Myles Jack has jokes about the 'time bomb' in his knee
Myles Jack had just finished playing three games of basketball when he found out his knee was going to explode.
One of the most discussed body parts in this year's NFL draft made it to the screen of Jack's phone after a leg workout and a hoops binge at an L.A. Fitness in Arizona, as the UCLA product tells it.
"I did a whole leg workout, a whole leg day," Jack told Yahoo Sports by phone on Friday. "I did my agilities, did my conditioning, took a nap. Golden State played at 6 or 7, so I thought, 'Let's get a run in before that game.' Came back, watched Golden State. Looked at my phone and my knee is a 'time bomb.' "
"Time bomb" was the term used by an anonymous source who told the Philadelphia Daily News that Jack's knee is imperiled after a meniscus tear and repair last year. The intrigue (and worry) ratcheted up Sunday when NFL Network reported Jack has a "chondral defect" in his right knee. According to orthopedic surgeon Derek Ochiai, that's a cartilage issue that could be similar to what has slowed the beginning of Jadeveon Clowney's NFL career.
"This is frequent in basketball players," Ochiai says, "and treatment can include microfracture surgery."
"Defect" and "microfracture" are two scary words in the draft universe, yet Ochiai is quick to point out that if the defect is minor enough, it could present no symptoms at all – and require no procedure.
Jack is seven months out of surgery on that knee. His agent posted video of an "intense" workout after the "time bomb" flurry began.
"It's not like I'm getting mad," Jack says. "There's nothing for me to hide. … I'm doing everything. I'm not focused on the knee, worried about the knee, it's not limiting me, it doesn't swell up on me."
He has used the knee question to his advantage when quizzed about his decision to leave school after he got hurt. Wasn't that selfish of him?
"It looks like I left my team," he explains, "but I had to put myself in the best situation so my knee wouldn't be a time bomb."
Well played.
"Time bomb" aside, Jack is a top-five talent. Not only is he fast enough to cover wide receivers, he's big enough (6-foot-1, 245 pounds) to cover tight ends. Asked how he would shadow Rob Gronkowski if given the chance, he said he'd watch his high school tape if it gave him an edge.
"I think I could match up with him," Jack says. "He's gonna get his. End of the day, he's Rob Gronkowski. But I think I could do a good enough job where I could sway the game one way or the other."
He could sway the game on offense as well. He played some running back at UCLA and he says he would "definitely be willing" to do it again as a pro. He says some offensive coaches have asked him during the pre-draft process about rushing.
"I think I can do it in the league," he says. "I'm not expecting to do it but if they ask me I think I can get the job done."
He's also been asked about playing safety. So if he stays healthy, he's a potential contributor at up to three positions.
So that's the dilemma for every team in the top 15, depending how far Jack falls because of the knee concerns. But at some point the chance to get an elite linebacker (and who doesn't need one of those?) will become too enticing to pass up. After all, knee injuries are a risk for every football player.
Jack is happy all of the pre-draft ballyhoo is coming to an end. After weeks of interviews, media sessions and promotional spots, including one last week with Speed Stick, he'll have a team and a new home for his time bomb.
"It's fine man," he says, "I'll be all right."
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