Analysis: Could Sony Michel's problems end up being a recurrence of knee issues from college?

Patriots running back Sony Michel will be out for approximately 10 days after a procedure that involved draining fluid from his knee, according to multiple reports.

The rookie, who was taken in the first round out of Georgia, left Wednesday’s practice and has not been seen since. He rushed for 3,613 yards and 33 touchdowns while in college.

So what does this mean for the Patriots?


Expect New England to lean on a deep stable of backs while Michel is out. Mike Gillislee has seen an uptick in reps since Michel left on Wednesday, while Rex Burkhead and Brandon Bolden have also seen plenty of work. I wouldn’t expect things to change too dramatically when it comes to James White — he’s more of a passing back. But the other three will see more on their plate in the next week-plus as the Patriots try and figure things out.

As for Michel, while the issue is not expected to be a long-term problem, the simple fact is that when it comes to a rookie being sidelined for 10 days of camp, it’ll have an adverse impact on development. It’s still the summer, yes, but as many players and coaches have told us over the years, this is the time of year when the metaphorical train is leaving the station. Michel can take plenty of mental reps and watch lots of film, but there will have to be some catch-up when he returns to the field.

Dr. Jessica Flynn offers her thoughts on Michel and his situation:

Reality check: Sony Michel fell in the draft because of some concerns with rumored “bone on bone” arthritis in his knee. After a seemingly minor injury in camp, the running back has now developed an effusion (collection of fluid) in his knee that needed to be drained. This most commonly occurs as a result of an inflammatory reaction to thinning of articular cartilage in the joint.

Michel suffered an ACL tear in college. Within 10 years of an ACL tear, an athlete has a greater than 50 percent chance of developing arthritis in the joint. There are two types of cartilage in the knee joint. The articular cartilage is like a thick coating of lacquer paint on the ends of the femur and tibia. Wearing away and thinning of this cartilage is called “osteoarthritis.” The menisci (or meniscus, singular) are two discs of a more rubbery cartilage (like silicone discs) whose job it is to both stabilize and provide some cushioning inside of the joint.

If Michel indeed has “bone on bone” arthritis as was suggested on draft day, then that would mean that there are at least sections of the articular cartilage that are nearly or fully worn away. Even seemingly small injuries to the knee can cause an acute exacerbation of arthritis symptoms leading to swelling and pain. Such episodes are commonly treated with an aspiration (removal of fluid through a needle) of the knee sometimes followed by a steroid injection to stop the inflammatory process that’s causing the fluid to accumulate.

If Michel’s current issue is in the knee that reportedly has arthritis, this isn’t a great sign. The team is saying that it was “minor” and reports are that they are just being cautious. Only time will tell how the first-round rookie running back’s knee responds to NFL-level play. Unfortunately, medical concerns that caused Michel to fall in the 2018 draft may ultimately threaten his on-field production this season.