Gunnar Helm Posts Gruesome Ankle Injury Photo; Suffered in 40-Yard Dash at NFL Combine

Texas tight end Gunnar Helm revealed an ankle sprain that he suffered at the 2025 NFL scouting combine.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Helm twisted his ankle during a false start on his 40-yard dash and completed the rest of his combine drills before an MRI showed the sprain.

The 22-year-old finished with an official time of 4.84 seconds in his 40-yard dash.

While Helm's finish represented the third-slowest time among the tight ends at the combine, it's clear that he wasn't fully healthy.

Rapoport noted that the tight end will run the 40-yard dash once again at Texas' Pro Day.

Helm is coming off a breakout senior season with the Longhorns. After recording 236 total yards through his first three years at the school, he amassed 786 yards during his 2024 campaign. He also found the end zone seven times.

Injuries weren't an issue for Helm during the season, appearing in all 16 games with Texas.

He was ranked as the No. 8 tight end and No. 104 overall prospect on the latest big board from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department. B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson envisioned him as an option in 12-personnel sets in his scouting report.

"Gunnar Helm projects as a TE2 for 12-personnel teams," Parson wrote. "He can play with his hand in the dirt, off the line as an H-back, and flexed out into the slot. He is built like a traditional Y tight end with functional pass-catching abilities but needs to improve his run blocking."

Helm's ability to push through an ankle sprain to complete his combine drills is admirable, and he'll have another opportunity to improve upon his 40-yard dash time at Texas' Pro Day.