Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones' status as a top-10 draft pick this April fully depends on how confident NFL teams are about his health.
Jones has received very good news on that front in the form of a new medical report recently sent to NFL teams. Dan Pompei of the National Football Post reported Sunday that leading orthopedist Craig Brigham concluded that Jones never had a significant spinal-cord contusion. Brigham's findings refute findings by USC doctors who diagnosed Jones with spinal stenosis in 2009.
USC wouldn't medically clear Jones, leading to the linebacker's decision to transfer.
Brigham believes Jones had a very mild incident of spinal-cord concussion or a stinger. Either way, the doctor believes the situation has long since been resolved. Jones' ability to star for two seasons at Georgia provides evidence in support of Brigham's conclusion.
Brigham said Jones could continue playing even if another similar injury occurred. He concluded: "Jarvis is cleared to play without restriction."
This won't remove all doubt from the equation, but Brigham's medical report should provide some peace of mind to teams who believe Jones can be a centerpiece of an NFL defense. Don't expect a first-round free-fall here.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
