PITTSBURGH – A day after widespread reports stated that Chad Pennington’s right shoulder is in worse condition than originally diagnosed and that he’ll have to have surgery on it as soon as possible, the Jets yesterday remained mum on the topic, instead calling a press conference for today with team doctors to explain the situation.
Two NFL sources familiar with Pennington’s situation told The Post that Pennington has a tear in his right rotator cuff and in the labrum, to which ligaments from the right rotator cuff are attached.
That diagnosis, found during a postseason MRI exam last week, is significantly different from the “strained” rotator cuff reporters had been told all along that Pennington was suffering from, resulting in him missing three games.
Pennington, though obviously giving it a valiant effort, was inconsistent in the five games he played after he came back from the injury, with the Jets going 2-3 in those games, including 1-1 in the playoffs.
Contacted yesterday by The Post, a nationally-prominent orthopedic surgeon with ties to major league sports teams spoke on the condition of anonymity and explained the process that awaits Pennington.
From the time Pennington has the surgery, which the orthopedist said can be done arthroscopically, he’ll need three to four weeks in a sling with no activity before then taking three to four months of physical therapy before he can start throwing.
“He’ll be ready for training camp,” the orthopedist said, “the problem is mini-camps and offseason workouts and he’s learning a new offensive system [with newly hired offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger].
“They’re going to have to protect him in training camp; he’s not going to be able to throw 200 times a day.”