Another Blue Devil is sidelined after sophomore defensive tackle James Bruce went under the knife to repair a stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal of his right foot.
Duke had high hopes for Bruce heading into the season. In his freshman year, Bruce played in all 12 games, coming off the bench for five tackles. After spring practices, Bruce was dubbed the team's Most Improved Defensive Player.
No timetable has been set for his return, but there is some history with football players and stress fractures in their feet. New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot following the 2010 NFL season. Brady was expected to need at least three months to recover from his procedure, which involved inserting a screw into his foot, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com. While Bruce's timetable won't match that of Brady, it does provide a bit of context for the recovery process.
Bruce joins a growing number of teammates on the sidelines, recovering from injuries. Linebacker Kelby Brown still isn't healthy after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee back in February. A few weeks ago, tight end Braxton Deaver underwent surgery for a fracture in his left patella. Of course, wide receiver Blair Holiday is still recovering from the jet ski accident that occurred earlier this summer.
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