Key NFL Injuries
Ben Roethlisberger: The Steelers quarterback sustained a concussion after taking a hard hit during Pittsburgh's Week 17 victory over Cleveland. Big Ben was strapped to a backboard and carted off the field.
Tom E. Puskar, AP
Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals: The two-time Pro Bowler was carted off the field after a scary helmet-to-helmet collision with the Jets' Eric Smith, but has since returned to the field for the Cardinals. Boldin had surgery for a broken facial bone, while Smith was suspended and fined for the hit.
Mel Evans, AP
Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals quarterback has only played four games this season due to a sprained right elbow injury that he sustained Sept. 21 at the Giants.
David Kohl, AP
Vince Young, Tennessee Titans: The young QB sprained his left knee and was also booed in the Titans' 17-10 win over the Jaguars in Week 1. While Young is now healthy, veteran Kerry Collins has taken over the starting QB gig.
John Russell, AP
Shawne Merriman, San Diego Chargers: After playing just one game this season, the imposing linebacker finally decided to listen to doctors and have season-ending surgery on his torn left knee ligaments.
Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
Tom Brady, New England Patriots: Brady tore the ACL in his left knee in a Week 1 victory over the Chiefs. The future Hall of Fame QB's 128 consecutive start streak officially ended when Brady decided to have season-ending surgery a month later.
Paul Jasienski, Getty Images
Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys running back has dealt with two separate injuries this season. He suffered bruised ribs against the Browns, and later dislocated his right pinkie toe in a Week 13 win over the Seahawks.
Ron T. Ennis, Fort Worth Star-Telegram / MCT
Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys: And, just like that, the Cowboys were knocked down to one Roy Williams again. Roy Williams, the safety, broke his right forearm for the second time this season in Dallas' loss to the Rams in Week 7.
Jeff Roberson, AP
Rodney Harrison, New England Patriots: New England's safety was knocked out for the season - and possibly for his career - when he tore his quad muscle in a Week 7 victory over the Broncos.
Michael Dwyer, AP
Keith Rivers, Cincinnati Bengals: In October, Cincinnati lost Rivers for the season after Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward peeled back and delivered a punishing block that broke Rivers' jaw. Watch Video of Big Hit
Tom Hauck, Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was carted off the field with an apparent concussion in the second quarter of today's game against the Cleveland Browns.
On the first play after the two-minute warning, Roethlisberger was hit as he threw a pass by Browns linebackers D'Qwell Jackson and Willie McGinest. He lay motionless on the ground for several minutes as the medical staff checked on him, and he was eventually put on a stretcher and taken to the locker room, making a thumbs-up gesture as he left the field. There was no flag on the play. Byron Leftwich replaced Roethlisberger.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will no doubt face criticism this week for having Roethlisberger in the game at all. After all, the Steelers are already locked into the No. 2 AFC seed, so the game is meaningless in terms of the team's playoff position. On the other hand, after the success of the Giants and Patriots a year ago, it's hard to fault NFL coaches who play their top players in Week 17.
The Steelers have two weeks off before they host a divisional playoff game. There's no word yet on how serious Roethlisberger's injury is.
UPDATE: Video of the hit is below.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-28-2008 @ 3:06PM
kasey said...
Why would there be a flag anyways it was a clean hit
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12-28-2008 @ 5:45PM
Jeff said...
Big Ben's not looking so tough lately.
12-28-2008 @ 10:21PM
aarond said...
helmet to helmet....that's a flag every time.
12-28-2008 @ 3:08PM
KES said...
GOOD LUCK BEN. WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!
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12-28-2008 @ 8:42PM
NJM said...
I don't blame Tomlin, I blame Willie Colon, who can't block for shit.
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12-28-2008 @ 3:53PM
Wade said...
Bet that's how that windshield felt.
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12-28-2008 @ 4:19PM
dave said...
I suspect he will be back at practice by Tuesday-the ground was the big hitter on that play.
Word has it the Browns are currently trying to sign the ground to a multi year contract given that their defense has only one other hitter (Rogers).
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12-28-2008 @ 11:18PM
leannewtn said...
That literally made me LOL!!! Good one!
12-28-2008 @ 4:27PM
mark said...
Ben better be worried. The backup is a better QB than Ben.
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1-02-2009 @ 10:29AM
jeff said...
you got that right....I hope that he is well and not hurt...not withstanding; maybe the knock on the head will drive some air out his over inflated ego....i doubt it though.....both of his backups are more suitable than he is to lead the team; that is what the offense needs...someone who leads and doesn't CHOKE!!!!!
12-28-2008 @ 4:42PM
cherie said...
hope everything comes out ok big ben,we need you!!!from your bigest fan,love cherie
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12-28-2008 @ 4:57PM
JDavid5697 said...
That was the highlight of the Browns season...and the beating the Giants took.
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12-28-2008 @ 5:12PM
Bro. Bull said...
i gotta fellin, Pittsburgh's goin to the Super Bowl!!
i gotta fellin, Pittsburgh's goin to the Super Bowl!!
i gotta fellin, Pittsburgh's goin to the Super Bowl!!
Ben will be healed up in 2 weeks.......but if not, Leftwich is a VERY capable QB.
And the best finish to a great year is shitting out the Browns.
31 - 0.........YEAH!!!
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12-28-2008 @ 5:15PM
Bro. Bull said...
Oops!!! I meant SHUTTING OUT.......my....my
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12-28-2008 @ 5:17PM
MystikDown said...
Get yourself well Ben! Gooooo Steelers! You Rock!
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12-28-2008 @ 5:17PM
Bobby said...
SWEET!!!!!!!!!!! I could watch that video over and over!!!!
Hey Hines..........what goes around comes around!!
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12-28-2008 @ 5:25PM
Bro. Bull said...
must have been a freudian slip.
I've been a die hard Steelers fan for 30 years, so the anti-Browns thing kinda comes with the territory. But now that I mention it, I think the other Browns (the Ravens) suck toooo.
See you in the playoffs!!!
Onward to VICTORY!!!
Reply
12-28-2008 @ 5:57PM
dave said...
Bobby,
I can hear the bitterness in your words, and I cannot blame you. You lost your team due to lack of fan support several years ago, and get stuck with this high school team in its place. So sorry.
Despite my empathy for you and your other fair weather fans in Cleveland, I must point out that Ward is known for vicious hits on defensive players, and this was not that at all. It was a clean play where the QB fell and could not avoid hitting his head. BR will be starting a playoff game in two weeks, while the Browns will look at a collection of expensive, heartless, gutless losers and try to fix things. Won't happen soon, but the draft is the great equalizer. On the bright side, Cleveland is used to losers, so maybe it won't be so bad for all of you.
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12-28-2008 @ 5:59PM
bhelz@aol.com said...
You armchair qbs are funny. Don't get carpel tunnel changing the remote.
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12-28-2008 @ 9:27PM
Mike T. said...
Big Ben will be fine. Stillers can win with or without him. The Stillers have "Starters" and "Starters in Waiting". The expectation of winning does change.
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