Runyan out for 4-6 months, Eagles career over?

by JasonB on Feb 7, 2009 11:38 AM EST in Philadelphia Eagles News

This week Jon Runyan traveled to Alabama to see Dr James Andrews about his ailing right knee. He would either need a simple clean out that would take very little healing time, or he'd need microfracture surgery which would be much more significant.

Turns out, he need the microfracture surgery and will be out 4-6 months.

"I think there's enough of a track record out there that it's not going to totally kill me," said Runyan, whose streak of 192 successive games played was third among active players at the end of the 2008 season. "The doctor says I should be as good as new. But I'm not going to be able to prove it until time to play."

Results of microfracture surgery on pro athletes have been mixed. Generally, it seems, the younger you are, the better it works. The idea of the surgery is to create cartilage to replace what was damaged and had to be removed. The surgeon drills holes in the bone. As the holes heal, blood clots form that include cartilage. This cartilage is different from the original cartilage, however - it's denser and doesn't hold up as well under strenuous activity. In older players, the new cartilage sometimes lasts only a few years.

I've been of the opinion that the Eagles would look to bring back one of the two free agent OTs and I think this just might have made their decision a lot easier.

Unfortunately, at 35 years old coming off major knee surgery and a possible 6 month recovery period... it would be hard to see how the Eagles could rely on Runyan to hold down the right side. In fact, it's hard to see how any team would right now.

I think its likely that after he's healed, Runyan will get an invite to someone's training camp and have a chance to prove that he's healthy and ready to go. Maybe it will be here... but I would expect to see him getting major interest in the weeks after the start of free agency.

If this truly is the end, we should all give Jon a big thanks and a hearty good bye. The guy has been a great Eagle for many years now.

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im sorry man

this is a loss thats really gonna hurt … im going to buy a runyan jersey as we speak in honor

If football had a church, Brian Dawkins would be my preacher !

by NorthPhillyKid on Feb 7, 2009 12:38 PM EST reply actions

Sad End

He’s definitely done at this point. I always felt like the team was more likely to bring back Thomas, but I’ve heard they could push Herremans to LT and not bring back Thomas either.

It’s the changing of the guard. Or the tackle, actually.

by ajay on Feb 7, 2009 12:53 PM EST reply actions

It’s the changing of the guard. Or the tackle, actually.

Nice line!

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Feb 7, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Tough Break

When the offseason started, it was clear that tackle needed to be addressed. My opinion was the Eagles should bring back Runyan and look to replace Thomas. Runyan brings a certain nastiness to the line, not to mention he thrives when run blocking.

But with this development, it appears unlikely that scenario will play out. Instead, we may finally see the Shawn Andrew at RT experiment.

Chris Iafolla http://heardinthecheapseats.com/

by Chris Iafolla on Feb 7, 2009 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

jordan gross and stacy andrews are looking pretty good right now

by agj88 on Feb 7, 2009 1:36 PM EST reply actions

Does anyone know if Stacy and Shawn would like playing on the same team?

by Clyde Simmons on Feb 9, 2009 8:58 AM EST up reply actions

That’s a pretty big blow. Of the two old OTs, I thought Tra had lost a step, not Jon. If this is the end, thanks for anchoring the line for so many years, BJR. I’ll miss you.

by Walcott on Feb 7, 2009 1:48 PM EST reply actions

Definitely a big blow

With the way top tackles are paid today I rather see Andrews and Herremanes make the move back to the tackle. Cole and Max jean can play G. Maybe Dunlap can be a player too

Definitely sad news.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Feb 7, 2009 4:17 PM EST reply actions

i wanna

chest bump now :(

If football had a church, Brian Dawkins would be my preacher !

by NorthPhillyKid on Feb 7, 2009 4:32 PM EST reply actions

Idk what is gonna happen but

one of the greatest Eagles of all time. and he went to Michigan.

by ABails8 on Feb 7, 2009 4:40 PM EST reply actions

I have a feeling

were gonna see the big guy back, hes batteled through it all. But if not, he will go down in history as one of the toughest in green

Seventy-one percent of the world is covered by water, the rest is covered by Brian Dawkins

by MeanGreen5 on Feb 7, 2009 8:16 PM EST reply actions

No question, he's gone

but man i’m gonna miss that guy

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES

by 700 Level on Feb 7, 2009 11:23 PM EST reply actions

Runyan started the whole run

When he signed as a free agent, he signaled that free agents should beleive in Andy Reid.. COmbined with the McNabb draft pick, ihe truly signaled the beginning of this current Eagles run.

An underrated, historic figure on the Eagles landscape.

by Nicks2Cents on Feb 7, 2009 11:46 PM EST reply actions

Good point, man. Lost in all the events of the last decade of Eagles football is how significant his signing here was. I had kind of forgot how he helped bring legitimacy back to the team.

Good luck to you no matter what uniform you put on next, Big Jon.

I wonder if I can bill Jeff Lurie and Peter Angelos for the years of therapy their teams are going to put me through.

by BrianS on Feb 10, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions