NFL rookie reveals he only realized he’d lacerated his KIDNEY when he noticed blood in his urine after landing awkwardly on the ball during a game
- Luke Musgrave ruptured his kidney after landing on the ball in a Packers game
- He only realized the severity of his injury when he noticed blood in his urine
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Green Bay Packers rookie tight end Luke Musgrave has revealed that he only realized he had ruptured his kidney when he noticed blood in his urine.
Musgrave caught a pass, was tackled and landed awkwardly on the ball during their win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
He immediately ignored the pain and continued playing, but admitted that he “knew something was probably wrong.”
The pain worsened overnight on November 19 and he was forced to go to the emergency room when hHe went to the bathroom and saw blood in his urine.
“I put the pieces together pretty quickly, I kind of knew that was a problem,” he said.
Luke Musgrave only realized he had ruptured his kidney when he noticed blood in his urine
As the severity increased overnight, doctors kept him an extra night. Although he avoided surgery, the injury derailed an excellent debut season.
“Yeah, it wasn't great,” Musgrave said. “Internal organs are definitely a little different than a normal football injury.”
After Musgrave spent about a month on the sidelines, the Packers returned him from injured reserve on Thursday.
He did not practice Thursday or Friday, but worked with trainers, and was ruled out of Sunday's game against Carolina.
Given the severity of the injury and the fact that there are only two games left to play after Sunday, there is a chance that Musgrave's season is over.
“My goal is to play as quickly as possible,” he said.
“With these things it's a little weird, so it just depends on how I'm doing. My goal is to play. That's my goal, so we'll see.'
The Packers designated him to return from injured reserve on Thursday, but he's still not ready
Nothing but rest can heal a ruptured kidney, and a new injury can cause significant problems.
“The problem is that the kidneys can regulate blood pressure,” Musgrave said. “So far it's looking good.”
It means he may fall just short of breaking a franchise record that seemed easily within his grasp last month.
In 10 games, the second-round draft pick caught 33 passes for 341 yards and one touchdown.
In franchise history, 2000 first-round pick Bubba Franks caught more passes (34) for more yards (363) among rookie tight ends.
Musgrave wants to be on the field to break those records and help the Packers (6-8) get to the playoffs. However, those decisions will not be in his hands.
“I play through the pain,” he said.
'When it comes to internal matters, things might be a little different. I don't want to have long term problems, but I play through pain. So if I can play safely, I'll play through the pain.”