Deepak Chona, MD. SportsMedAnalytics
@sportsmedanalytics.bsky.social
Data-driven injury analyst. NFL/fantasy football. Stanford + Harvard-trained sports surgeon. Featured on ESPN, NBC, The Athletic, Newsweek. FantasyPros Expert.
#NFL Injury Updates
#49ers Brandon Aiyuk - Lean towards PUP. Data projects late-Oct return at ~80%. WRs avg 4-6 game ramp up
#Chargers Justin Herbert - '24 rushing may have dipped due to ankle + foot. 1st 6 games, 6 rush ypg. Next 6, 30. No lingering dip projected in '25
1/6
#49ers Brandon Aiyuk - Lean towards PUP. Data projects late-Oct return at ~80%. WRs avg 4-6 game ramp up
#Chargers Justin Herbert - '24 rushing may have dipped due to ankle + foot. 1st 6 games, 6 rush ypg. Next 6, 30. No lingering dip projected in '25
1/6
June 25, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Confirmed Achilles for Tyrese Haliburton.
Possible to return next season but likely w/dip until start of ‘27-28
Best wishes
Possible to return next season but likely w/dip until start of ‘27-28
Best wishes
Tyrese Haliburton - can see pop. Suspect Achilles vs high-grade calf.
Almost certainly out unfortunately
#Pacers
Almost certainly out unfortunately
#Pacers
June 23, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Confirmed Achilles for Tyrese Haliburton.
Possible to return next season but likely w/dip until start of ‘27-28
Best wishes
Possible to return next season but likely w/dip until start of ‘27-28
Best wishes
#NFL Injury Updates:
#Giants Malik Nabers - Yellow flag. Not huge red. Chronic toe elevates risk in-season, but often see missed time in June that doesn't cause problems by Sept
#Buccaneers Chris Godwin - Expecting slow start (80% Wk 1) and progressive ramp up (90% Wk 8)
1/6
#Giants Malik Nabers - Yellow flag. Not huge red. Chronic toe elevates risk in-season, but often see missed time in June that doesn't cause problems by Sept
#Buccaneers Chris Godwin - Expecting slow start (80% Wk 1) and progressive ramp up (90% Wk 8)
1/6
June 18, 2025 at 2:00 AM
#NFL Injury Updates:
#Giants Malik Nabers - Yellow flag. Not huge red. Chronic toe elevates risk in-season, but often see missed time in June that doesn't cause problems by Sept
#Buccaneers Chris Godwin - Expecting slow start (80% Wk 1) and progressive ramp up (90% Wk 8)
1/6
#Giants Malik Nabers - Yellow flag. Not huge red. Chronic toe elevates risk in-season, but often see missed time in June that doesn't cause problems by Sept
#Buccaneers Chris Godwin - Expecting slow start (80% Wk 1) and progressive ramp up (90% Wk 8)
1/6
#49ers Ricky Pearsall - Hamstring. Comments suggest mild.
He did strain a hamstring in '24, but it wasn't the reason he missed time.
Data does not suggest higher in-season risk than avg WR, so wouldn't move him in rankings rn
Fantasy season is so back
He did strain a hamstring in '24, but it wasn't the reason he missed time.
Data does not suggest higher in-season risk than avg WR, so wouldn't move him in rankings rn
Fantasy season is so back
May 30, 2025 at 2:04 AM
#49ers Ricky Pearsall - Hamstring. Comments suggest mild.
He did strain a hamstring in '24, but it wasn't the reason he missed time.
Data does not suggest higher in-season risk than avg WR, so wouldn't move him in rankings rn
Fantasy season is so back
He did strain a hamstring in '24, but it wasn't the reason he missed time.
Data does not suggest higher in-season risk than avg WR, so wouldn't move him in rankings rn
Fantasy season is so back
Jaylen Brown - Suspect knee surgery incoming
Data = favorable for return to full strength by start of next season
Unfortunately these are associated w/decreased longevity, esp if it happens multiple times on 1 knee (e.g., Dwayne Wade, Joel Embiid)
As far as we know, it’s his 1st so concern = low
Data = favorable for return to full strength by start of next season
Unfortunately these are associated w/decreased longevity, esp if it happens multiple times on 1 knee (e.g., Dwayne Wade, Joel Embiid)
As far as we know, it’s his 1st so concern = low
May 17, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Jaylen Brown - Suspect knee surgery incoming
Data = favorable for return to full strength by start of next season
Unfortunately these are associated w/decreased longevity, esp if it happens multiple times on 1 knee (e.g., Dwayne Wade, Joel Embiid)
As far as we know, it’s his 1st so concern = low
Data = favorable for return to full strength by start of next season
Unfortunately these are associated w/decreased longevity, esp if it happens multiple times on 1 knee (e.g., Dwayne Wade, Joel Embiid)
As far as we know, it’s his 1st so concern = low
Lebron James - Groin, 1-2 wks reported.
Key = fast return carries higher re-injury risk.
Would be smart to slow-play this with a good chance to be ~100% by playoffs
#Lakers
Key = fast return carries higher re-injury risk.
Would be smart to slow-play this with a good chance to be ~100% by playoffs
#Lakers
March 9, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Lebron James - Groin, 1-2 wks reported.
Key = fast return carries higher re-injury risk.
Would be smart to slow-play this with a good chance to be ~100% by playoffs
#Lakers
Key = fast return carries higher re-injury risk.
Would be smart to slow-play this with a good chance to be ~100% by playoffs
#Lakers
Kyrie Irving injury:
(1) His left quad “jumps” before it hits the ground. Seen in tendon ruptures
(2) Knee lands in hyperextension, putting ACL/LCL/meniscus at risk
Hopefully wrong but not expecting great news
(1) His left quad “jumps” before it hits the ground. Seen in tendon ruptures
(2) Knee lands in hyperextension, putting ACL/LCL/meniscus at risk
Hopefully wrong but not expecting great news
March 4, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Kyrie Irving injury:
(1) His left quad “jumps” before it hits the ground. Seen in tendon ruptures
(2) Knee lands in hyperextension, putting ACL/LCL/meniscus at risk
Hopefully wrong but not expecting great news
(1) His left quad “jumps” before it hits the ground. Seen in tendon ruptures
(2) Knee lands in hyperextension, putting ACL/LCL/meniscus at risk
Hopefully wrong but not expecting great news
March 4, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Jalen Suggs - If only removing cartilage fragment, could return 2-6 wks as long as there's not a huge cartilage defect left behind.
If it is big and they resurface it right away, that would cost him the season.
If it is big and they resurface it right away, that would cost him the season.
March 2, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Jalen Suggs - If only removing cartilage fragment, could return 2-6 wks as long as there's not a huge cartilage defect left behind.
If it is big and they resurface it right away, that would cost him the season.
If it is big and they resurface it right away, that would cost him the season.
Brandon Aiyuk - Skeptical about serious trade talks.
ACL MCL avg = 11 months, which would put him at ~Sept-Oct
Data favors a strong bounce back, but it predicts a lag in production until at least mid-season
Real risk here unless #49ers are willing to take a discount
ACL MCL avg = 11 months, which would put him at ~Sept-Oct
Data favors a strong bounce back, but it predicts a lag in production until at least mid-season
Real risk here unless #49ers are willing to take a discount
March 2, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Brandon Aiyuk - Skeptical about serious trade talks.
ACL MCL avg = 11 months, which would put him at ~Sept-Oct
Data favors a strong bounce back, but it predicts a lag in production until at least mid-season
Real risk here unless #49ers are willing to take a discount
ACL MCL avg = 11 months, which would put him at ~Sept-Oct
Data favors a strong bounce back, but it predicts a lag in production until at least mid-season
Real risk here unless #49ers are willing to take a discount
Deebo Samuel - Nobody's talking about his mid-season pneumonia.
But that's big. And it showed.
Pre (5 games): 77 ypg
Post (10 games): 44
In '23 he put up 1100 total yds w/12 TDs
'22 up and down
'21 breakout
Not much evidence that the production ceiling has sunk
#Commanders
But that's big. And it showed.
Pre (5 games): 77 ypg
Post (10 games): 44
In '23 he put up 1100 total yds w/12 TDs
'22 up and down
'21 breakout
Not much evidence that the production ceiling has sunk
#Commanders
March 2, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Deebo Samuel - Nobody's talking about his mid-season pneumonia.
But that's big. And it showed.
Pre (5 games): 77 ypg
Post (10 games): 44
In '23 he put up 1100 total yds w/12 TDs
'22 up and down
'21 breakout
Not much evidence that the production ceiling has sunk
#Commanders
But that's big. And it showed.
Pre (5 games): 77 ypg
Post (10 games): 44
In '23 he put up 1100 total yds w/12 TDs
'22 up and down
'21 breakout
Not much evidence that the production ceiling has sunk
#Commanders
Joel Embiid - Battling arthritis as a result of multiple meniscus (shock absorber) injuries.
Surgical options could include transplanting meniscus +/- cartilage, and possibly cutting the bones to offload the most injured areas.
Outcomes are good, but very rare to see return to NBA level play.
Surgical options could include transplanting meniscus +/- cartilage, and possibly cutting the bones to offload the most injured areas.
Outcomes are good, but very rare to see return to NBA level play.
March 2, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Joel Embiid - Battling arthritis as a result of multiple meniscus (shock absorber) injuries.
Surgical options could include transplanting meniscus +/- cartilage, and possibly cutting the bones to offload the most injured areas.
Outcomes are good, but very rare to see return to NBA level play.
Surgical options could include transplanting meniscus +/- cartilage, and possibly cutting the bones to offload the most injured areas.
Outcomes are good, but very rare to see return to NBA level play.
Quinn Ewers - Torn oblique = very different than strain.
Every forceful throw had to hurt.
If true, don’t be surprised to see him become a sleeper QB of this draft
Every forceful throw had to hurt.
If true, don’t be surprised to see him become a sleeper QB of this draft
February 27, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Quinn Ewers - Torn oblique = very different than strain.
Every forceful throw had to hurt.
If true, don’t be surprised to see him become a sleeper QB of this draft
Every forceful throw had to hurt.
If true, don’t be surprised to see him become a sleeper QB of this draft
Abdul Carter - Stress reaction implies bone is not broken, so results = promising
With or without surgery, most heal and return w/o dip in production, durability or longevity.
I’d sit the Pro Day out cuz training on it risks worsening/prolonging it
Low overall concern
With or without surgery, most heal and return w/o dip in production, durability or longevity.
I’d sit the Pro Day out cuz training on it risks worsening/prolonging it
Low overall concern
February 27, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Abdul Carter - Stress reaction implies bone is not broken, so results = promising
With or without surgery, most heal and return w/o dip in production, durability or longevity.
I’d sit the Pro Day out cuz training on it risks worsening/prolonging it
Low overall concern
With or without surgery, most heal and return w/o dip in production, durability or longevity.
I’d sit the Pro Day out cuz training on it risks worsening/prolonging it
Low overall concern
#Sixers Joel Embiid - Data unfortunately told us this was likely.
The knee is not responding to injection, which means he’s prob considering cartilage/meniscus replacement surgeries.
Can work well, but suspect his knee is pretty far gone.
Lean towards the end coming soon, but rooting for opposite
The knee is not responding to injection, which means he’s prob considering cartilage/meniscus replacement surgeries.
Can work well, but suspect his knee is pretty far gone.
Lean towards the end coming soon, but rooting for opposite
February 24, 2025 at 12:25 AM
#Sixers Joel Embiid - Data unfortunately told us this was likely.
The knee is not responding to injection, which means he’s prob considering cartilage/meniscus replacement surgeries.
Can work well, but suspect his knee is pretty far gone.
Lean towards the end coming soon, but rooting for opposite
The knee is not responding to injection, which means he’s prob considering cartilage/meniscus replacement surgeries.
Can work well, but suspect his knee is pretty far gone.
Lean towards the end coming soon, but rooting for opposite