Chase Claypool ankle injury reportedly minor, should be fine

For almost every NFL team, the main objective in training camp is to not just evaluate the talent you have on your 90-man roster, but also to avoid major injury. You see it every season, players tearing ACLs or rupturing Achilles tendons. Those type of injuries end your season before it even begins. And for some, it can be career-threatening.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, and the fans who were in attendance at Heinz Field Tuesday, had quite the scare when on the second to last play of practice Chase Claypool dove for a pass and lay on the ground afterwards.

Trainers attended to Claypool before he was helped off the field and immediately into the locker room by teammates Ben Roethlisberger and Eric Ebron.

No one knew what was wrong. Was it a knee injury? Was it an ankle injury? After practice head coach Mike Tomlin said only that Claypool was “being evaluated”.

Shortly after practice had wrapped up, Mike Garafolo of ESPN reported Claypool’s injury was not significant.

Later on in the afternoon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beat writer, and the closest thing to an insider for the Steelers the team has, Gerry Dulac reported Claypool’s injury was a lower ankle sprain. With that diagnosis, Dulac suggests the talented second year wide receiver should be fine.

If these aforementioned reports are accurate, it is great news for the Steelers. While the wide receiver depth is some of the best on the team, losing Claypool for any stretch of time could be a huge disaster to the team’s 2021 hopes.

Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the 2021 regular season.

UPDATE

Chase Claypool took to his verified Twitter page to let fans know he is okay.