Some unfortunate news for the Blazers
Trail Blazers forward Martell Webster will likely miss the rest of the regular season recovering from a left foot injury, according to the team’s athletic trainer.
“If he has a shot at playing, it will be the playoffs,” said Jay Jensen, the team’s athletic trainer. “We’ll have to see how he does. But considering where we are in the season, and his past history with the foot, I think it would be a fair statement to say it’s unlikely he will play in the regular season.”
Webster has suffered through these foot injuries all season
Webster, a projected starter at small forward when training camp opened, suffered a stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal on his left foot during the Blazers’ first preseason game on Oct. 7. He had surgery to insert screws into the foot, then returned to the court on Dec. 7 in Toronto. But after playing five minutes, Webster suffered another stress fracture in the same spot.
Webster has been wearing a protective boot, which he will sport until at least March 3, when he receives his next set of X-Rays. If he is cleared to remove the boot on March 3, the team plans to hold him out a month while he swims, bikes and lifts weights. That would place his return to the practice court at April 3. The regular season ends April 15.
Blazers’ trainer Jay Jensen thinks Webster may be able to return for the playoffs, but that it is likely that he won’t.
I thought Martell Webster was due for a breakout season this season. I loved the mentality, and attitude, that he was showing early in training camp and in that first preseason game. I felt like he finally fully understood what team needed from him, what his role was, and how he could be successful in that role.
I expected him to be an excellent complementary piece for the young Blazers, their best perimeter defender, a key shooter, a solid scorer, and all-round solid player. The glue guy who balanaced out the team.
Unfortunately, the injuries have gotten in the way of that progress and we won’t know if Webster would have met my high hopes for him or not.
Martell Webster is major loss for the Blazers because he’s the best wing on the team after Brandon Roy, and the final piece of that starting lineup. He would have given them a good bump and a better chance at advancing in the playoffs.
Update: Confirmation that Webster will indeed be out for the remainder of the season.
But there is good news. In a text message, the team announced that x-rays showed improvement in the stress fracture in Webster’s ailing foot and the small forward has been “cleared to begin low impact activities,” such as riding the exercise bike and working in the pool.
Webster also no longer has to wear a protective boot.
Posted on February 21, 2009 by Dave