Schwartz: Westbrook to Have Surgery Friday

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

By Andy Schwartz
CSNPhilly.com

The mini-mystery surrounding Brian Westbrook’s ankle has been solved.

Sort of.

Dr. Mark Myerson will perform surgery on Westbrook’s injured right ankle Friday in Baltimore. The procedure, according to the brief statement the team released Wednesday night, is called a “debridement of his right ankle.”

According to Merriam-Webster's medical dictionary, a debridement is “the usually surgical removal of lacerated, devitalized, or contaminated tissue.” Wikipedia's description provides more detail, asserting that the procedure involves the “removal of a patient's dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue.”

This will be the second offseason surgery for Westbrook, who also has had his left knee cleaned out. How this latest injury occurred and whether Westbrook will be ready for the regular season have yet to be revealed by the team.

CSN's Michael Barkann, citing a team source, reported earlier Wednesday that Westbrook was in Baltimore being examined by Myerson for a high ankle sprain that could require surgery. According to the source, the surgery would clean out the ankle, and Westbrook would be ready for the start of the regular season.

However, Westbrook's agent Todd France told ESPN.com that Westbrook was to have surgery to clean out bone spurs in the ankle. France said the bone spurs are not related to the sprain.

Last year Westbrook suffered a high sprain in the same ankle, an injury which bothered him throughout the season and sidelined him for the Week 4 loss to Chicago.

Westbrook did not participate in practice Tuesday, when the Eagles began full-team OTAs. Afterward coach Andy Reid cited the injury but did not explain how it occurred. Westbrook participated in the team's post-draft minicamp a month ago but took limited reps.

On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg admitted to not being completely informed about the injury but said he talked to Westbrook on Tuesday.
 
“I think he’s going to be fine,” Mornhinweg said. “From everything I know, I’m not concerned about it right now.”

During the Eagles' Super Bowl run in 2004, Myerson treated Terrell Owens' severely injured ankle. Owens miraculously returned for the Super Bowl and had nine receptions for 122 yards.

Curtis update
Still recovering from a second surgery to repair the sports hernia he suffered last year, receiver Kevin Curtis again practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday. He maintains that he should be ready for training camp.

“I’m not quite there. I tried to go out [Tuesday], and I felt really good actually,” Curtis said. “But it’s different running on air as opposed to running against a guy who’s defending you – you’ve got to react naturally. It’s just not quite ready. It’s close.”

E-mail Andy Schwartz at aschwartz@comcastsportsnet.com.