Famous NFL Twitter doctor Jesse Morse found himself in hot water after an ill-advised exchange with Tazim Wajid Wajed, the father of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, over the severity of Watson’s recent ankle injury. The incident unfolded after Watson was carted off the field during the Packers’ 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on September 29.
Despite the concerning scene, there was optimism that Watson could return to action soon, possibly in time for the Packers’ upcoming game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Dr. Jesse Morse, known for offering injury analyses on social media based solely on game footage, weighed in on Watson’s injury, speculating that the receiver had sustained a high ankle sprain. Morse expressed surprise at how quickly Watson seemed to be recovering, given his assumption about the injury’s severity.
However, Watson’s father, Tazim Wajid Wajed, was quick to challenge Morse’s armchair diagnosis. Wajed, who had access to the actual medical reports, informed Morse that his son did not, in fact, suffer from a high ankle sprain.
The injury was a medial sprain, as confirmed by medical professionals who had conducted physical examinations and reviewed X-rays and MRIs.
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Despite being corrected by Watson’s father, Morse doubled down on his initial claim, replying, “I watched the video, yes, it was,” implying that his video analysis was more credible than a professional medical evaluation. This prompted a logical follow-up from Wajed, who questioned Morse’s approach: “So you think watching a video precludes the actual MRI and the doctors reading it?”
In a now-deleted tweet, Morse attempted to defend himself, writing, “‘Tazim,’ I’ve been doing this since 2017. I’m very good at what I do, with about an 85% to 90% accuracy just based off video. I know every single QB, RB, WR, TE’s injury history. I’m confident in my abilities. Take care.” The dismissive tone of his response, coupled with the unnecessary use of quotes around Wajed’s name, came off as condescending, if not racially insensitive.
Wajed, staying composed, responded with a pointed but respectful rebuttal. “Well, if you want to keep on spreading misinformation IN THIS CASE, based upon your 85-90% accuracy on ‘video diagnosis,’ then have at it. I’m telling you he had a medial sprain, NOT a high ankle sprain. That diagnosis didn’t come from watching a video. It literally came from the doctors who examined him and read x-rays and MRIs, then proceeded to treat him. I’m done… Do with it what you will!”
At this point, many expected Morse to issue an apology for both the inaccuracy of his diagnosis and the disrespectful tone of his responses. Instead, he offered a half-hearted correction, blaming Wajed for not clarifying who he was earlier in the exchange, as though that excused Morse’s previous behavior.
While social media doctors like Morse often provide valuable insight and analysis based on their medical knowledge, this incident highlights a critical limitation: without physical examinations or access to medical tests, even the most educated guess is still just that—a guess.
As Wajed pointed out, real medical diagnoses require direct evaluation, not just video analysis.
Ultimately, this episode serves as a reminder that while online experts can provide interesting perspectives, they should be careful not to overstep or dismiss those with firsthand knowledge.
