Khalil Dorsey is coming back from a nasty leg injury and a medical condition for another season with the Lions
Khalil Dorsey recently re-signed for his third season at CB with the Lions (contract details are pending). This is especially notable considering the many medical issues he has already overcome and is still in the process of overcoming.
INJURY HISTORY (age 27 at start of next season)
2024 December 15 – Right tibia/fibula fracture ended his season. Played 14 of 18 games.
2023 Rhabdomyolysis, missed 4 games. Dorsey goes into excellent detail in his Detroit Lions Beyond article. Played 16 of 20 games.
2022 Zero games played. Signed to Lions practice squad.
2021 Right shoulder injury. Missed entire season.
2020 Left shoulder dislocations with surgery. Played 6 games.
ARE THERE CONCERNS WITH HIS LEG FRACTURE?
The fracture is similar to Aidan Hutchinson’s tib/fib, except that Dorsey’s appears to be more distal – thus closer to the ankle joint. If there is joint involvement, that could entail a longer recovery and increase the likelihood of residual effects. If there is no significant joint involvement, then there is a good chance of full recovery.
WHAT ABOUT THE RHABDOMYOLYSIS?
Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome caused by excessive breakdown of muscle tissue into the bloodstream. While the syndrome is rare, there are publicly reported sports-related cases on a regular basis.
The classic symptoms are muscle pain, weakness, and dark urine. Since muscle pain and weakness are normal symptoms in active football players, the only hint may be the dark urine, which only occurs in <10% of cases.
Rhabdo isn’t an all-or-nothing medical issue. There is a gradient from very mild to very severe. Most mild cases likely go undiagnosed and resolve on their own. In severe cases, it is life-threatening because it can damage many organ systems including kidneys, liver, heart, and blood.
Dorsey case was severe as he wrote: “The Lions put me on IR, and for the next few weeks, all I would do is sleep and get IVs.”
The rhabdo occurred in game one of the season, and to his credit, he was able to return for the final 15 games of the year.
The causes of rhabdo are vast and in severe cases, likely multi-factorial. One major factor likely present in every football-related case is intense exercise. Many other factors can exacerbate the issue including weather (heat/humidity), current infection, recreational drug use, and underlying medical issues (sickle cell trait).
Going forward, it’s unlikely that rhabdo will be a recurrent issue for Dorsey since he has a good understanding of what to watch for and how to prevent it.
WHAT DOES THE TIMING OF HIS SIGNING TELL US?
The fact that the Lions signed him early in free agency suggests that recovery from his leg fracture is going well, and there are no complications or significant setbacks. The contract details, when released, may give us more information.
OUTLOOK
A tib/fib fracture is usually around a 6-8 month recovery. There is a good chance he’ll be ready for training camp which is at the 7.5 month mark. Unless there is an unlikely setback, he should be ready for game one.
