Played the entire 2025 football season with a cyst on his spine. I knew he didn't look right.
Those NFL doctors don't miss anything, you can believe that!
I blame Brian Kelly for all of this.
I'm glad the Kansas City Chiefs took a shot on Garrett. He could turn out to be a gem!
Former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier played through a 2025 season with a, initially undetected, spinal cyst. Tests at the 2026 NFL Combine revealed the cyst on his spine was pressing on a nerve, causing persistent, stabbing oblique pain that forced him to miss four games. The "rare" injury was only diagnosed months later, but he is now asymptomatic.
Key Details on the Injury and Diagnosis
The Cause: A thoracic spine cyst at T9–T11 was pressing on a nerve, referring pain to his abdominal/oblique area.
Misdiagnosis/Diagnostic Delay: The injury was, for months, treated as a standard oblique strain or sport-related hernia because the pain was not in his back, delaying the diagnosis until the 2026 NFL Combine.
Impact on Season: Nussmeier played through "tremendous pain," resulting in a significant drop in production (from 4,052 yards in 2024 to 1,927 in 2025) before his season was cut short.
Current Status: He has been asymptomatic since before the 2026 Senior Bowl, where he won MVP.
Future Prognosis: NFL doctors have cleared him, stating there is no long-term risk. If the cyst becomes symptomatic again, a minimally invasive 2–3 week recovery procedure can fix it.