Might repeated neck injury pose a barrier to Micah Hyde returning to the Buffalo Bills this season?
Micah Hyde, a veteran safety, has stated that he will only continue playing if it’s for the Buffalo Bills or he will retire. However, his health remains a significant concern regarding his potential return to the team.
After undergoing neck surgery in October 2022 and facing a six-to-nine month recovery period, Hyde made a comeback in January 2023 and participated in 14 games for the Bills.
Nonetheless, the potential strain on his neck is a legitimate worry. In a recent appearance on the Centered on Buffalo podcast, Hyde acknowledged that the nature of his injuries is a crucial factor in determining his ability to practice and play.
“When I had my surgery up in L.A. with Dr. Watkins, he asked me, ‘Do you still want to keep playing?’ And I was like, ‘No question. Absolutely,'” said Hyde.
Will Micah Hyde make a return? He opens up about his neck injury with @ewood70 on Centered on Buffalo. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/LoeveDTs9K
— Centered on Buffalo (@thebuffalopod) June 21, 2024
Although Hyde is most famous for his achievements during his time with the Bills, he actually started his NFL career as a fifth-round selection for the Green Bay Packers in 2013. Following four years with the Packers, the Fostoria, Ohio native signed a five-year contract with Buffalo in 2017.
During his 95 appearances with the Bills, Hyde amassed 417 total tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 16 interceptions, and scored one touchdown. In what might have been his final season playing for Buffalo, Hyde recorded 54 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, and seven passes defended.
Despite Hyde’s determination to return to the field, various medical professionals, including Dr. Kyle Trimble of BangedUpBills.com, have suggested that the spinal fusion could mark the end of his career.
“Given that he is recovering from the fusion surgery and facing additional known issues, it seems likely that he’s dealing with adjacent segment degeneration, which would probably advise against his return,” Trimble recently penned for BangedUpBills.com. “However, this all comes down to risk management. Hyde knows that if he retires, he might not be able to come back to play if he has a change of heart.
“Micah mentioned experiencing issues at multiple levels, but he only underwent fusion at the more severe level. If they had conducted fusion at multiple levels, he would not have been cleared to return to football, as fusing two or more spinal segments is generally considered a relative contraindication for resuming contact sports. There can be exceptions, but the margin for error decreases.”
While Hyde appeared to regain some of his previous form at times, he ultimately struggled to maintain consistency due to recurring stingers. The 33-year-old also revealed that he still wakes up with neck soreness, which could indicate ongoing chronic issues.
Leave a Reply