Week 4 has proven to be a costly one for the Oakland Raiders as they face replacing their catching and blocking tight end Lee Smith. The loss of Smith—the unsung hero of the offense—was felt immediately after he went down and had to be helped off the field. The image of his ankle twisting awkwardly beneath him as shown in a slow-motion replay, as well as the photo making its way around the internet, was enough evidence for the well-trained eye of an orthopaedic surgeon to know that he had suffered a fractured ankle. Smith has been placed on what appears to be season-ending IR as the determination is made to see whether surgical repair of his ankle is necessary or if conservative treatment is warranted.

Dr. David R. Polonet, our orthopaedic trauma surgeon, explains simple and complex ankle fractures, surgical options and the impact surgery may have on Smith’s season as well as his return to play timeline.

We have partnered with WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM to bring you the weekly Football Injury Update, a recap of the top injuries across the NFL with our doctors providing their expert medical opinion on the injury, treatment options, and prognosis to return to the field of play. The Football Injury Update will air each Thursday and Friday on Mike Francesa’s show between 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.