Latest news with #AchillesTear
New York Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Browns place Deshaun Watson on physically unable to perform list
The Cleveland Browns have placed quarterback Deshaun Watson on the active – physically unable to perform (PUP) list for the start of training camp. The expected designation came Tuesday as the full squad reported for the start of camp. Watson suffered a second Achilles tear in January while rehabbing from the Achilles injury he suffered last October in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Advertisement Though an exact timetable for medical clearance is unknown, the Browns have long known that Watson would not be ready for the start of camp or the start of the 2025 season. Players on the active-PUP list count against the 90-man roster during training camp and can be activated any time, but Watson's expected rehab schedule extends beyond this summer. It's unknown if the Browns would activate Watson at any point during this season. In March, team owner Jimmy Haslam acknowledged the franchise's disastrous 2022 trade for Watson by saying the Browns 'took a big swing and miss' on acquiring Watson in a package that included three first-round picks. 'We thought we had a quarterback and we didn't,' Haslam said. The Browns still have a huge financial commitment to Watson, who counts just under $36 million on the team's 2025 salary cap and is scheduled to count for just over $80 million in 2026. The Browns have reworked Watson's contract multiple times to lower his cap numbers and could do so again after this season. The team could also work on a formal release ahead of 2026, though it's too early to know how things might play out. Watson is signed through 2026 and, under the current contract structure, is set to count on the team's cap through 2029. For now, he's almost certain to start the regular season on the PUP list and the Browns can make further determinations around midseason. Watson has started 19 games over three seasons with the Browns. He was limited to six games in 2022 after serving an 11-game suspension for violations of the NFL's personal conduct policy, and each of his last two seasons has been ended by injury and subsequent surgeries. Watson has completed 61 percent of his passes in a Cleveland uniform, and the Browns are 9-10 in games he's started. Wednesday's start of full camp marks the beginning of the final stage of the Browns' four-man competition for the starting quarterback job. Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco are the veteran candidates in a completely remade quarterback room that also includes 2025 draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. The Browns also placed defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (knee) on the PUP list and wide receiver David Bell (hip) on the active/non-football injury list. Hall and Bell are expected to be activated at some point during training camp.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I don't regret it': Tyrese Haliburton writes post on social media after surgery
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. INDIANAPOLIS -- After surgery to repair his torn right Achilles tendon in New York on Monday evening, Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton posted a lengthy message social media that he if he had to do it all over again, he'd still play in Game 6 and 7 of the NBA Finals despite a strained right calf. Haliburton suffered the first injury in Game 5 and went through around-the-clock treatment to play to try to lead the Pacers to their first NBA championship in franchise history. He helped the Pacers win Game 6 to force a Game 7 on Sunday night in Oklahoma City, but crumbled to the floor on a drive with 5 minutes to go in the first quarter and had to be carried to the locker room. An MRI confirmed an Achilles tendon tear on Monday and he flew to New York for a surgery with Dr. Martin O' Malley. Advertisement Haliburton said after Game 5 that as long as he could walk he wanted to play. After Game 6 he said he knew that if he didn't give it a try, he would regret it. In Game 7, the worst-case scenario played out on the Paycom Center floor, but Haliburton said he'd still make the same bet. "I know I'll come out on the other side of this a better man and a better player," Haliburton wrote. "And honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don't regret it. I'd do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers. For the chance to do something special." Re-live the Pacers incredible postseason run with our commemorative book That's not to say Haliburton has gotten over the pain yet -- physical or emotional. Advertisement "Man," he wrote. "Don't know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I've worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense." He didn't say much about the surgery itself, but did say the feeling wasn't enjoyable. "Now that I've gotten surgery, I wish I could count the number of times people will tell me I'm going to 'come back stronger," Haliburton wrote. "What a cliche lol, this (expletive) sucks. My foot feels like dead weight, fam. But what's hurting most I think is my mind. Feel like I'm rambling, but I know this is something I'll look back on when I'm through this, as something I'm proud I fought through. It feels good to let this (expletive) out without y'all seeing the kid ugly cry." Haliburton commiserated with the Pacers' fan base, which has seen its stars fall victim to devastating injury over and over with Paul George's broken leg and Victor Oladipo's quadriceps tear being among the most recent painful examples. The Pacers have never been as close to an NBA title as they were in these Finals, the first in which they have ever won three games. Advertisement "Indy, I'm sorry," Haliburton said. "If any fan base doesn't deserve this, it's y'all. But together we are going to fight like hell to get back to this very spot, and get over this hurdle. I don't doubt for a second that y'all have my back, and I hope you guys know that I have yours." And despite the cliche, Haliburton vowed to use the opportunity to get stronger. "I think Kobe (Bryant) said it best when in this same situation," Haliburton wrote. 'There are far greater issues/challenges in the world than a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.' And that's exactly right. I will do everything in my power to get back right." "My journey to get to where I am today wasn't by happenstance," Haliburton continued. "I've pushed myself every day to be great. And I will continue to do just that. The most important part of this all, is that I'm grateful. I'm grateful for every single experience that's led me here. I'm grateful for all the love from the hoop world. I don't 'have to' go through this, I get to go through this. I'm grateful for the road that lies ahead. Watch how I come back from this. So, give me some time, I'll dust myself off and get right back to being the best version of Tyrese Haliburton." Advertisement Get IndyStar's Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Pacers Update newsletter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tyrese Haliburton injury: Pacers star posts on social media
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"When he gets back, that will be the cherry on the top" - Pacers president Kevin Pritchard explains why Tyrese Haliburton won't play next season
"When he gets back, that will be the cherry on the top" - Pacers president Kevin Pritchard explains why Tyrese Haliburton won't play next season originally appeared on Basketball Network. Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard announced on Monday that All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton will not play for the Pacers next season. Advertisement Haliburton suffered an Achilles tear in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Although everyone expected him to miss a significant portion of the 2025-26 season, some Pacers fans still hoped he could return late in the regular season or during the playoffs. However, Pritchard said that the Pacers are taking a cautious approach by not rushing him back early. "I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever. The surgery went well. ... He will not play next year, though. We would not jeopardize that now," Pritchard told reporters Monday, per WISH-TV News. "So don't get any hopes up that he will play. But then again, we'll have some guys, and hopefully they'll have some opportunities to grow. And when he gets back, that will be the cherry on top." Pacers have plenty of young guard talent on board Haliburton was the heart and soul of the Pacers during their run to the 2025 NBA Finals. Aside from his clutch shot-making and game-winners, Hali's pace and playmaking enabled Indiana to get past higher-ranked teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks on the East side of the postseason. He was off to a strong start, hitting three consecutive 3-pointers in Game 7, when he suffered the injury. Advertisement Without Haliburton, the Pacers are likely to turn to Andrew Nembhard to be the team's primary playmaker, with NBA Finals cult hero T.J. McConnell and Ben Sheppard getting more minutes off the bench. But aside from the three, the Pacers have added point guards Quenton Jackson, Ray J Dennis, and 2025 38th pick Kam Jones, giving them the opportunity to prove their worth if they can make the final roster. The Pacers opened with the 7th-best odds to win the Eastern Conference next season. But with guys like Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, Benedict Mathurin, and Obi Toppin, they still have a competitive lineup that could pull off surprises next season. Pritchard said he would have prevented Hali from playing Game 7 As for Haliburton, Pritchard said that if it were only up to him, he would have instead sacrificed Game 7 to protect his star player. However, Hali insisted on playing and repeatedly said he would do it again even if he knew he could get seriously hurt. Advertisement "(Haliburton's) told me many times ... 'I would do it over and over.' And if you're asking me, would I have him do it over and over? I would not," Pritchard said. "If I knew that he was going to get hurt, I would sacrifice that game because I care for the kid so much and want him to have an incredible career." It's a pity the Pacers won't have that immediate chance to follow up on their success last season. But as Pritchard said, it also allows them to test and develop young players so that when Haliburton returns, they'll even be a deeper team than they were during their championship run. Related: "ESPN had my name spelled wrong for the first two weeks of the season" - Tyrese Haliburton talks about being overlooked in college This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Achilles injuries have vexed the NBA. A Hall of Famer reflects, and doctors analyze
During Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals last Sunday, when the basketball world watched Tyrese Haliburton writhe in pain after tearing his right Achilles tendon, Dominique Wilkins sympathized with Haliburton, but wasn't as surprised as others may have been. Not because Haliburton's rupture marked the third such injury for an NBA All-Star during the 2025 playoffs. Not even because of it being the seventh such tear for a league player during the 2024-25 season alone. Never mind that Wilkins, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, suffered the same fate more than 30 years ago, only to rediscover his basketball superpowers after arduous rehabilitation before such bouncebacks were considered routine. Advertisement Wilkins wasn't surprised because he knows an athlete's body can take only so much before being pushed to its ultimate on-court limit. 'It's just a freak accident. It's something unexplainable,' Wilkins told The Athletic after watching Haliburton's injury. 'Usually, when a guy tears his Achilles, there's already some nagging pain that you don't think about beyond wear and tear. You don't think it's something that's going to blow on you. I sympathize with him because the way he went down, it looked like he completely tore it.' When Haliburton's injury was confirmed the following Monday, it further established a season-long trend around the league: players are tearing their Achilles more frequently and at younger ages. There is no singular variable increasing the rate at which basketball players are routinely rupturing — at the bare minimum compromising — the longest, strongest tendon in the body. Bodily attrition plays a distinct role, which Wilkins noted as he reflected on AAU basketball being more popular than ever as players enter the NBA with more mileage than those from prior generations. 'There ain't no question it's the wear and tear,' Wilkins said. 'AAU and all that stuff at a very early age, they never give their bodies a chance to rest. So, yeah, it definitely has something to do with it. … With all the technology in the world, why are guys getting more Achilles tears than we had? It wasn't a lot of guys who had them when I was playing.' For Wilkins, who averaged 24.8 points across 15 NBA seasons stretching from 1982 to 1999, an Achilles rupture then was seen almost as a career death sentence. His rehabilitation, at 32 years old, spanned 282 days between the injury on Jan. 28, 1992, and his return to the court. On Nov. 6, 1992, he had 30 points and made 13 of 26 shots in his first game back against the New York Knicks. He finished the 1992-93 season with the third-highest scoring average of his career (29.9) and a fifth-place finish in the NBA MVP voting. Advertisement Though it may have seemed like 'The Human Highlight Reel' never skipped a beat, returning to regular form was not easy. He knows it will be difficult for Haliburton, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard, who will each navigate their own paths through troubled waters. But difficult does not equate to impossible. 'First thing I thought was my career was over, because at 32, back in those days, that was an injury you didn't come back from and be what you were,' Wilkins said. 'I quickly determined I'm going to work my butt off to get back to the level I was, if not better. I remember getting sarcastic pats on the back with, 'Yeah, good luck with that.' But I tell people all the time, I worked twice a day, every day, for nine months to get back to the level that I once left it, and I came back with my best all-around year with almost 30 points a game. It was just a wonderful year for me.' Before seeing the replay of Haliburton falling to the ground, Nashville, Tenn.-based Dr. Nicholas Strasser, an assistant professor in Vanderbilt University's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, had flashbacks to the 2019 NBA Finals. Strasser, who also serves as a foot and ankle consultant for Vanderbilt athletics, the NHL's Nashville Predators and the MLS' Nashville SC, remembers a then-30-year-old Kevin Durant tearing his Achilles after trying to combat a calf strain. 'It was so similar to the Kevin Durant situation that, without even seeing (Haliburton), I was like, 'Oh, no. Did he tear his Achilles?' Strasser told The Athletic. 'As soon as they showed the replay, you could see it as he took that, what they call, negative step. You could almost see the recoil to it.' A side-by-side of Tyrese Haliburton's leg injury in Game 7 and Kevin Durant's ruptured Achilles in the 2019 Finals. — Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) June 23, 2025 From an orthopedic surgeon's perspective, a negative step refers to a sudden backward shift of the foot, typically when a player pushes or plants their foot behind the body to accelerate or change direction. In such instances, the Achilles tendon both contracts and lengthens, which places great stress on the muscle and makes it vulnerable to rupture, particularly in fatigued or degenerated tendons. It's a classic setup for a non-contact injury, often described by patients as feeling like getting kicked in the back of the leg. The story of the greatest players in NBA history. In 100 riveting profiles, top basketball writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NBA in the process. The story of the greatest players in NBA history. 'The Achilles is similar to a bow string on a violin. It looks like one structure, but within that structure is a lot of fiber,' said Dr. Kenneth Jung, an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles and a consultant to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams. 'You can have straining of the fibers, partial tearing or a complete rupture. But the MRI will allow you to see, within the tendon, if there's early changes or early signs of injury. It can also be used to confirm the rupture.' Advertisement In 2013, a 34-year-old Kobe Bryant tore his simply by spinning baseline for a fadeaway bucket. He walked off the floor, but not without first shooting and making two free throws. When Haliburton went down, the basketball world witnessed a major injury for a 25-year-old All-NBA guard. Advanced technology helps with both diagnosing and anticipating Achilles ruptures. The many variables add up to sound reasoning, even if a diagnosis is never truly a binary endeavor: In recent weeks, arguments about sneaker usage — ranging from Durant to former NBA guard Nick Van Exel and even rapper/sports analyst Cam'ron — have entered the chat about commonplace Achilles ruptures. Some, like Wilkins, have argued that wearing low-top sneaker cuts has an adverse effect in comparison to mid-quarter and high-top cuts, but the jury is still out regarding a scientific explanation on the effect of footwear. 'That's a hard one for me,' Strasser said. 'I can definitely see the risk of ankle sprains and rolling your ankles and having more support, but it's a different injury. The Achilles spans such a long distance. 'Technically, the muscle goes all the way up to the knee and then comes across two joints, so it would be hard for me to say there's a direct correlation between that portion of the shoe and Achilles tendon ruptures. I'd be more concerned with rolling your ankle or something like that, because it's hard to find anything that can brace an Achilles.' In some cases, according to Jung, shoe support can play a role, but it's not a black-and-white measure. The popularity of low-top sneakers among basketball players has grown in recent years, so it's unfair to broadly conflate that trend with such a life-changing injury. With sneakers, heel level does play a factor in an Achilles tear, even if other variables influence whether a rupture takes place. Lighter weight in a sneaker can decrease support, leaving a leg at risk for injury. And sometimes, even with the sturdiest sneaker, the danger of a rupture remains because, as Wilkins mentioned, it simply can be a freak accident. But sports specialization undeniably influences matters, as more hoopers are choosing the game at a younger age, thus increasing the risk of repeatedly stressing the same joints before ever playing an NBA minute. Advertisement 'Your body has to have time to recover,' Wilkins said. 'You can't push a body like a machine, because it's not. You push your body to the point where you're getting better, getting stronger. 'But the greats — the Kobes, myself, the Michaels (Jordan) — we took a little downtime to let our bodies rest. Even though we pushed ourselves to the limit, you've still got to let your body rest.' According to Strasser, surgery for repairing an Achilles tendon normally doesn't take more than two hours. The patient is positioned on their stomach with a generic anesthetic used to subdue them. It often is an outpatient surgery. The muscle-tendon relationship must be restored before a patient advances to load-bearing to avoid muscle atrophy. Anywhere from six to 12 weeks is when the tendon can eventually take on more, but early loading and eventual motion practice can make a difference. Beyond a successful surgery, nutrition is an underrated variable. An athlete's diet matters. 'Somebody in the NBA is probably going to have optimal nutrition,' Strasser said. 'But certainly making sure they're getting enough protein and a balanced diet to help promote tendon healing and minimize muscle atrophy is all really key for building blocks in muscle maintenance and tendon repair.' A player's return to the court can vary by a myriad of factors. Wilkins credits sound patience. Although Wilkins is recognized as a standard bearer for Achilles recoveries, the recuperation curve remains steep. Bryant and Patrick Ewing had steep decreases in their player efficiency ratings upon returning from their injuries. Durant, who was recently traded to the Houston Rockets, sports 53.1/41.5/88.0 shooting splits since returning from his rupture but has missed almost an average of 26 games per season since the 2019 NBA Finals. Advertisement No matter how ambitious the timetable, the balance between seeing results and prioritizing peace can be the ultimate measure in recovering from what many see as a finisher to an NBA career. Depending on a player's age, the margins could already be thin. Body parts stiffening is a reality with aging, so a successful recovery becomes tougher sledding — not impossible, of course — when an athlete can't move as accustomed. Fortunately, Achilles rupture recoveries have advanced well enough to expedite load-bearing for players to make better informed decisions as they pursue on-court returns. But in a league where the best players are thriving while being challenged, peace of mind can be uncommon when it comes to an athlete sniffing a return to familiar form. 'It's the patience that will determine how he will come back,' Wilkins said. 'That patience and hard work. … You learn how to play the game on the ground as well as in the air, becoming more fundamentally sound. (Injured players) will notice those things through development.'
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shams confirms Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles tear in NBA Finals Game 7
The post Shams confirms Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles tear in NBA Finals Game 7 appeared first on ClutchPoints. As the fear had been that Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton had an Achilles injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the extent of the injury would be confirmed by Shams Charania of ESPN. With the sports world reacting to Haliburton's injury, Charania would report that the point guard has 'sustained a torn right Achilles tendon.' Advertisement Looking at how much time he would miss, there's no doubt it would be a significant portion of next season, with roughly the same situation happening to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and his Achilles tear. Haliburton had suffered from a calf strain in Game 5, but played through it in Game 6 and ultimately in Sunday's outing when the injury was sustained in the first quarter. 'Breaking: Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton sustained a torn right Achilles tendon in Game 7 against Oklahoma City, sources tell ESPN,' Charania wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 'Haliburton played through a calf strain in the same leg during the NBA Finals for an opportunity to win a championship.' There is no doubt that Haliburton had been the driving force in leading Indiana to the NBA Finals, where the team beat the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks, the No. 1 seed in the East Cleveland Cavaliers, and the New York Knicks. Consequently, the group would push the series in the NBA Finals against the No. 1 seed in the West, Oklahoma City, to seven games, giving them a run for their money. A long recovery process ahead of Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Subsequently, the Pacers' star in Haliburton was seen leaving on crutches after the defeat as he now looks to recover for an eventual return, though it figures to be a long time from now since a torn Achilles leads to a long process. Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle would say after the game that the team's 'hearts dropped' when they saw Haliburton go down, according to The Athletic. Advertisement 'What happened with Tyrese is, all of our hearts dropped,' Carlisle said. 'He authored one of the great individual playoff runs in the history of the NBA, with dramatic play after dramatic play. It was just something that no one's ever seen. And did it as one of 17 (players). That's the beautiful thing about him.' At any rate, the Pacers look to further improve after finishing with a 50-32 record, which put them fourth in the Eastern Conference and made it to the NBA Finals. Related: Ranking 3 best Myles Turner free-agency destinations if he leaves Pacers Related: 3 best players Pacers must re-sign after Tyrese Haliburton injury, NBA Finals loss
