Former Washington Huskies running back Emeka Megwa is suing the school, coaches and trainers for alleged medical negligence that took place during his time with the team.
Specifically, nine coaches are being sued along with the sports medicine, training and physical therapy staff. The lawsuit filed by Emeka Megwa alleges that those involved in the lawsuit were responsible for a second ACL tear due to gross mismanagement of the first ACL tear suffered by Megwa.
The previous Washington Huskies staff allegedly handled Emeka Megwa’s injury well
The first ACL tear sustained by former Washington Huskies running back Emeka Megwa occurred during his time in high school. Megwa was getting ready for his senior season at Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth, Texas when he originally tore his ACL.
Megwa then decided to reclassify and join the Washington Huskies later that year, which meant the head coach of the Washington Huskies at that time, Jimmy Lake, was responsible for the rehab. The lawsuit alleges that the rehab from Lake and his staff was “handled well.”
Lake was fired, which meant Kalen DeBoer’s staff would take over in the recovery process. The lawsuit says that DeBoer’s staff pressured Megwa into participating in workouts before he was ready. The Seattle Times explained how Emeka Megwa was pressured.
On Feb. 1, Megwa was doing a lateral shuffling drill and felt a sharp pain in his left knee. A quick on-field evaluation by UW trainers determined all ligaments including the ACL felt stable. According to the lawsuit, Megwa continued to report knee pain and swelling in his left knee throughout the month, but was given painkillers.
During this time, the running back claims he was berated and ridiculed in front of his teammates for being unable to participate. The complaint alleges he was told to “drop your (expletive) nuts and get on the (expletive) line, that’s some p***y a** s**t.”
Megwa’s attorney went on to say in the same Seattle Times article that the surgeons should be deciding when players return, not the coaches or the trainers.
“The main thing he wants is to prevent this from happening to other student athletes,” Megwa’s attorney Andrew Ackley said Tuesday. “When there’s a major reconstructive surgery, the surgeons should be the ones saying what these athletes should be available to do, not trainers or coaches.”
Former Washington Huskies RB Emeka Megwa is trying to protect fellow student-athletes
Former Washington Huskies running back Emeka Megwa’s attorney said he was set back multiple years in his recovery due to the negligence of DeBoer’s staff.
He went on to walk on with the Oklahoma Sooners, but he missed the entire season due to rehab. He had six rushing yards in 2023 in the two games in which he participated. His attorney said in the same Seattle Times article that he wants to prevent this from happening to other students.
“He really wants to protect other students,” Ackley said, “whether it’s at UW or any other college, and have them get the same protections as any other worker who’s going back to work after an injury. These athletes obviously put their bodies on the line, but this was not a risk-of-football injury. This was a totally preventable reinjury and UW messed up his recuperation.”
Many fans have sympathy for Megwa’s situation as it appears he has been an afterthought in the coaching shuffle.
I am glad for him. I hope he receives whatever support is needed as he recuperates plus the ability to get care that he may need later.
— evie1015 (@evie10151) February 29, 2024
Poor kid! Got lost and then re-injured in the coaching shuffle
— Andrew Rogers (@AndrewR50389700) February 29, 2024
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