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It’s December, which means it’s high time for players to find ways to perform through nagging injuries.
Look across the league and you’ll find it. Joe Burrow is wearing special equipment in his shoe to protect his surgically repaired toe. Justin Herbert is attempting to play with a hand he fractured this past Sunday. Daniel Jones is part of the group, too, although he turned to a couple of former teammates for some extra help with his fractured fibula.
Jones’ fellow past Blue Devils, center Clark Bulleit and linebacker Kevin Gehsmann, have fashioned a special 3D-printed pad for Jones’ leg. He’s worn it in his last two outings and approves of it so far.
“Lucky to have smart friends who are really close friends,” Jones said on Wednesday, via The Associated Press. “It’s pretty low profile and fits to my leg pretty well. I didn’t really notice it Sunday.”
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Jones’ friends first assisted their signal-calling teammate back in 2018, designing a pad to protect Jones’ fractured collarbone. They’ve since launched a company, Protect3D, to provide the same assistance for athletes on a commercial scale.
When Jones suffered his leg injury, he knew exactly to turn to.
“My buddy Kevin actually delivered it to me in Kansas City,” Jones said. “He flew (in) and came to the game, I got to see him afterward.”
At first blush, a fractured fibula sounds significant, as if it might cost a player a month or longer. But with permission from team doctors to continue playing and the Colts in the thick of a playoff race, Jones decided he’d rather manage the pain in order to stay on the field with his team.
“I’ve been cleared to play, and I know it’s safe,” he said. “I feel good, I think I’m feeling better every week and continue to be able to do more and more, just being mindful of the injury and doing whatever I can to put the team in position to win.”