What's Next for Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles After Foles' Broken Clavicle?

The injury bug bit the Philadelphia Eagles Week 9, as starting quarterback Nick Foles went down with a clavicle fracture during the second quarter of the team's matchup against the Houston Texans.

Fox Sports 1 NFL insider Mike Garafolo first tweeted about the team's possible concern for a clavicle injury not long after a defender planted Foles and his left shoulder into the ground. CSN Philadelphia's Derrick Gunn later reported the fracture after the game concluded.

Clavicle fractures are not uncommon injuries in quarterbacks and often occur via a similar injury mechanism as Foles'. Just last season, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed seven weeks with a fracture, and four years ago Dallas Cowboys signal-caller Tony Romo suffered his own break.

In the NFL, clavicle fracture recovery times can range from roughly four to 10 weeks. The exact timetable depends heavily on several factors, including:

• The location of the fracture
• The type/shape of the fracture
• The amount of bone displacement
• The decision to operate
• The presence of other associated injuries

Most clavicle fractures occur in the middle third of the bone, roughly midway between the sternum and shoulder blade. A smaller percentage involves the portion of the clavicle closest to the shoulder, which can complicate treatment. An even smaller fraction occurs near the sternum.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly told reporters Foles has a "crack" in his clavicle. Garafolo followed up Monday afternoon with an announcement that the young quarterback does not need surgery, and a source of ESPN's Adam Schefter provided a recovery timeline of six to eight weeks.

Put together, all of the above likely means Foles' fracture constitutes a minimally displaced midshaft fracture.

Why does that matter?

Simple midshaft clavicle fractures do not need surgery, and they usually heal quite well with immobilization, rest and time. Additionally, though they may leave a palpable bump in the area of the break, long-term problems usually do not arise.

Certain other types of clavicle fractures do not need surgery as well. As such, it's possible Foles suffered a different type of fracture than a midshaft break. That said, as mentioned, the large majority of fractures involve the middle third of the bone.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

In the coming weeks, doctors and therapists will likely keep the former Arizona Wildcat in a sling while his body's healing process gets to work.

Within approximately two to three weeks, Foles' body will create a soft callus around the fracture. Over the next several weeks, it will harden into new bone.

That said, the entire bone-remodeling process takes months, not weeks. However, the bone will regain the large majority of its strength within the first several weeks that follow the fracture.

In the meantime, former New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will take the reins of the Eagles offense.

Sanchez, whose 2013 season ended due to a labral tear, completed 15 of 22 passes for 202 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions after Foles left Sunday's game. The performance preserved the victory for the now 6-2 Eagles and amounted to a quarterback rating of 89.6.

Elsewhere, Foles' season-long rating comes to 81.5.

Can Chip Kelly and the talented Eagles offense bring out Sanchez's best in a way the hapless Jets never saw? Will Foles regain his starting job if he can return in time for the end of the season?

Time, Sanchez's on-field performance and the Eagles' win-loss total over the next two months will answer the above questions. Either way, for now the former USC Trojan suddenly finds himself in the center of the NFL discussion once again.

Dr. Dave Siebert is a second-year resident physician at the University of Washington and a member of the Professional Football Writers of America. He plans to pursue fellowship training in Primary Care (non-operative) Sports Medicine.

Stats were obtained from NFL.com's official statistics. 

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