Former Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan’s lawsuit is a medical malpractice case he filed in May 2023 against orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews and four related defendants, alleging that a botched October 2020 ACL repair permanently damaged his right knee, caused a second ACL tear in 2022, and ended his nine-year NFL career.1Detroit News. Pro Bowl Tackle Taylor Lewan Sues Doctor Over ACL Repair
What Lewan Alleges Went Wrong
Andrews operated on Lewan’s right knee on October 27, 2020, at a facility affiliated with the Andrews Institute in Pensacola, Florida, nine days after Lewan tore the ACL during a game against the Houston Texans.1Detroit News. Pro Bowl Tackle Taylor Lewan Sues Doctor Over ACL Repair The complaint, filed in the Circuit Court of Escambia County, Florida, contains 12 counts of medical malpractice.2Tennessean. Taylor Lewan Suing Dr. James Andrews, Malpractice ACL Injury
The suit alleges that Andrews and co-defendant Dr. Benjamin Sherman “failed to properly treat the injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in Lewan’s right knee in various ways.”2Tennessean. Taylor Lewan Suing Dr. James Andrews, Malpractice ACL Injury Specific negligence claims include:
- Failure to use a particular type of graft.
- Damaging surrounding knee cartilage during the procedure.
- Failure to repair the medial meniscus.
- Failure to properly supervise residents and fellows.
- Failure to provide adequate post-surgical care.3Newsday. Pro Bowl Tackle Taylor Lewan Sues Doctor Over ACL Repair
According to the complaint, the surgery resulted in permanent damage to the knee, including injury to surrounding cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, and directly caused the second ACL tear in September 2022.4Nashville Post. Taylor Lewan Says Surgeons Caused Permanent Injury
Who Is Being Sued
The complaint names five defendants: Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery and is widely regarded as the most prominent sports medicine surgeon in the country; Dr. Benjamin Sherman, another physician involved in Lewan’s care; Baptist Health Care, Inc.; Baptist Medical Group, LLC; and Andrews Institute ASC, LLC, the ambulatory surgical center where the procedure took place.4Nashville Post. Taylor Lewan Says Surgeons Caused Permanent Injury
What Lewan Is Seeking
The complaint formally seeks damages “in excess of $50,000 plus costs, interest, and other relief decided by the court” and requests a jury trial.5NFL.com. Former Titans LT Taylor Lewan Sues Doctor Over ACL Repair The $50,000 figure is a procedural minimum under Florida law rather than an actual demand. Lewan had been due $14.8 million in the final year of his Titans contract when the team released him on February 22, 2023, after he failed a physical.1Detroit News. Pro Bowl Tackle Taylor Lewan Sues Doctor Over ACL Repair
The damage categories listed in the complaint include severe pain and disability, disfigurement, loss of ability to enjoy life, past and future medical expenses, past and future loss of career earnings and opportunities, and mental distress.1Detroit News. Pro Bowl Tackle Taylor Lewan Sues Doctor Over ACL Repair
How the Injuries Unfolded
After the October 2020 surgery, Lewan returned for the 2021 season and started 13 games, but he later said the knee never fully healed and that he dealt with persistent swelling and pain throughout the year. On September 19, 2022, in the second game of the season, he tore the same right ACL again, ending his year after two starts.6Tennessean. Taylor Lewan Tennessee Titans Injury Update
In October 2022, Lewan said on his podcast that the ongoing problems were a “direct correlation to what happened when I got my knee done” in 2020, and that he needed another operation just to “live like a normal life.”6Tennessean. Taylor Lewan Tennessee Titans Injury Update
What Lewan Has Said About the Case
Lewan announced the filing on May 2, 2023, through social media and his podcast “Bussin’ With The Boys.” He described the 2020 surgery as “badly done” and said the resulting complications led directly to the 2022 injury.7Yahoo Sports. Taylor Lewan Says Filing Lawsuit On the podcast he added: “Since 2020, this has sucked. I would love to sit here and vent and tell you how tough of a situation this has been. But I can’t right now. I will definitely share more when I’m able to. But we all know how lawyers work.”8Yahoo Sports. Ex-NFL Lineman Taylor Lewan Files Lawsuit
An Earlier Malpractice Suit Against Dr. Andrews
Lewan’s case is not the first high-profile malpractice suit against Andrews. In November 2018, former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd sued Andrews and his staff for $180 million, alleging that a negligently administered post-surgery pain blocker paralyzed a nerve and permanently compromised his ability to play.9Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law. Bad Break: Ex-NFL Player Sues Dr. James Andrews for $180 Million That case was resolved through an undisclosed settlement without a public finding of liability.
Current Status
No public updates on the outcome or current status of the malpractice lawsuit have been reported in the available sources. As of late 2023, Lewan had not officially retired from the NFL and had not signed with another team since his release from the Titans, though he has transitioned into media work with his podcast and Barstool Sports.10Yahoo Sports. Former Tennessee Titans Taylor Lewan