chasing them around every day at full strength.
Now imagine it is your whole foot. It’s not a muscular or tendon injury that can be easily repaired. It’s nerve damage, like many of you may have elsewhere that is absolutely a [ hundin] to resolve. Every once in awhile, the foot doesn’t quite lift all the way and the brain doesn’t notice until it’s too late. The result is a hyperextension injury that could end a season. It doesn’t even take a hit to result in the injury. Straight line running could do it.
Unless JR is one of the lucky few with full resolution, his dual threat days (to maintain his health) are over. That’s not to say that he can’t out-run you. 499 out of 500 times he beats you in a foot race, but the 1 out of 500 or whatever where he takes a spill is not worth running the 499 times at his previous level. I can’t give exact numbers here.
A special brace may help to some degree, but it’ll effect speed. If he plays, look for the brace.
CGP has repeatedly stated that JR is not at full resolution. Knowing that, if you are CGP what option do you choose:
1. Rehab another 6-12 months to see if full resolution will ever occur. It’s possible.
2. Convert to a pure pocket passer, but is he our best pocket passer to be worth mostly eliminating the QB run game?
3. Unleash him at the elevated risk of additional injuries.