Louisville Cardinals Football, Injury in Humans, Clemson Tigers Football: Louisville Cardinals QB Cunningham's Injury Puts Season in Doubt
Doctors say Malik Cunningham faces long rehab process
Malik Cunningham, quarterback for the Louisville Cardinals, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the team's game against the Clemson Tigers on Saturday. He was injured in the third quarter while being sacked by Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson.
Cunningham was taken off the field on a cart and was later diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). He is expected to undergo surgery in the coming weeks and will miss the remainder of the 2023 season.
What is an ACL injury?
The ACL is a ligament that connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). It helps to stabilize the knee joint and prevent it from buckling or twisting.
ACL injuries are common in athletes who play sports that involve cutting, pivoting, and jumping.
Symptoms of an ACL injury
The most common symptom of an ACL injury is pain and swelling in the knee.
Other symptoms may include:
- Instability or giving way of the knee
- Difficulty walking or running
- Popping or snapping sound at the time of injury
Treatment for an ACL injury
Treatment for an ACL injury typically involves surgery. The surgery is usually performed arthroscopically, which means that small incisions are made in the knee and a camera is inserted to visualize the joint.
During surgery, the torn ACL is repaired or replaced with a graft from another part of the body.
Recovery from an ACL injury
Recovery from an ACL injury typically takes several months.
After surgery, the patient will need to wear a brace and use crutches for support.
Most patients are able to return to full activity within 6-9 months after surgery.
Outlook for Malik Cunningham
Cunningham is a talented quarterback who was expected to lead the Louisville Cardinals to a successful season in 2023.
His injury is a major setback for the team, and it remains to be seen how they will perform without him.
Cunningham is expected to make a full recovery from his injury, but it is unclear when he will be able to return to the field.
