Doctor of physical therapy explains Cam Skattebo’s gruesome ankle injury and recovery outlook

Tom Christ, a doctor of physical therapy, spoke to Fox News Digital about Cam Skattebo's gruesome injury, other dangers of it, and the rehab process the rookie running back is looking at.

Cam Skattebo’s promising start to his rookie season was cut short on Sunday after he suffered a gruesome injury in the New York Giants’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that warranted no replays being shown.

The running back suffered ligament tears while dislocating his ankle, which resulted in a compound wound, after getting tackled by Zach Baun on Sunday.

Skattebo had surgery in Philadelphia just hours after the injury, which was necessary because of the open wound, Doctor of Physical Therapy Tom Christ said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

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New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo is carted off the field during the game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles on October 26th, 2025 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"It’s infection control. We kind of thought this from watching the injury — both the tibia and fibula snapped. And what happens when they snap is sometimes the bone can protrude through the skin. That was definitely a concern if you saw the play. But it was an open fracture, meaning the skin has been compromised. Now, any bacteria from his sock, the field, wherever, can easily get into the skin. And since the bone is fractured, it could get into the bone itself," Christ said.

In essence, it was to avoid an Alex Smith situation, in which his life was in danger after getting sepsis due to infections from his compound injury in 2018.

"If he does develop a bad infection, that’s going to make