Angels star Trout needs second surgery for torn meniscus, ending his season
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Angels star Mike Trout needs a second surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee, ending another injury-marred campaign for the three-time MVP.
Trout said Thursday in a social media post that an MRI revealed the new meniscus tear. He previously had surgery on May 3 to repair the meniscus and had been working toward a return before his rehab was shut down on Tuesday.
“After months of hard work, I was devastated (Wednesday) when an MRI showed a tear in my meniscus that will require surgery again — ending my hopes of returning this season,” Trout posted. “Playing and competing is a huge part of my life. This is equally as heartbreaking and frustrating for me as it is for you, the fans. I understand that I may have disappointed many, but believe me, I will do everything I can to come back even stronger.”
Trout batted .220 with 10 homers and 14 RBIs in 29 games this season for the Angels, who are fourth in the AL West with little chance at a playoff berth.
“It’s unfortunate what has happened again, but no doubt he has a chance to get that leg extremely well and he doesn’t have to have anything on his mind but getting ready for February,”
Angels manager Ron Washington said. The AL MVP in 2014, 2016 and 2019 and an 11-time All-Star, the 32-year-old Trout has been limited by a series of injuries over the past four years. He hasn’t played more than 119 games in any of the past five seasons. He was limited to 36 games in 2021 and 82 last year.
“He’s devastated,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian told reporters. “I was, too, to be honest with you. I’m not the emotional type but being in the room and hearing the news with him was tough. Nobody wants to play more. Nobody cares about this building, this fan base, this team more than he does.”
The Broncos drafted a quarterback high, selecting Bo Nix 12th. He is competing with journeyman Jarrett Stidham, though trade acquisition Zach Wilson is somewhere in the mix. Wilson was the No. 2 overall pick in 2021 by the New York Jets, but failed to live up to expectations, becoming expendable after Aaron Rodgers signed there last year.
Unless the Broncos decide to immediately put the offense in the hands of their first-round pick, Stidham could be in the best position to win the job.
“I think the NFL is about competition,” Stidham said. “If you don’t have competition in each room, then what are you doing? I think that’s a really healthy thing. It’s one of those things where every year their job upstairs (in the front office) is to bring in people who they think can help the football team. Guys that are on the team, your job is to keep your job.”
The Broncos might not be in the situation if former general manager John Elway had drafted quarterback Josh Allen instead of edge rusher Bradley Chubb in 2018 with the fifth selection. Elway rued the decision not to take Allen in a recent podcast, calling it his most egregious mistake as the GM.
Denver has been searching for a quality starting quarterback since, most notably signing Russell Wilson in 2022 to a fiveyear, $242 million contract extension. After winning only 11 of his 30 starts, the Broncos opted to release Wilson, even though it meant paying most of his $39 million salary this year with the Steelers on the hook for just the veteran minimum of $1.21 million.
In Pittsburgh, Wilson gave the Steelers a high-profile quarterback to go with what has been a playoff roster. It also caused 2022 first-round pick and twoyear starter Kenny Pickett to search for another home, and the Steelers honored that request by shipping him across the state to the Philadelphia Eagles.
But the Steelers weren’t done. They traded for Justin Fields, who showed flashes of stardom but also struggled with inconsistency in three seasons with the Chicago Bears. One of the NFL’s most athletic quarterbacks, he gives the Steelers a running element that Wilson can no longer match.
A calf injury put Wilson behind schedule this training camp. He finally received his first live repetitions Tuesday.
“I’m getting better every day,” Wilson said Tuesday. “The training staff is doing a tremendous job, and we’re working really hard every morning. It’s just good to be back out here again with the guys, putting the helmet on and really getting to work today.”
First-year Patriots coach Jerod Mayo is keeping an open mind regarding his QB situation as New England still searches for a replacement for Tom Brady.
The club drafted Drake Maye third overall this year, and Mayo has not ruled out naming him the starter going into the season, though he provided plenty of caveats. That includes Jacoby Brissett, whom Mayo acknowledged is the likely starter but also mentioned Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe. “All those guys will have opportunities to go out there and be the starting quarterback in Week 1,” Mayo said.
That said, Brissett has done little to dispel the idea he won’t be atop the depth chart, at least to begin the season. He is back in New England, where he began his NFL career as a backup in 2016 before moving on to four teams over the following seven years.
“I’ve been in this offense and know what I’m doing a little bit more, but that rookie feeling is still there,” Brissett said. “Those nerves, that anxiousness to go out there and show everybody why I belong here.”
Pierce said he not only plans to play O’Connell and Minshew in preseason games to help determine the starter, but will make sure both quarterbacks have the first-team offense to work with for a more accurate evaluation.
Both quarterbacks know what it’s like to compete for the job. O’Connell rose from a walk-on at Purdue to become a two-year record-setting starter. Minshew never even got that far in college.
“In my senior year at Washington State, every single game it was Gardner Minshew or Trey Tinsley or Anthony Gordon,” Minshew said. “If you’re out there, it’s going to be a heck of a time. You’re going to put your best foot forward and try to lead the team the best you can.”