The NY Giants’ pro bowl DE #72 Osi Umenyiora went down Saturday August 23rd against the Jets.  A MRI Sunday revealed a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. Osi went down without significant contact when his cleat appeared to become awkwardly stuck in the artificial turf while rushing Jets’ QB Brett Favre.                         

With pending surgery this week, Umenyiora will be shut down for the entire 2008-09 season.  While at Troy State he underwent arthroscopy on the same knee.  At 26 years old and a pending second more significant injury to his left knee, what might the future hold for the 2-time pro-bowler and Superbowl champion?

Not that I would ever wish an injury and surgery on anyone, especially a professional athlete who earns their livelihood through their performance on the field, the subsequent time off may extend his career.  No, that was not a typo or seizure activity… be patient and I’ll explain.  He is in perfect health, has a surgeon in Dr. Russ Warren (and the team at the Hospital for Special Surgery) who is a pioneer in arthroscopy and will have the most advanced physical rehabilitation on planet earth.  This is an injury pattern that as orthopedic surgeons we understand well and have had a great deal of experience with.  To make a long story short and boring he will heal this well.

But why do I say that this episode may in fact extend his career? Question-when has Osi Umenyiora had a full year away from contact to allow his entire body to truly heal? Answer-never or not in a very long time.  People underestimate the physical toll that years of competition and last year’s 24-game season takes on the human body.  Now he will finally get an opportunity not to only heal this knee surgery but to heal the multitude of nagging aches and pains that every professional athlete especially those in the NFL walks around with every day.

The 2008-09 season may be over for Umenyiora but never fear NY Giants’ fans.  #72 will be in a backfield near you soon terrorizing NFL QB’s for many, many seasons to come.