2020 NFL Draft: WR Laviska Shenault has core injury, will undergo surgery

2020 NFL Draft hopeful Laviska Shenault attempted to push through an injury and will now be heading for surgery on his core.

It was evident that something was not right with Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault at the NFL Scouting Combine. The 2020 NFL Draft prospect was expected to test off the charts, but came into the event banged up, attempted to fight through it, then nearly ran a 4.6 40 yard dash.

Announced today, Shenault may have pushed himself too hard when he should have sat out as he is now set to undergo the knife for a core injury. Earlier this month it was reported that Shenault was diagnosed with an inflamed pubic bone, but that he would avoid surgery; his combine medical must have showed a bit more as the Colorado standout will now head in that direction.

Shenault is expected to miss the next six to eight weeks to recover, meaning he will not be ready for Colorado’s pro day either. While he will be ready for training camp with the team that inevitably picks him, his draft stock will take a bit of a bump in the road given teams will not have accurate testing information (or any for that matter) to work with on Shenault.

Currently graded as a first round receiver by this writer, the lack of testing numbers and a down year with the Buffs may drop him into the early second on my metric. Shenault is a talented receiver who is an absolute tank with the ball in his hands, but has struggled with injuries all year. A team at the back half of the first round may still be willing to take a shot on him such as the Buffalo Bills or the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sometimes prospects want to show that they can tough it out, but Laviska Shenault would have better suited to heal up for his pro day. This is not the end of the world for the Colorado receiver, but this will certainly set him and his draft stock back a bit in the 2020 NFL Draft.