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I've got a TON to say so let's get at it
I hate injuries. I really
do. I know, tell me again how it’s a violent
sport. Tell me again how, as often as big, angry
men collide during the course of a game, you’re
going to get your bumps and bruises and tears and
breaks. Tell me it again, because God knows I haven’t
heard how injuries are “just a part of the
game” of football. But they still bother me,
mainly because as a fan and a writer who follows
the league for a living, I want to see teams play
at full strength. I’m selfish. I want to see
the stars on the big stage, not their understudies.
Anyway, this past weekend, all hell seemed to break
loose. People were being helped to the sideline
or carted off in what seemed like record numbers,
though I’m sure there aren’t any statistics
kept to back this up. It just seemed like more carnage
ensued than usual, and the body count in trainers’
rooms and doctors’ offices would seem to prove
just that.
I’ve decided to break it down in the form
of an All-Injured Team, made up of the big-name
guys who will miss anywhere from 2-3 weeks to the
entire season. It’s voted on by only me, but
it should at least provide you a better glimpse
of the big picture in a season in which too many
of the headlines are related to who’s not
playing instead of who is. Did I mention I hate
injuries?
Quarterbacks — Fortunately, and feel free
to knock on wood here, the glamour position has
not been rocked as hard by injury as some of the
other positions. The Steelers’ Tommy Maddox
will miss about five weeks with ligament damage
in his throwing elbow, paving the way for first-round
pick Ben Roethlisberger a year earlier than expected.
Tim Rattay, groomed to fill some rather large shoes
as San Francisco’s next signalcaller, injured
his right shoulder in the opener. Ken Dorsey started
for him last week to mixed reviews. Rattay could
return this week or next.
Running backs — Is it just me, or do the
Vikings always seem to hold Michael Bennett out
longer than they originally plan to? His sprained
knee, suffered in the preseason, could be healed
and ready to go after next week's bye, but don’t
hold your breath. The big name here is Deuce McAllister,
easily the one player the Saints (with Aaron Stecker
and Ki-Jana Carter in reserve) can least afford
to be without. They’ll have to for an expected
4-5 weeks because of an ankle sprain, but he says
he can play through it, so stay tuned. Carolina’s
Stephen Davis had knee surgery to repair damaged
cartilage, but the shiftier DeShaun Foster picked
up the slack just fine in last week’s win
in K.C. Davis could be ready after Carolina's bye
this week, but more likely a bit later than that.
Lee Suggs has yet to play a down in the regular
season because of a neck stinger. Cowboys rookie
Julius Jones is out of the mix for perhaps two months
with a shoulder injury. Correll Buckhalter, who
was to split time with Brian Wesbrook in Philly,
was lost for the year in the preseason.
Wide receivers — Physical ailments took their
toll here. You have to feel for the Lions’
bright, young talent Charles Rogers, who for the
second consecutive year had his season cut woefully
short because of a broken collarbone. Steve Smith,
an up-and-coming threat in Carolina’s otherwise
conservative offense, suffered an ugly broken leg
in the opener and will miss close to three months
in all. The same could be true for Anquan Boldin
of the Cardinals, who suffered a freak knee injury
during warm-ups in training camp. The enigma that
is David Boston was being counted on to open up
Miami’s passing game, but he too fell victim
to a training-camp knee injury and won’t be
catching passes until next summer. We can’t
forget Joey Galloway, seemingly the one deep threat
for Jon Gruden’s Buccaneers. Injured in the
opener, he’ll miss at least 2-4 more weeks
with a groin pull.
Tight ends — Todd Heap (sidelined 2-4 weeks
with an ankle) and rookie Kellen Winslow (ankle
— could be out for the season) headline this
list. The Jaguars’ Kyle Brady (finger) hasn’t
played yet, and underrated Jim Kleinsasser in Minnesota
partially tore his ACL last week.
Offensive linemen — Nothing too major here
yet, except for Eagles rookie OG Shawn Andrews,
Titans OG Zach Piller and Redskins ORT Jon Jansen,
all lost for the year before the real bullets even
started flying, and Vikings ORT Mike Rosenthal,
whose foot injury will make him an observer until
2005 as well. Bears OG Rex Tucker dislocated an
elbow in the preseason and could be back after the
midway point. The poor guy has played but a handful
of games the past three years. A trio of centers
(Baltimore’s Mike Flynn, Cincinnati’s
Rich Braham and Green Bay’s Mike Flanagan)
could all miss a bit of time early on as well. Guess
it’s more serious than I led on.
Defensive linemen — The Browns suffered the
equivalent of a kick in the groin and a kidney punch
last week with loss of Winslow, DE Courtney Brown
(foot) and DT Gerard Warren (pectoral). Warren is
hoping to be back in a month. Not the case with
Brown, who won’t be suiting up again this
season. The Broncos’ best lineman, Trevor
Pryce, figures to be out of commission for half
the year after back surgery this week. Philadelphia’s
N.D. Kalu, Green Bay’s Grady Jackson, St.
Louis’ Jimmy Kennedy and Miami’s Tim
Bowens are among the other key D-linemen hurting.
Linebackers — Peter Sirmon’s ACL tear
caused the Titans to reshuffle their LB corps in
the preseason. The Raiders had big things in mind
for ILB Napoleon Harris in his third year, but those
expectations have had to wait to be met while he
recovers from a sprained knee. He could be back
this week. Chad Brown, a true pass-rushing presence
Ray Rhodes would’ve utilized well in Seattle,
will miss half the year with a broken fibula. Boss
Bailey, an athletic, young talent in Detroit, is
in the same boat with a knee injury, and a sprained
ligament will keep the Jets’ Sam Cowart out
of action for 4-6 weeks.
Defensive backs — The Bears could be borrowing
local high school players before long with the way
it’s going in Chicago. Already without starting
CB Jerry Azumah (bulging disc) for roughly half
the year, they had to cringe when they heard the
news that FS Mike Brown (Achilles) was down for
the count and CB Charles Tillman could miss seven
weeks or more with a knee problem. That pretty much
had to squash any celebration on the plane ride
home from Green Bay. Detroit’s Dre’
Bly (knee) got better in a hurry and could return
this week, and Cowboys S Darren Woodson is aiming
at a Week Seven return from a back injury. The Raiders
are without SS Derrick Gibson (broken arm) for 2004,
and the Falcons’ first-round pick, DeAngelo
Hall, whom they were counting on in a new-look secondary,
has yet to play a down of meaningful football because
of a bum hip.
See what I mean? Looking at the injury report,
I feel like I barely scratched the surface. I hate
injuries.
Now get
back to work...
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On Football Writer Ray Monohan is an NFL analyst
with 10+ years of experience covering the NFL. He
provides a great perspective on the NFL with player
and team insight unmatched in the NFL football betting
industry.
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