Atari Bigby To Have Ankle Surgery
It’s been a tough summer for Green Bay Packers safety Atari Bigby. After sitting out the Packers offseason workouts in hopes of a new contract, he reported to training camp on time only to re-injure his ankle during the team’s conditioning test. Today, Mike McCarthy revealed that Bigby will need surgery for the second time in two years on his troublesome left ankle.
Pro Football Talk reports “Dr. Robert Anderson will perform an arthroscopic procedure on Bigby’s ankle” on Friday in North Carolina. The fact that the surgery is arthroscopic rather than a repeat of the microfracture surgery he had two years ago means Bigby is only expected to miss a few weeks.
What started as a promising career, is now beginning to point towards the exit for the 5th-year safety out of Central Florida. First, the Packers drafted safety Morgan Burnett to push Bigby for playing time. Next, the Packers reduced Bigby’s contract offer when he chose not to sign by the June 15th deadline. After that, Bigby re-injured his ankle during the conditioning test. Finally, Bigby will have his second surgery on his ankle in two years.
Times are tough for Atari Bigby. Some are calling him out for his “lack of speed and range” while others are wondering aloud if his injuries mean the end of the line. At the very least, the Packers need the depth Bigby will provide at safety this season. As far as next season, the Packers will be hard pressed to offer Bigby the contract he desires unless he comes back from this ankle surgery better than ever.
