CHICAGO – 2016 World Champion and Team USA Eagles captain Cooper Davis almost did not even go get a CT scan Friday afternoon.
Davis’s X-rays on his neck earlier in the week showed no fracture, and he was feeling better. He had even looked into switching his flight to get to Chicago in time for this weekend’s Chicago Invitational with winter weather threatening the region.
However, Davis decided to err on the side of caution, and decided to get a CT scan on his neck Friday after landing on it following his 2.79-second buckoff last weekend at the Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden against Midnight Rock.
It was a good thing he did.
The CT scan revealed that Davis indeed has a neck fracture. He is now waiting for Dr. Tandy Freeman to look at the official copies of the CT scan this coming week before likely visiting with a neck specialist in the Dallas area to learn how long he may be out of competition.
Davis did send Freeman cell phone pictures of the scans this weekend, but Freeman could not make a clear diagnosis based on those images.
“There’s clearly been a fracture,” Freeman said. “There’s some evidence that he may have something that’s acute or new, but there’s also some evidence of an old injury there. And I don’t know if what we’re seeing is all old or all new, because he took three or four pictures and sent them to me, and that’s not a good way to make a judgment. Sometimes you can say, ‘Oh, this is clearly a problem,’ but what he sent me would fit within a stable fracture pattern.”
Freeman explained it is hard to give an official timeline until he sees the CT scans, but he believes that Davis is likely looking at being out of competition somewhere between 6 to 12 weeks. Freeman also does not believe Davis needs surgery.
“I still wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got an acute fracture or something that’s new,” Freeman said. “But there’s clearly some evidence that he also had something at that same level in the past. And if that’s what he’s got, if he’s got an acute fracture, it’s probably 6-12 weeks.
“It’s not a surgical problem, and not something that should keep him from being able to come back and ride when it’s all said and done. There’s no evidence he’s got anything that’s a surgical problem. It looks like a stable fracture pattern, from what I can see right now. If that’s the case, it’s one that should heal, and it shouldn’t require surgery.”
Davis is holding out hope that he could ride at the 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy, on Feb. 15-16.
The Global Cup is six weeks out from when Davis would have broken his neck in New York.
Davis is the latest Eagle to get hit with a significant injury. Coach Justin McBride and J.W. Hart already had to replace Chase Outlaw (reconstructive shoulder surgery) this past offseason, and there are question marks about whether or not 2019 Rookie of the Year Dalton Kasel will be ready in time.
Regardless, McBride is focusing on Davis’ health before anything else, and he said the Eagles will react accordingly when the time comes.
“First and foremost, I want him to be OK,” McBride said via text message Friday when the news broke. “We will figure the team out as needed.”
EAGLES NOT ALONE WITH INJURY WOES
The Team USA Wolves also may have some injury concerns to worry about.
Cannon Cravens was unable to finish an Unleash The Beast event for the second consecutive weekend. According to Dr. Tandy Freeman, Cravens did not compete in the championship round Sunday in Chicago because of a lower back/pelvic injury (probable contusion) after he was stepped on by Sling Shot in Round 2. Cravens, who was already riding with a left leg injury, is questionable for next weekend’s UTB event in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Fellow teammate Stetson Lawrence missed the championship round Sunday because of a left chest wall contusion, but he is probable for the Manchester Invitational.
BARBOSA TO GET X-RAYS THIS WEEK
Rubens Barbosa did not compete Sunday after possibly breaking his left foot during Round 1 on Saturday night. Catfish John ran Barbosa’s foot against the chute during Barbosa’s 72.5-point ride.
ADDITIONAL UPDATES
Fabiano Vieira (aggravated left shoulder injury) and Gage Gay (undisclosed) did not compete in the championship round Sunday. Vieira is questionable for next weekend, according to Freeman.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko