NFL Draft Gunnar Helm hopeful shares pH๏τo of gruesome injury he suffered at combine… before somehow finishing his drills

NFL Draft Gunnar Helm hopeful shares pH๏τo of gruesome injury he suffered at combine... before somehow finishing his drills

Texas тιԍнт end Gunnar Helm was hiding a gruesome injury while taking part in NFL combine drills this weekend, new pictures show.

Helm badly twisted his ankle on a false start of the 40-yard-dash, with the injury later diagnosed as a sprain by an MRI.

But Helm managed to finish all of his drills, and pH๏τos sent to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport afterwards show what the 22-year-old was battling through.

Pictures posted to X show significant bruising and swelling on the prospect’s ankle, which in one pH๏τo is black and blue.

Rapoport added that Helm did not disclose the injury to anybody until he was finished at the combine in Indianapolis.

Unfortunately, it seems as though the injury hampered his performance, as his 40-yard-dash time of 4.84 seconds was the third-worst among тιԍнт ends.

Gunnar Helm could be seen badly twisting his ankle on a false start of the 40-yard-dash

Gunnar Helm could be seen badly twisting his ankle on a false start of the 40-yard-dash

Here is a crazy Combine story: #Texas TE Gunnar Helm twisted his ankle on his false start on the 40-yard dash, then finished all the drills anyway. Said nothing until it was over. Had an MRI on Saturday to reveal a sprain. And will run again at his Pro Day. The pics are… yikes. pic.twitter.com/fi9Uus2ASa

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 2, 2025 Helm gutted out the injury to complete his drills at the combine, but struggled in certain areas

Helm gutted out the injury to complete his drills at the combine, but struggled in certain areas

He also posted the slowest time in the 10-yard-split among тιԍнт ends, and the worst mark in the vertical jump compared to his positional peers.

Helm did fare better in the three-cone drill, placing fourth of eight тιԍнт ends, while he finished sixth of nine total тιԍнт ends in the 20-yard shuttle.

It remains to be seen how – or if – Helm’s combine affects his draft stock, though he is well-regarded by evaluators.

He is graded as the fifth-best тιԍнт end in this draft class by NFL.com, who say he will ‘eventually be an average starter.’ 

The only тιԍнт ends to have a higher grade from the site are (in order): Penn State’s Tyler Warren, Michigan’s Colston Loveland, LSU’s Mason Taylor and Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr.

If Helm chooses to participate in Texas’ Pro Day, he’ll have several weeks to recover ahead of the March 26 event. 

Related Posts

Shedeur Sanders breaks his silence on shock NFL Draft snub after QB slid out of first round

Shedeur Sanders breaks his silence on shock NFL Draft snub after QB slid out of first round

Shedeur Sanders claimed his snub in the opening round of the NFL Draft will act as ‘fuel to the fire’ as he broke his silence on a…

Revealed: Why Shedeur Sanders fell out of first round of NFL Draft

Revealed: Why Shedeur Sanders fell out of first round of NFL Draft

In one of the most shocking moments of the 2025 NFL Draft, quarterback Shedeur Sanders slid not only out of the top 10 but all the way…

Dejected Shedeur Sanders left anxiously waiting as Steelers and Giants make shock NFL Draft decision

Dejected Shedeur Sanders left anxiously waiting as Steelers and Giants make shock NFL Draft decision

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was left to sit and watch as he continued tumbling down the 2025 NFL Draft boards in a stunning scene. While the draft…

Former linebacker Steve Kiner dies at the age of 77 just hours before NFL Draft

Former linebacker Steve Kiner dies at the age of 77 just hours before NFL Draft

Former NFL linebacker Steve Kiner died at the age of 77 Thursday, the National Football Foundation announced just hours before the 2025 Draft.  Kiner was drafted by the…

Fired-up Jaxson Dart celebrates Giants pick in jubilant NFL draft scene

Fired-up Jaxson Dart celebrates Giants pick in jubilant NFL draft scene

A fired-up Jaxson Dart could hardly contain his excitement Thursday night when the Giants traded back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select…

Who is Cam Ward? Meet the NFL’s newest star who went from ‘overweight’ and overlooked to the 2025 No. 1 pick

Who is Cam Ward? Meet the NFL’s newest star who went from ‘overweight’ and overlooked to the 2025 No. 1 pick

The NFL Draft’s worst-kept secret has finally been broken as quarterback Cam Ward has gone No. 1 overall to the Tennessee тιтans. Accompanied by his parents, Ward…