I say don’t rush him back. If he misses the preseason so what? LT never touches the ball in preseason and it doesn’t hinder him. Look, why risk a setback that could put him out for even longer? I would keep him out of the preseason games and save him for when it matters.
#13

...that there is only ONE thing that is vital to coming back from an injury, especially a serious one. That one thing is time. We should give him as much time as we can. Limited carries, playing w/the second team, or skipping pre-season altogether. Whatever it takes. I do however, have faith that we have some of the best trainers money can buy so when he is “ready” to run and take a hit, that’s what he’ll do.

He should skip pre-season. It won’t take much for him to get “up” to game tempo…one big smash in the mouth and he’ll be off to the races.

chiefs fan here, but read the post after seeing the link on arrowhead pride.

Last year LJ held out for almost all of training camp, and definitely seemed rusty the first couple weeks. it’s hard to know for sure, since our offense in general – and especially our line – was so pitiful but we didn’t know it yet, whether his lack of production at first was rust or just the overall ineptitude of the offense, but his couple of really good games were later in the season before his injury.

so, in my not-so-humble opinion, i would recommend getting him out there for at least a good few series in the preseason. there’s nothing on the practice field that can simulate game speed, and you don’t want your workhorse getting up to speed over the first couple weeks of the real season, when the games count.

Ronnie carry a couple times in the preseason (VERY limited) just for the mental aspect of getting back in the game, and to allow him and the trainers to get a realistic gauge as to how far along he is in rehabbing. Give him a couple carries and get him out. Play him a few plays against second teamers or something. Have him run a swing route without throwing it to see how he feels. I agree we shouldn’t rush him back, but getting live action at the tail end of rehab isn’t a bad thing.

Speaking from a little bit of experience (I tore the labrum in my right [throwing] shoulder a few years back) I had to do 8 months of rehab. I don’t know if this is standard or recommended, but 6 months in I was feeling great thought I was back to full strength, and I went and played QB in a flag football tourney. There wasn’t really any pain because the ligament was reattached and had healed, but I realized how weak the muscles were, and the only way I could really build them back to being able to throw a football, was to actually throw the football. Again, I’m no expert, but I think Ronnie may benefit from a little game action to work the muscles in his knee.

The last thing he needs is to aggrevate an injury