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One of the biggest plays of the preseason opener for the Dallas Cowboys was made by undrafted rookie linebacker Luke Gifford. That’s the kind of thing that happens in the preseason.
Unfortunately, not long after that Gifford went down with an injury and left the game for good. Hours later, after the game had ended, Jerry Jones told the media that it was a significant ankle sprain.
The significance appears to be known, and it’s not good. Per ESPN’s Todd Archer, Gifford suffered the dreaded high ankle sprain. He also notes that Brandon Knight, who was carted off of practice recently, has a torn plantar fascia.
Difficult news for two undrafted rookies on track to impact the 53-man roster: Linebacker Luke Gifford suffered a significant high ankle sprain vs. San Francisco. Offensive lineman Brandon Knight suffered a torn plantar fascia in practice last week.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 11, 2019
High ankle sprains are very difficult to predict. It’s possible that Gifford could be ready to go in six to eight weeks, but often this particular injury nags at players for months at a time. It’s unfortunate news for someone who looked to be challenging for a roster spot.
Hopefully Gifford is able to recover soon and continue the progress that he was showing.