New Orleans Saints defensive end Alex Okafor was diagnosed with a sprained ankle and a knee bone bruise after undergoing an MRI on Wednesday, sources informed of the situation told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Okafor is considered week to week and it's unclear when he'll return to practice, Rapoport reported.
Members of the Saints' training staff quickly tended to Okafor after he went down at practice Wednesday. He managed to limp off the field under his own power, according to multiple reports.
Okafor is attempting to come back from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in Week 11 of the 2017 regular season. Before the season-ending injury, the 6-foot-4, 261-pound Okafor was enjoying a strong campaign, totaling 43 tackles (27 solo), 4 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles as the much-needed complementary pass rusher to Cameron Jordan.
Okafor, who originally signed with the Saints in 2017 on a one-year contract, re-signed during the offseason. With Okafor on the mend during the offseason, the Saints added more firepower to the pass rush through the 2018 NFL Draft by trading up to select defensive end Marcus Davenport in the first round.
"It sucks for a guy coming back from the injury that he just came back from," left tackle Terron Armstead said immediately after the practice ended, before he'd gotten a chance to check on Okafor. "I know the feeling. Being hit with things back to back, it's a lot mentally, maybe even more than physically, sometimes."
Up until Wednesday's injury, Okafor had been having an impressive training camp, particularly given the fact that he returned to the field in eight months, on the early side of a typical recovery from an Achilles tear.
Up until Wednesday's injury, Okafor had been having an impressive training camp, particularly given the fact that he returned to the field in eight months, on the early side of a typical recovery from an Achilles tear.
