Take Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow,such as,who was sidelined after he was tackled by a Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman in Week 2.

The video of how he got hurt wasn’t immediately clear, leading Morse to ponder a multitude of questions: “Was he walking [after getting hurt]? Was he in a scooter? Which foot was it? How did it happen? Was it a contact? Was it noncontact? Does he have an injury history of this specific injury or this area of the body? Then from there, you narrow it down to the different injuries you can have for that area.”

Initially, Morse wrote that it was a “left toe injury” that was a “turf toe vs. toe fracture vs. toe dislocation.” It ended up being the former. Morse then said he was “expecting Joe Burrow to miss at the minimum four weeks but [the injury could be] potentially season-ending.” After Burrow had surgery, Morse wrote that “there’s a small chance he’s able to return in December.”

Burrow got back on the field against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 27.

While fans crave instant information, the doctors say they aim to not rush out a diagnosis.

“You don’t want to just get out there as fast as possible and be wrong,” Christ said. “You want to be known for being accurate. So I would personally rather take my time and really evaluate the video and then put out my thoughts.'”

Dr. Nithin Natwa, a board-certified sports physician who now works at an urgent care facility in Chicago, said specific language is key. It’s best for professionals to never say a player has an exact injury or will be out a certain amount of time as they are ultimately giving their best guesses.

“It’s really significant to be measured in the language that you use and just kind of say, ‘These are possible outcomes, and it seems like it’s more likely it’s this one, but without having imaging results or physical exam, it could definitely be one of these less severe cases.’ I try to give all the options out there.”

though they work to be as precise as possible,some other medical professionals say they aren’t sure that the standard has been met.

Stephania Bell is considered a pioneer in the field. Bell, ESPN’s senior writer and injury analyst, joined ESPN in the fall of 2007 after more than 17 years as a physical therapist and orthopedic clinical specialist. At that time, very few (if any) medical professionals wrote or spoke on television about sports injuries.

NFL Player’s knee Injury Diagnosis Sparks Online Doctor Debate

Arizona cardinals running back Trey Benson’s knee injury has ignited a debate about medical diagnoses made online. After Benson suffered a potential MCL injury during a game against the New Orleans Saints, a video clip of the play went viral. Immediately,armchair doctors weighed in,offering their opinions on the severity of the injury.

Former NFL team doctor David Cooke publicly diagnosed Benson with a torn MCL on X, formerly Twitter. He based his assessment solely on the video footage. This sparked a significant backlash, with many questioning the ethics and accuracy of diagnosing injuries without a proper physical examination.

Dr. tarek Souryal, an orthopedic surgeon and former team doctor for the Dallas Mavericks, understands the concern. He agrees some online “doctors” lack proper credentials and warns fans to be cautious about video diagnoses. However, he also acknowledges the potential for accurate assessments by qualified medical professionals reviewing footage.

“There are a lot of people out there who aren’t qualified to give an opinion,” Souryal said. “But there are also physicians who are very good at looking at mechanisms of injury and can make a pretty accurate assessment.”

the situation highlights a growing trend: fans analyzing injuries in real-time and offering diagnoses online. While this can foster engagement, it also raises concerns about misinformation and the potential for undue anxiety for players and their families.

Cooke defended his diagnosis, stating he has years of experience and a strong understanding of football injuries. He maintains his intention was to provide information, not to cause alarm. He has since deleted the post.

Ultimately, a proper diagnosis requires a thorough physical examination, imaging tests, and the expertise of a qualified medical professional. relying on online diagnoses,even from those claiming medical credentials,is risky and should be avoided.