There was some surprising injury information out of Pittsburgh recently from a first-round running back.
Najee Harris opened up to reporters and said he had a Lisfranc injury this summer. Yet, he played in the final preseason game (whereas most teams rest their starters in the finale). So does that mean he's 100% over the Lisfranc, and it's a bygone risk? Or does it mean he's already coming into the season with an elevated chance at re-aggravation or further injury?
Quick Answer
This should not be a big concern. There are degrees of Lisfranc injuries -- anything from low-grade ligament sprains to fracture/dislocations of the joint. All indications are this is a very low-grade sprain. A four- to six-week recovery is reasonable. Harris played in a preseason game and suffered no setbacks. A full workload is likely in Week 1.
More Details
The evolution of Lisfranc injuries is fascinating.
10-15 years ago, Lisfranc was a contact injury. A player would have the ball of his foot driven into the artificial turf when another player fell on their heel. An x-ray might not show an injury even if the entire ligament complex was disrupted, and an accurate diagnosis was often delayed. Even after diagnosis, recovery was harder due to complicated and extensive surgical procedures.
Then the game moved to field turf, and players gravitated toward thinner, lighter, stickier shoes. Lisfranc sprains are now often a non-contact injury. A foot stuck in the turf while changing direction can cause enough torque to disrupt the joint. Sprains are more common. Diagnosis is better and often immediate, surgical procedures are less invasive and more successful, and rehab protocols have dramatically improved. It's no longer the "dreaded Lisfranc" injury.
Harris "having his foot stepped on" sounds weird. But it really isn't. If it's healed enough for Pittsburgh to clear their high-volume lead back for contact in a meaningless preseason game two weeks before Week 1 after missing all of camp, there's likely no reason for concern. Expect him to be ready for Week 1.
