New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo played in his first regular-season NFL game in nearly 11 months on Sunday night, Sept. 13, scoring the team's first touchdown on a 3-yard run in a 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
His rookie season ended in Week 8 on Oct. 26, 2025, when he dislocated his right ankle during a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN reported that a source confirmed he also had an open tibia fracture and a ruptured deltoid ligament. NFL Network, as reported by NBC Sports, described the fracture as a broken fibula. ESPN reported that the bone broke through the skin, making the injury a medical emergency, and that he had surgery in Philadelphia that night instead of traveling home with the team.
Skattebo's personal medical records are private. But the publicly reported injury is a clear example of why some fractures require urgent treatment.
Why an Open Fracture Cannot Wait
In a closed fracture, the skin over the broken bone remains intact. In an open fracture, also called a compound fracture, there is a wound or break in the skin near the broken bone. That difference changes the treatment because bacteria can enter the wound.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), almost all open fractures are treated with surgery, and surgery should happen as soon as possible so the wound can be cleaned to help prevent infection. Patients receive antibiotics in the emergency room and a tetanus booster if they have not had one within the past five years. The injured limb is often stabilized in a soft cast until surgery.
The surgical cleaning is called debridement and irrigation. AAOS says patients with open fractures should have it as soon as is reasonable, ideally within 24 hours, and severe injuries may require several procedures. That urgency is why ESPN reported that Skattebo needed to stay in Philadelphia for surgery.
A dislocation adds another concern. When a joint is out of place, nearby blood vessels, nerves, and soft tissues can be damaged, so doctors typically work quickly to put the joint back in position.
The deltoid ligament is a strong band of tissue on the inner side of the ankle that helps keep the joint stable. ESPN noted that a ruptured deltoid ligament needs repair. Combined with a fracture, this type of injury can leave the ankle unstable and often requires surgical treatment.
The Recovery Arc Runs in Months, Not Weeks
Bone healing and full recovery follow different timelines. Broken bones may begin to heal within weeks, but regaining strength, motion, and confidence in the joint usually takes much longer. AAOS notes that stiffness, discomfort, and weakness after an open fracture may continue to improve for a year or more.
Open fractures also carry a risk of infection. AAOS says an infection after a fracture may require multiple surgeries, long-term antibiotics, and a long healing period. Other possible complications of open fractures include nonunion, when a bone fails to heal, and compartment syndrome, a painful buildup of pressure in the muscles that requires immediate surgery.
Professional athletes typically have daily access to surgeons, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and imaging that most patients do not have. Skattebo has also described the emotional toll. He told Men's Journal that his time away from football opened him up to opportunities outside the sport. According to the magazine, he has also said that about a month into rehab, he questioned whether he wanted to keep playing, because he had long told himself that a major injury would mean the end of his career.
Readers should not treat his timeline as typical. AAOS notes that conditions affecting circulation, such as diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, can slow healing, and it identifies smoking as a leading lifestyle risk factor for infection after a fracture.
What to Do When a Limb Injury Looks Serious
Serious limb injuries can happen in car or motorcycle crashes, falls from ladders or other heights, skiing and snowboarding accidents, and contact sports.
Call 911 if a limb is visibly deformed, bone is showing, there is a wound near a possible fracture, a hand or foot is pale, cold, numb, or pulseless, or a joint cannot move. Do not try to push a bone back into place. Cover any wound with a clean, dry dressing. AAOS says that when there is a wound in the same area as a broken bone, doctors assume the fracture is open. Pain that becomes severe and out of proportion to the injury, especially with numbness or tightness, may signal compartment syndrome and needs immediate care.
After surgery, some of the most important steps are routine: completing physical therapy, following weight-bearing instructions exactly, and watching for signs of infection. AAOS lists increased pain, warmth, redness, swelling, drainage, fever, and chills as possible signs. Quitting smoking also matters. AAOS says successful treatment of an open fracture depends a great deal on the patient's cooperation with the rehabilitation plan.
Cost and access can be real barriers. Open fractures may require more than one operation, a hospital stay, and months of therapy. Patients with limited therapy coverage can ask about home exercise programs and hospital financial assistance. Anyone told an injury will cause permanent limits may also consider a second opinion from an orthopedic trauma specialist.
The broader lesson is not that everyone can recover like a professional athlete. It is that the first hours after an open fracture, including antibiotics and prompt surgical cleaning, can shape the long recovery that follows.
Key Questions Answered
What was the reported injury? A dislocated right ankle, an open fracture of the lower leg, and a ruptured deltoid ligament. ESPN reported a tibia fracture, while NFL Network described a fibula fracture.
Why is an open fracture an emergency? A break in the skin lets bacteria reach the bone. Antibiotics and prompt surgical cleaning, ideally within 24 hours, help lower the risk of infection.
What does the deltoid ligament do? It helps stabilize the inner side of the ankle. When it ruptures along with a fracture, the ankle can become unstable and often needs surgical treatment.
How long is a typical recovery? It varies. Bones may heal within weeks to months, but AAOS says stiffness, discomfort, and weakness may keep improving for a year or more.
Is an 11-month return to pro sports typical? It should not be used as a benchmark. Professional athletes usually have daily access to specialized care that most patients do not.
When should someone call 911 for a limb injury? For visible deformity, exposed bone, a wound near a possible fracture, or a pale, cold, numb, or pulseless hand or foot.
What affects recovery most afterward? Following weight-bearing instructions, completing physical therapy, watching for infection, and not smoking.
