Update on the Sammie Coates’ injury front. Jeremy Fowler is refuting a January ESPN report that Coates had surgery to repair the broken fingers in his hand.
Fowler provided the update in writing about the groin surgery Coates had, which the receiver announced yesterday. Fowler’s source says that January surgery was to repair the injury to his groin and had nothing to do with his hand.
“Coates played through broken fingers in his left hand in 2016. ESPN reported last month that Coates underwent surgery to repair the hand, but the procedure was for the groin only, a source clarified Tuesday.”
Again, this refutes Fowler’s own reporting from January 31st when Coates reportedly had the broken fingers on his left hand repaired.
It’s unclear if there is future planned surgery to fix the hand injury that plagued him throughout most of the season or if doctors will opt for rest and let it heal on its own.
As we noted yesterday, Coates was never listed on the injury report for a groin injury so the news comes as a bit of a surprise. He ended his second season with 21 receptions for 435 yards, an average of over 20 yards per catch, and two touchdowns.
Most of that production came before Coates’ hand injury in Week 5. After that, he caught just two passes for the rest of the regular season, struggling to get on the field, and when he did, having issues securing the football cleanly.
He’ll compete for the #2 receiver spot in 2017 though with Martavis Bryant’s possible return, Coates could struggle to find his footing for consistent playtime.
