I was doing some research on another thread about the need for a inebacker in the draft and I came upon this article. It is about DeMeco Ryans but it mentions a 2009 study of NFL football players. The synopsis for those who hate to read is that roughly 66% of NFL athletes who have Achilles surgery return. But when they compare the 3 year pre-surgery stats with the 3 year post surgery stats there was a 50% rduction in power ratings which for linebackers was measured as interceptions and tackles.