Urlacher getting scoped today

**Shark86x** · 08-14-2012, 10:13 AM

link

By Brad Biggs Chicago Tribune reporter 9:56 a.m. CDT, August 14, 2012

BOURBONNAIS -- After missing two weeks of training camp and being gone for a week for personal reasons, Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

An NFL source told the Tribune Urlacher underwent the procedure Tuesday, 26 days before the start of the regular season. The Bears and Urlacher have maintained all along that he will be ready to play against the Indianapolis Colts Sept. 9 at Soldier Field. It is unknown at this point if today's surgery will alter that timeline.

Urlacher was asked in an interview on Monday with WFLD Fox-32 if he had arthroscopic surgery during the time he was away from training camp at Olivet Nazarene University last week.

"No," Urlacher told Fox-32. "I am pretty sure if I got surgery we have to tell the NFL from what I understand, right? I definitely didn't get knee surgery. I was gone for personal reasons."

Fox host Lou Canellis then asked Urlacher if there was an arthroscopic surgery he could have and return in two weeks.

"I don't know," Urlacher said. "I am just going to keep resting right now. I have never had a scope. I don't know how that stuff works. This is the first time I have ever done anything to my knee so I am kind of new to this. I don't know. Honestly, I don't know how that works."

It's certainly possible Urlacher and the team decided later Monday that it was best for him to have the knee examined. He suffered a sprained MCL and PCL in the regular season finale Jan. 1 at the Metrodome. Urlacher was held out of the offseason program as he rehabilitated the knee and felt fine when training camp opened. But a week of wear and tear on the practice field led the knee to swell up and he was shut down. He last practiced July 31. Nick Roach has been playing middle linebacker in his place with Geno Hayes working with the first team at strong-side linebacker.

Urlacher did some running with a brace on Monday morning under the careful watch of the team's training staff while a walk-through was being conducted. The Bears expected he would likely miss some time in training camp but didn't expect a need to shut him down.

"I just think I did a lot of movements I hadn't done in a long time and being out there for 2 ½, three hours probably doesn't help, running around," Urlacher told Fox. "But it's practice. You gotta do it. I think just the shock of being out there so long and doing so many movements like that was too much for my knee.

"It is hard but there is a fine line between pushing it and easing into it, which is what I need to do. I just gotta get back out there for Sept. 9. Even if I just practice the week before, I'll be in good enough shape to make it through those games. But I gotta be out there when the games count."

Some players can return from arthroscopic knee surgeries quickly, within a matter of weeks. The source said the goal is for Urlacher to still be ready for the Colts game.

**Henry Burris** · 08-14-2012, 10:16 AM

He wants to be a SB winner, and is waiting until now, WHY?

**Shark86x** · 08-14-2012, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

He wants to be a SB winner, and is waiting until now, WHY?

That's what I was thinking. He should have had this done last year. I understand you don't want surgery. Nobody does. But they had to have MRI'd it and known it wasn't right. Why wait till training camp to work it out and see what happens? It's best to get it done and over with. This also makes me wonder what his "personal" reasons for missing last week were. There's another week's worth of recovery if he had this done then.

**Shark86x** · 08-14-2012, 10:29 AM

Post-op update - Bears website..

Link

August 14, 2012 Urlacher still on track for opener after having procedure

By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 8/14/2012 10:13 AM

Brian Urlacher underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his left knee Tuesday morning, but his goal to play in the regular season opener Sept. 9 against the Indianapolis Colts remains unchanged.

The procedure, which was performed by Bears doctors Gordon Nuber and Mark Bowen, was done to help relieve the swelling in Urlacher's knee.
The Bears middle linebacker sat out the entire offseason program while recovering from a knee injury he suffered in last year’s season finale in Minnesota. The eight-time Pro Bowler participated in the first four training camp practices but hasn’t worked out with his teammates since July 31.
“I hate sitting out,” Urlacher said Sunday. “I practiced the first four or five days and felt pretty good, and then it got sore and a little swollen, so I’m taking some time off right now.”
Asked on Sunday about a timetable for his return, Urlacher said: “Sept. 9, I’ll be ready to play for sure. That’s really all that matters to me. Preseason games and all these practices, I’d love to be out there. But I’m not going to put myself in jeopardy of missing the first game.”

Even after undergoing the procedure, that timetable hasn't changed for Urlacher, who was already back at Olivet Nazarene University before 10 a.m. Tuesday.

**motownbear** · 08-14-2012, 10:46 AM

basically cause emery didnt hand him an extension

**The Benjamin** · 08-14-2012, 10:46 AM

Waiting is typical for a majority of athletes. Why did he wait til now to get it scoped as opposed to the off season?

Simple thought process is "I got hurt on company time, I will get fixed on company time. Why give up my time"

Very few get procedures done in the off season.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-14-2012, 11:11 AM

This is exactly what I feared.

I don't think there was anything sinister here, I don't think they were trying to hide the severity of the injury from us. I do think the Bears need to start thinking about life without Brian - possibly - happening sooner rather than later. Better get a "real" MLB in next year's draft and begin grooming him for when Brian leaves. Let's not wait until we're in a crisis situation.

Roach is not a viable MLB for us long-term. He is a very mediocre talent at best.

**short faced bear** · 08-14-2012, 11:13 AM

He could have done this right before OTA's and that might not have been so bad. If your looking at a championship season it's a selfish move. His extension will be much harder now I believe.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-14-2012, 11:33 AM

One other thing. Urlacher is a warrior who will want to hurry back for that opener against the Colts. But I hope the medical staff (and our coaches) let that knee heal properly so he can be able to perform well all season long and the playoffs. If that means he misses a few early games, so be it. Get it right so we don't end up with him aggravating it, and having it reduce his effectiveness the entire season.

Get it right this time. Don't hurry back.

**soulman** · 08-14-2012, 11:38 AM

Damn, knew I was right. His being away for "personal reasons" was a load of crap. It didn't add up. He either met with the docs during that absence or he had already been advised about having the "scoping" done and took some time to think about it or there's even a possibility that he met with his agent for them to the discuss the impact of it on contract negotiations.

Both he and the Bears have known about this possibility all along but everybody decided to play dumb about it. No wonder the contract talks are getting put on hold. They can all downplay it as much as they like but there's a real possibility that this is having a lot more affect on his knee and his play than anyone has been willing to let on so far.

I guess the wait and see approach makes some sense. If it wasn't giving him any problems then there was no need but when after all that time off it flared up the minute he put it under some stress whoops, this needs looking at. It's not a major surgical procedure but the reason it has to be done is. The knee isn't completely healed. There's scar tissue or something that's inflamed and causing him some trouble. MPBear68 could probably give us some insight.

If I recall this is the same procedure Carimi underwent following his first surgery last fall and although the injury itself was far more severe than Urlacher's he's still experiencing "soreness" and he's ten years younger with a lot less mileage on the knee. 50/50 on Brian playing before October.

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