Rookie TE Hunter Long Carted from Field

[EDGECRUSHER]

Not good. He was shoved out of bounds and he went down so it's kind of a non-contact injury which is never good. He couldn't put any weight on his leg and was carted off.

No word yet on what it is but it sounds like an ACL type injury and if so, his season is over. Let's pray it is just a few weeks.

[Dolphster]

Still hardly any info coming out of the Dolphins on the Long injury.  Kind of frustrating as a fan who wants to know stuff, but I'm kind of glad that Flores seems to be taking from the Patriots playbook by not disclosing much about injuries, etc.  No need to give opponents information that would help them in game planning, etc.  Not that a lot of game planning goes on in pre season, but I like the idea of being hush hush about this stuff during the regular season.

Hopefully it isn't a season ending injury to Long because I would think that part of the reason they drafted him was in the hopes of not being in the position of having to give Gesicki a big contract next year if they don't have to.  It would be nice if they can see enough out of Long and like what they see so that they don't feel married to Gesicki for next year. 

[ArtieChokePhin]

If it was a season ending injury, it would've been announced already. 

[EDGECRUSHER]

If it was a season ending injury, it would've been announced already. 

I think so too, although rarely is it not major when you get carted off the field for a non-contact injury.

[Dolphster]

If it was a season ending injury, it would've been announced already. 

Yeah, that is what I was thinking too.  But like Edge said, getting carted from a non contact injury is usually bad.  I guess we'll find out sooner or later. 

[EDGECRUSHER]

Yeah, that is what I was thinking too.  But like Edge said, getting carted from a non contact injury is usually bad.  I guess we'll find out sooner or later. 

"Sources" from various outlets say it isn't season ending and he might just miss the first month or two. To me, that's best case scenario and I would take it.

[Dolphster]

Well, if you consider Phinsider to to be correct, they reported that Hunter Long traveled with the team to Chicago and they went on to say that Flores called Long "day to day".    That would certainly be a pleasant surprise if he truly is just "day to day" as opposed to being out for any length of time into the regular season.  Not sure that he would be contributing a ton this year, but seeing what he can do definitely would give the team flexibility with Gesicki next year regarding his contract. 

[EDGECRUSHER]

Well, if you consider Phinsider to to be correct, they reported that Hunter Long traveled with the team to Chicago and they went on to say that Flores called Long "day to day".    That would certainly be a pleasant surprise if he truly is just "day to day" as opposed to being out for any length of time into the regular season.  Not sure that he would be contributing a ton this year, but seeing what he can do definitely would give the team flexibility with Gesicki next year regarding his contract. 

How can you be carted off the field and be "day to day"? Never heard of that but would welcome it. As far as his role goes, I'm pretty sure he would've seen some decent playing time because Geisicki is a free agent after the year and they want to see if they need to sing him long term or use the franchise tag. If Hunter had a great year, that gives us a lot more options. Although, with the modern day NFL, I am fine with a two headed TE attack.

[Dolphster]

Yeah, I was confused as to how you can be carted and then day to day a week later too.  Hence my saying "if you consider Phinsider to be accurate".  Weird. 

I freely admit that I have not kept up with the intricacies of what offense the Fins will be running most of the time this year.  So you may very well be right about them running a decent amount of 2 TE formations which like you said would give Long more reps. I didn't know a ton about him coming out of college, but he had good size, good hands, etc. but even in college he struggled a bit with getting separation which will only be worse in the NFL and his blocking could improve.  But of course there are always blocking schemes to help him get separation for plays that might be designed specifically for him.  His strengths and weaknesses coming out are similar to those that Jason Witten had coming out of college.  Obviously not saying he is going to be a Jason Witten level producer, but their game coming out of college is similar.

[masterfins]

It's pre-season no reason not to use an abundance of caution and cart him off the field.  Probably just a bad sprain that felt funny to him.