Harper to rest a week after getting cortisone, PRP shots in knee

Bryce Harper will miss at least another week due to bursitis in his left knee, a diagnosis that was confirmed by Dr. James Andrews upon Harper's visit to the renowned orthopedic surgeon on Monday. According to MASN's Julie Alexandria, who is with the Nationals out in Colorado, Harper was given a cortisone shot in the inflamed bursa sac in his left knee yesterday, and was also given a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) shot, as well. That news was passed along to reporters by Nationals head trainer Lee Kuntz. Kuntz told reporters that the cortisone shot is intended to get rid of the inflammation in Harper's knee, and the PRP shot is to help ward off a potential infection. Harper has been told that he'll need to rest for a week and then will be reevaluated. Dr. Andrews confirmed that there is nothing structurally wrong with Harper's knee. Speaking to reporters last week, Harper originally said he wasn't willing to have cortisone injected into his ailing knee. "I don't want to put any of that stuff in my knee, in my body," he said last Thursday. "I think that that would do some damage to my knee and I'm not going to do that at 20 years old." Dr. Andrews, widely thought of as the premier knee specialist in the country when it comes to the sports world, apparently convinced Harper that the cortisone would be the best way to go. The Nats will be without Harper through at least the bulk of this road trip, but if all goes well during this week off and the cortisone does its job, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year might be back on the field before too long.