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Jordan Travis injury update: Will Florida State star QB play in rookie season with Jets?
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- Jordan Travis injury update: Will Florida State star QB play in rookie season with Jets?
Jordan Travis is headed to the NFL.
The Florida State football quarterback was selected No. 171 overall in the fifth round by the New York Jets on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. He becomes the first quarterback drafted under head coach Mike Norvell at FSU and the first Seminole QB drafted since Jameis Winston went first overall in the 2015 NFL Draft.
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Travis' path to being selected wasn't an easy one: He's overcoming a gruesome season-ending injury on Nov. 18 vs. North Alabama . While Travis was never seen as a sure-fire draft pick starter in the NFL, his growth from his first season with Louisville in 2018 to his final season with FSU in 2023 showed enough progress to give him an opportunity to be drafted.
Here's what to know about Travis, his injury and if he will be ready to play as a rookie in the NFL:
What was Jordan Travis ' injury?
With the Seminoles surprisingly losing 13-0 in the first quarter to North Alabama on senior night, Travis tried to jumpstart the FSU offense with a keeper. On the 17-yard run, Travis was tackled awkwardly on a "hip-drop" tackle from North Alabama 's Shaun Myers. Travis grabbed his left leg under his knee and was immediately attended to by FSU physicians and trainers. He was down for several minutes before being taken off the field on a cart. Both teams came to midfield to comfort Travis before he was transported to a waiting ambulance.
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While Florida State never gave an official update on the exact diagnosis of the injury, he announced it as a "broken leg" on X (formerly Twitter), when tweeting about FSU being excluded from the College Football Playoff despite a perfect regular season and ACC championship (something the College Football Playoff selection committee said was part of their reasoning for excluding the Seminoles) .
According to NFL.com, sources close to Travis revealed the diagnosis as "a fractured and dislocated ankle that also stretched some ligaments."
Just four days after the injury, Travis was out of the hospital and showed up at an FSU football practice open to local media. He would also show up to FSU's rivalry game vs. Florida in Gainesville at the end of the week. Travis announced he had successful foot surgery on his X account on Nov. 29.
Orthopedist Dr. Robert Anderson performed the surgery, stabilizing his fibula and tibia and repairing his deltoid ligament. NFL.com notes the surgery is similar to the injury Mark Andrews suffered in November, but allowed him to return to to play in the AFC Championship Game.
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Will Jordan Travis play as a rookie?
When he arrived at the NFL combine on March 1, Travis was noticeably out of his boot. He did not take part in any on-field drills but did interview with teams and go through his medical exams. Travis did not participate in any Combine drills at FSU's pro Day on March 22, only getting his height and weight measured.
That said, he told media expects to be ready to play in his first season in the NFL. Regardless of health, however, he'll be behind one of the greatest QBs in NFL history in Aaron Rodgers on the Jets depth chart.
"At this point, I am taking it day by day," Travis said on March 1 . "I got out of my boot about a week ago, so it's pretty special. I am so thankful to wake up every single day and look down at my shoes. I am so grateful, it's been a journey for sure and my family has helped me get through it.
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"I should be ready by May, June. That's my goal. I am ready for it."
Jordan Travis college stats
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Career: 637 of 1,027 passing (62.0%) for 8,715 yards and 66 touchdowns to 20 interceptions, 150.6 career passer rating; 1,950 career rushing yards and 31 career rushing touchdowns
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2018 (Louisville): 4 of 14 passing (28.6%) for 71 yards and one passing touchdown to one interception, 80.5 passer rating; 40 rushing yards
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2019 (FSU): 6 of 11 passing (54.5%) for 79 passing yards, 114.9 passer rating; 228 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns
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2020 (FSU):72 of 131 passing (55.0%) for 1,056 passing yards and six passing touchdowns to six interceptions, 128.6 passer rating; 559 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns
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2021 (FSU): 122 of 194 passing (62.9%) for 1,539 passing yards and 15 touchdowns to six interceptions, 148.9 passer rating; 530 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns
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2022 (FSU): 226 of 353 passing (64.0%) for 3,214 passing yards and 24 touchdowns to five interceptions, 160.1 passer rating; 417 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns
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2023 (FSU): 207 of 324 passing (63.9%) for 2,756 passing yards and 20 touchdowns to two interceptions, 154.5 passer rating; 176 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Jordan Travis injury update: Will Florida State star QB play rookie season with Jets?
