surgical treatment of the compression depends on where the compression is and its cause.

we should remember that true brachial plexus nerve compressions can result in atrophy, wasting, loss of function etc, of the affected arm/hand (among other things), and aggressive, timely treatment may make the difference between getting back in the game (at the same level), or having to call it quits long before the athlete had planned.

there have been many football players that got traded the moment they suffered any kind of stretch injury to a shoulder (QBs especially) simply because everyone knows that the likelihood of returning to pre-injury form is pretty slim.

Injury/treatment specifics are not always spelled out [in the press]. Player contracts also cover injury, surgery (if applicable), recovery, and return to play. I doubt that they [player, doc and manager] would be advertising anything longer than 3 months rehab due to the potential for that athlete to be traded/replaced by a more capable body. Just is what it is.