By Erin K. Blakeley, Shoulder1 Staff
Last fall, Brian Griese ended the season with a career-high 19 touchdowns, and a franchise record for pass completions (64.3%). Along with his leading the league in third quarter completions, the accolades were enough to earn the Bronco’s quarterback with the top rating in the NFL. But along with the records, Griese ended the season with something else: a separated acromioclavicular joint in his throwing shoulder.
Griese separated his shoulder last October against the Oakland Raiders, and missed five games before retuning to action in the playoffs. He returned to the starting line-up for the final game of the season, only to leave the game due to shoulder pain. The injury forced him to sit out the rest of the playoffs. Griese underwent surgery last January to reset the bones and repair the ligaments.
A separated shoulder occurs when the ligaments between the acromion (the tip of the scapula) and the clavicle, or collarbone, weaken, sprain or tear. A shoulder can separate with varying degrees of severity, depending upon the extent of the injury. When the ligaments are merely stretched, the resulting pain may resemble stiffness. However, when the ligaments are torn, the damage is more extensive and causes pain and immobility.
In the last few weeks, Griese has begun to throw the football again. The quarterback hopes to be able to return to action when the Broncos go to mini-camp next month.
“It felt pretty good,” Griese told to the Associated Press. “I’m happy it’s coming along as good as this.”
Griese recently signed a six-year, $39 million dollar contract with the Broncos.
