Becker’s reported on multiple professional athletes who had spine and orthopedic surgery in 2025.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list.
1. Steven Choung, MD, performed surgery on Wilder Cartagena, a midfielder for Orlando City SC, at the Orlando (Fla.) Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. Mr. Cartagena’s left Achilles tendon was repaired.
2. Cam Jurgens, a center for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, underwent spine surgery Feb. 18. Mr. Jurgens’ surgery alleviated nerve pain. Robert Watkins, MD, performed the surgery in Los Angeles.
3. Neal ElAttrache, MD, performed shoulder surgery on Herb Jones, a player for the New Orleans Pelicans. The procedure was to repair a torn rotator cuff in Mr. Jones’ right shoulder.
4. Dharmesh Vyas, MD, PhD, performed knee surgery on Tanner Howe, a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, at UPMC St. Margaret Harmar Outpatient Center in Pittsburgh. The procedure was to repair Mr. Howe’s anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
5. Keith Meister, MD, performed elbow surgery on Justin Steele, a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.
6. Dain Allred, MD, performed surgery on Javain Brown, a defender for Real Salt Lake. The procedure was to repair Mr. Brown’s left anterior cruciate ligament, medial and lateral menisci.
7. Dharmesh Vyas, MD, PhD, performed knee surgery on Tanner Howe, a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, at UPMC St. Margaret Harmar Outpatient Center in Pittsburgh. The procedure was to repair Mr. Howe’s anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
8. Neal ElAttrache, MD, performed shoulder surgery on Griffin Conine, an outfielder for the Miami Marlins.
9. Peter Millett, MD, performed shoulder surgery on Luke Hughes, a defenseman for the New Jersey Devils. The procedure was performed at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo.
10. Eric Berkson, MD, performed knee surgery on Triston Casas, a first baseman for the Boston Red Sox. The surgery was to repair a ruptured tendon in Mr. Casas’ left knee.
11. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum underwent surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon at New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery. Martin O’Malley, MD, performed the surgery.
12. Courtney Vandersloot, guard for the Chicago Sky, has undergone surgery for a torn right anterior cruciate ligament. Brian Cole, MD, a sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon at Rush, performed the surgery at Chicago-based Midwest Orthopedics at Rush.
13. Jonathan Glashow, MD, a surgeon at New York City-based NYU Langone Sports Medicine Center, completed arthroscopic surgery on Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid’s left knee in April.
14. Bert Mandelbaum, MD, performed knee surgery on Jonathan Rodríguez, a player for the Portland Timbers. The procedure was a cartilage restoration surgery in Mr. Rodríguez’s right knee.
15. Dr. Glashow performed knee surgery on Philadelphia 76ers player Paul George July 14 at the New York City-based NYU Langone Sports Medicine Orthopedic Center.
16. Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke announced that he had spinal fusion after the team’s Jan. 12 playoff game with the Buffalo Bills. Chad Prusmack, MD, performed the surgery to address degenerated discs at L4 and L5, the report said.
17. Professional golfer Tiger Woods had a lumbar disc replacement. Sheeraz Qureshi, MD, performed the surgery in Mr. Woods’ L4/L5 spine on Oct. 10 at New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery. The disc replacement was his second orthopedic surgery in 2025 and his 7th career spine surgery. Mr. Woods also had Achilles surgery on March 11.
18. Robert Watkins, IV, MD, operated on Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince on Nov. 13. Mr. Prince had surgery for a herniated disc in his neck at the Watkins Spine Center in Los Angeles.
