Top NFL Draft prospect Abdul Carter's foot injury and what it could mean for NFL future

Top NFL Draft prospect Abdul Carter was revealed to have a stress reaction in his foot, Dr Erica Urquhart spoke with Fox News Digital about stress fractures in athletes.

Top NFL Draft prospect Abdul Carter was revealed to have a stress reaction in his right foot during testing at the NFL combine in February.

A stress reaction is an early sign of a bone stress injury and can turn into a stress fracture if not treated properly.

Carter, 21, had a medical recheck in Indianapolis last week that showed the stress reaction is healing, and no surgery will be needed, per ESPN. 

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Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 27, 2025. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

"It should be a non-factor with the teams at this point," Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus said via ESPN. 

Dr. Erica Urquhart, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, spoke to Fox News Digital about stress fractures and what they mean for athletes. Urquhart said that, generally, stress fractures are caused by overuse.

"The overuse is related to repetitive activity or activities that generate significant, again using the word, stress on a localized area of the body could then result in a stress fracture," Urquhart said. 

Urquhart said that stress fractures and an "incomplete fracture" of the bone that initially are treated with rest. 

"We would encourage rest, immobilization to allow the body to heal itself," Urquhart said.

The immobilization could come in the form of a cast or brace.

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