Nearly two weeks after sustaining a significant knee injury, Nick Chubb has started what could be an arduous comeback.
In a press release, Georgia announced that Chubb underwent what was only described as successful knee surgery Friday at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens. The school wrote in the release that "[t]he surgery was performed by Robert E. Hancock, MD, who is with the Athens Orthopedic Clinic and is the lead orthopedic surgeon for the UGA Athletic Association, and Dr. James R. Andrews, MD of Andrews Sports Medicine in Pensacola, Fla.”
The specific nature of the repairs were not detailed, although his mother did publicly state shortly after her son sustained the injury Oct. 10 against Tennessee that he tore the PCL in his left knee as well as two other unspecified ligaments in the same joint.
“We are very pleased with the surgery and the procedure went extremely well,” said UGA senior associate athletic director for sports medicine Ron Courson in a statement. “Following his discharge, Nick will start his rehabilitation program and we are optimistic for a full recovery.”
Left unsaid was a timeframe for a return to the playing field for Chubb. Even limited participation in spring practice might be overly optimistic for the true sophomore, with summer camp perhaps the first realistic target for a full return.
There will also be those who campaign for Chubb, who is ineligible for the 2016 NFL draft, to stay on the sidelines next season and continue his rehab in preparation for the 2017 NFL draft. What path Chubb ultimately decides to take will likely become clear in the coming months.
