The NFL team that drafts Takkarist McKinley in April will have to wait awhile to see him on the practice field.
The UCLA defensive end said he will undergo shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum and a broken glenoid, and will be out for 5-6 months, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
McKinley first plans to complete a full workout at the NFL Scouting Combine next week before having the procedure done, per Cole. That will give NFL clubs an opportunity to not only look at his injury, but measure his athleticism, as well. But with a 5-6 month projection on his recovery, he wouldn't return to the field until August or September.
That means the recovery, as reported by Cole, could potentially overlap part of training camp, at a minimum.
McKinley (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) is among the top pass rushers in the 2017 NFL Draft. NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah ranks McKinley as the No. 22 prospect available. He recorded 10 sacks among 18 tackles for loss for the Bruins as a senior last year, marking a big jump in production from the previous year (4 and 7.5).
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