Christian Ponder injured his elbow in early October and the injury seems has taken a turn for the worse. After experiencing swelling in the elbow, Ponder reportedly visited a doctor on Monday afternoon.
This is devastating news for Ponder, who is a fringe 1st-round prospect.
It's been a frustrating season for Christian Ponder
This year’s quarterback class could be deeper than usual. Andrew Luck is a 1st-round lock if he chooses to enter the draft. Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett are also potential 1st-round picks. And even Cam Newton is now in the mix. That’s at least four quarterbacks that Ponder could be competing with for a spot in the 1st round.
Coupled with his disappointing season, this lingering injury could give teams enough reason to drop him on their draft boards. The last thing a team wants to do is draft a quarterback in the 1st round with injury concerns, especially when there are other healthy options on the board.
It’s too early to speculate as to how much this could hurt his stock – in part because we don’t know the severity of the injury; and partly because we don’t know who will enter the draft – but is certain to be a hot topic at the combine. Injuries that seem to linger on with no resolution often cause more concern than a one-time set back such as a broken bone or torn ligament.
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