Navy senior quarterback Brian Hampton, who dislocated his knee Saturday in a 34-0 loss to Rutgers, is done for the season. An MRI showed he tore three different ligaments.
Hampton is scheduled to have surgery the first week of November and then likely faces up to a year of rehabilitation, according to the school?s assistant athletic director for sports medicine, Dr. Jeff Fair.
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“The MRI came back and what it shows is that the ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] is torn, the PCL [posterior cruciate ligament] is torn and the LCL [lateral collateral ligament] is torn,” Fair said. “The only ligament that he still has intact is the MCL [medial collateral ligament].”
Fair said a dislocation like Hampton?s could be especially dangerous because it could cause a lack of blood flow and nerve supply and end in amputation. Despite that prognosis, Hampton said Tuesday that he expects to be back with his team, although he acknowledged his career was over.
Hampton said he would likely be slowed going in and out of classes, but he is on pace to graduate.
“Obviously, I?m just wanting to do one of two things: Get back on the field as fast as I possibly can or get my coach?s whistle,” Hampton said.
Fair said Hampton has a long road ahead in his rehabilitation.
“Any anterior cruciate ligament injury like that, we?re talking eight to nine months,” Fair said. “With a total dislocation like this, to get him going back, I?d say 10 or 12 months. I think he?s going to be fine for graduation.”
Meanwhile, Navy coach Paul Johnson appeared no closer to deciding who would start in Hampton?s place against Notre Dame Oct. 28. Both sophomore Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and Jarod Bryant said they were ready if chosen. Kaheaku-Enhada likely has the edge.
“Right now, Kaipo is the No. 2 guy,” Johnson said. “But we?ll give them both plenty of reps in practice and … we?ll play with the guy who gives us the best chance to win.”
Hampton said he would help his successor.
“Right now, I?m more or less trying to get Kaipo ready for the next game,” Hampton said.
