Eagles Shut Down Defensive Tackle Mike Patterson
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NFL via Getty Images(NEW YORK) — During the offseason, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson underwent brain surgery and the team hoped he’d ready to return by training camp. As it turns out, Patterson has been shut down by the team on the eve of camp so he can continue his recovery.
Before the start of last season, Patterson was diagnosed with an arteriorvenous malformation (AVM). A brain AVM is a tangle of blood vessels in the head. Despite the condition, doctors cleared him to play the entire season and hold off surgery till after the season. Patterson underwent a recent evaluation and doctors feared for his safety if he were to participate in training camp.
“What the physician wanted to see was how the healing was with the cranium, where they took the piece of skull away to do the procedure, and he wasn’t totally happy with it,” Eagles head trainer Rick Burkholder said. “He like the healing, but concerned about some very small situations he could get into football, so right now he’s going to hold off.”
Burkholder also indicated that Patterson would be out for “a couple months or more.” He is currently with the team and will continue to work with Eagles trainers and strength and conditioning coaches until he’s cleared to play.
Patterson has spent his entire eight-year career with the Eagles. Last season, he appeared in 15 games and recorded 35 tackles.
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