Oregon tight end Pharaoh Brown’s junior season came to an end when he went down with a gruesome leg injury during the Ducks’ Nov. 8 road win against Utah. Brown tore two ligaments in his right knee and “stretched an artery in his leg” when firing off the line on a goal line play, but seven months later, Brown is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation when his career was thought to be in jeopardy.
The Pac-12 Network documented his comeback efforts, offering a look into his progress toward a return to the field.
The injury occurred when Brown stepped on a teammate’s foot and stumbled forward after the ball was snapped. As he fell forward, he extended his right leg to regain his balance but planted awkwardly and his leg buckled underneath his 250-pound frame. The ordeal caused internal bleeding and left Brown hospitalized in Salt Lake City for four days after the injury.
As detailed in a piece from The Oregonian, the stretched artery in his leg “cut off blood flow below his right shin,” which caused him to stay in the intensive care unit at the University of Utah Hospital. After three surgeries and a month spent in Cleveland, his hometown, Brown returned to Oregon to rehab.
As detailed in the video, Brown is well ahead of schedule and even has a therapy dog named Tiger to boost his spirits.
There’s no specific timetable for Brown’s return to the field, but he admitted it’s going to be an emotional day.
“When that day comes, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a lot of emotion for me personally and for that people that’s been with me and supporting me,” Brown said. “I’ll wait to see that day.“
Before his injury, Brown had 25 catches for 420 yards and six touchdowns.
For more Oregon news, visit DuckSportsAuthority.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
