NFL Draft Prospect Gunnar Helm Is Receiving Massive Praise For Battling Through Gruesome Injury That Will Make Your Stomach Turn At The Combine
Texas tight end Gunnar Helm showed incredible toughness at the NFL Scouting Combine, finishing all his drills despite a painful ankle injury. During a false start on his 40-yard dash, Helm twisted his ankle, but he kept going without telling anyone about it. After the event, an MRI confirmed he had suffered a sprain.
Photos shared by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport show Gunnar Helm’s ankle swollen and badly bruised. The injury clearly affected his performance. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.84 seconds, one of the slowest times among tight ends. He also had the worst 10-yard split and vertical jump in his group.
Gunnar Helm Fighting Through The Pain
Even with the injury, Helm gave his best effort. He did better in some drills, placing fourth in the three-cone drill and sixth in the 20-yard shuttle. His determination impressed many, but the injury may have hurt his draft stock.
Gunnar Helm had a breakout season with Texas in 2024, recording 786 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Before that, he had only 236 yards in three years. He also played in all 16 games, showing he’s durable when healthy.
You can check out the photos of Helm’s gruesome injury here:
Bleacher Report ranks him as the No. 8 tight end in this year’s draft, while NFL.com lists him as the fifth-best at his position. Top tight ends in the draft include Tyler Warren (Penn State), Colston Loveland (Michigan), Mason Taylor (LSU), and Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green). B/R scout Dame Parson calls Helm a “traditional Y tight end” with good catching skills but says he needs to improve his blocking.
Gunnar Helm isn’t done yet. He plans to run the 40-yard dash again at Texas’ Pro Day on March 26. With a few weeks to recover, he hopes to post a better time and boost his draft chances.
