Saints Guard Jahri Evans Had Surgery On Wrist
It was well known that Jahri Evans was having some form of operation at the end of the season, and it was the reason he didn’t represent the Saints at the 2015 Pro Bowl. Now, thanks to a report from Lyon Yellin of WWL-TV in New Orleans we know why.
It appears that Evans had a partially torn ligament in his wrist that he sustained during the second half of the Saints disappointing 7-9 season. This injury answers some questions in regards to Evans’ play towards the latter half of the season, but it also presents more problems for the future.
Live Feed
Betsided
Per Lyons’ report, the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex, or TFCC, helps to stabilize the wrist when rotated according to Dr. Scott Tucker, an orthopedic surgeon with Touro Infirmary. Tucker also stated the injury would have been very painful for Evans to play through.
Evans was recently selected to his 6th Pro Bowl appearance and from 2009-2012 he was selected as a 1st team All-Pro. He’ll turn 32 before next year’s season begins and many believe his time is starting to run it’s course. Older players usually have more difficulty recovering from injury than younger ones.
There is also the question of his salary numbers. For the 2015 season Evans holds a cap number of $11 million with $5 million in dead money. Over $4 million of his salary comes in the form of bonuses and previous restructures.
His base salary of $6.8 million still leaves room for savings should the team opt to cut him in light of his recent performances, aging and this injury. The Saints touted the highest paid guard tandem in the league, and they didn’t get much for their money recently.
Either Ben Grubbs or Evans will likely take a pay cut or be released outright as the Saints will soon begin their ritual offseason cap cleansing as they attempt to bring in new talent. Evans would seem to be the frontrunner to stay to protect Drew Brees at least one more year.
Evans has earned many accolades during his 9 seasons as a pro, all with New Orleans. He is considered one of the best linemen in the team’s history which places him with guys like Willie Roaf. Roaf, a Left Tackle for primarily the Saints and then the Chiefs to end his career, was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2012.
A key cog of the machine that won the Saints’ their first Superbowl, Evans might still have enough tread on the tires to push the team for years to come. As the offseason progresses we’ll get a better picture of Evans’ role, if any, on the 2016 team.