A potential concern has emerged regarding highly-rated NFL draft prospect Abdul Carter, who was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right foot during medical evaluations at the recent NFL combine. This early stage of bone stress is often a precursor to a more serious stress fracture if left untreated.
Fortunately, a follow-up examination conducted last week in Indianapolis indicated that Carter’s condition is improving and surgery will not be required. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, stated via ESPN, “It should be a non-factor with the teams at this point.”
To understand the implications for athletes, Fox News Digital spoke with Dr. Erica Urquhart, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon.
“Generally speaking, stress fractures arise from overuse—repetitive activities or those placing significant stress on a specific area of the body,” explained Dr. Urquhart.
The initial treatment for both stress reactions and what are termed “incomplete fractures” typically involves rest.
“We would encourage rest, immobilization to allow the body to heal itself,” she said.
This can be achieved through a cast or brace, effectively creating an environment where the affected area can recover. Recovery time is generally estimated at six to eight weeks.
However, Dr. Urquhart cautioned that for football players, there’s a risk of recurrence if fractures are not adequately healed.
- If previous treatment hasn’t fully resolved the issue, re-injury is possible.
- Returning to activity before complete healing can trigger another episode.
While surgery offers a more definitive solution and typically has a recovery timeline of six to eight weeks, Dr. Urquhart emphasized that the foot being a weight-bearing bone complicates matters.
“Surgical treatment is certainly more definitive treatment and in a young healthy individual one would expect that the recovery would be full, but the demands of athletics certainly make that discussion in athletes a little more complicated,” she noted.
Despite this recent development, Carter had an impressive 2024 season at Penn State, earning recognition as the Big Ten’s top defensive player. His statistics demonstrate his skill:
- 68 tackles
- 23.5 tackles for loss
- 12 sacks
Throughout his career, he amassed 39.5 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, and defended against 14 passes.
Carter is considered one of the top two prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, alongside Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, with both players expected to contend for starting roles and make an immediate impact on their new teams. The hope is that Carter’s foot issue will be fully resolved, allowing him to contribute without interruption.
