Wide receiver Antonio Brown, the prized acquisition for the Raiders this offseason, has been largely missing from the practice field during training camp. He’ll reportedly see a foot specialist for what is still an undisclosed ailment.
Former NFL team doctor David J. Chao has an idea as to what’s keeping Brown out of action. He provided his educated guess, via the San Diego Union-Tribune, on Saturday.
Judging from photos, the superficial layers on the soles of Brown’s feet were macerated from too much moisture. He likely has a superimposed infection that probably involves pseudomonas, based on the color and appearance.
Here’s the photo Chao speaks of. It was posted on Brown’s Instagram account.
Added Chao:
Fortunately, this does not appear to be deep and involves mostly the “dead” skin areas on the sole of his feet. Therefore, it should be easily treatable and his return to play should occur well before meaningful games are played.
Chao said there’s a chance the condition has developed into a worse condition, called cellulitis, that would delay Brown’s return further.
While it’s fortunate this doesn’t appear to be a serious condition, it’s still a bump in the road for the Raiders. The team is full of new players and personalities, led by Brown.
After an offseason full of wall-to-wall workouts for Brown, a prolonged absence is the last thing that was expected from the four-time All-Pro. Only when Brown joins the team can the group truly form its identity, and coach Jon Gruden will be waiting as patiently as he can for his acquisition to take the field.
