2016 NFL Scouting Combine: Prospects with Most at Stake in Medical Check

The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine will set the social media world ablaze with hot takes on 40-yard times and vertical-leap numbers this week. But the most important events at the combine will be happening behind closed doors. 

If the importance of the combine could be boiled down to one event, it would be the medical checks. 

The combine provides teams an opportunity to dig into the medical background of players and get a closer look at lingering injuries that may impact the draft stock of certain prospects. 

Here's a look at a few big-name prospects coming off injuries who have the most to gain by getting cleared medically by NFL doctors in Indianapolis this week.

Myles Jack, UCLA

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It's rare to see a top-10 pick who missed the majority of his final collegiate season following knee surgery, but that could be the case with UCLA linebacker Myles Jack. 

If Jack is going to convince a team that he's worth such a high investment, however, he'll need to pass his combine medical check with flying colors. 

According to Robert Klemko of MMQB.com, Jack is going to skip the combine workouts but will do all the combine drills at his pro day on March 15. 

The announcement that Jack is expecting to be fully cleared to work out soon is a major step in the right direction, but the combine medical check is still a significant hurdle in his predraft process. 

Being cleared to work out doesn't necessarily mean the knee has healed to the strength it was prior to the injury, so NFL teams will be curious to learn how effective the recovery process has been and if Jack is at risk for future injuries to the same knee.

Scooby Wright, Arizona

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Regardless of how his medical check goes at the combine, the multiple injuries that wiped out the majority of Scooby Wright's 2015 season have already affected his stock. 

In September, Wright underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus suffered in Week 1. 

After the surgery, Wright rushed back and was on the field later that month, but he suffered a foot injury during his first game back, which wiped out the rest of his regular season. 

Wright did return to play in Arizona's bowl game, so it's possible doctors will clear him at the medical check without any lingering issues. 

However, two injuries suffered during the same season at such a young age are certain to raise concerns for NFL teams.

Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech

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Kendall Fuller is another prospect who tried to play through a torn meniscus and ended up doing further damage to his draft stock. 

Fuller suffered the injury during the preseason, and after his play suffered early in the season, he opted for season-ending surgery. 

According to Rob Rang of CBSSports.com, Fuller still isn't back to full strength and is doubtful to run at the combine. 

As a cornerback with limited size, it is critical Fuller demonstrates his athleticism in workouts before the draft, so his lingering injury is a definite concern. 

NFL teams will be curious to learn more about Fuller's healing process and whether or not they can expect to see him run at full strength during his pro day later this offseason.

Jonathan Williams, Arkansas

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Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams suffered a foot injury in August that required surgery and caused him to miss the entire 2015 season. 

In January, Williams still wasn't back to 100 percent, but he was able to participate in some drills at the Senior Bowl. 

The surgery required the insertion of screws into Williams' foot, which were removed during another surgery in December, according to Williams. 

While foot injuries are less common and don't generate the same serious connotations as knee injuries, they can be equally concerning due to the constant pressure put on the foot. 

If Williams is less than 100 percent heading into the draft, his injury will play a role in his draft stock. Teams will be cautious about investing in a running back still in the process of recovering from an injury that could be career-altering.

Connor Cook, Michigan State

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Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook suffered a shoulder injury during the season that forced him to sit out the game at Ohio State. 

Cook returned the following week and wore a brace on the shoulder during the Spartans' final three games. 

On Saturday, Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman reported Cook was not back to full strength in those games, and the injured shoulder was the reason for Cook declining an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl. 

According to Feldman, Cook now claims to be 100 percent and ready to participate in the combine. 

Since the injury was to Cook's throwing shoulder, the NFL will be particularly interested to learn more about the details of his injury. Even if he's back to full strength now, teams will be curious if the past injury and the rushed healing process may have increased his risk for a recurrence of the injury. 

Cook is a fringe first-round prospect, and any questions raised by his medical check could quickly push him into the second day of the draft.

Shaq Lawson, Clemson

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Shaq Lawson suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss the majority of Clemson's College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Oklahoma. He was able to return the following week for the national championship game against Alabama, but the injury noticeably slowed him. 

Due to the fact that the injury happened so late in the season and he returned to play against Alabama, there was little info reported on Lawson's knee. Clemson didn't want to divulge any more information than was necessary in the week following the initial injury. 

As an underclassman, Lawson wasn't present at any of the postseason all-star games, so the combine will be the first chance for NFL teams to learn more about his injury. 

It's possible the knee will be fully healed and a non-factor in Lawson's draft stock. 

However, due to the fact that so little is known about a potentially meaningful injury, Lawson is among the most important medical checks at the combine.

Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame

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In Notre Dame's Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State, star linebacker Jaylon Smith suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee. 

Nick Ironside of 247Sports reported Smith's short-term goal is to be able to walk without crutches at the combine. 

According to orthopedic surgeon David Geier (via Ironside), a person suffering Smith's injury should be able to put weight on the knee within that timetable.

So if you're looking for indications of Smith's recovery process as an outsider, the lack of crutches in Indianapolis would appear to be an indication that he's on schedule. 

NFL teams will want a much more detailed evaluation of Smith's progress—most notably an indication of whether or not he'll be able to play in time for the season opener. 

In 2015, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley spent his offseason recovering from an ACL injury (suffered in November 2014) and was able to get back on the field in Week 3. That may serve as a rough estimate of a realistic timetable for Smith's recovery.