What Hurts More?

Week 10 NFL Injuries: What Will They Do Now?


Sunday was filled with a few key injuries for some NFL teams contending for their division, and a playoff spot.

Matt Schaub: The Texans quarterback suffered a significant foot injury Sunday afternoon, and will likely be out for the remainder of the NFL season. Matt Leinart will start Sundays game, and is hoping to lead the Texans to their first AFC South title in their seven year history.

Texans Matt Leinart

So now we ask can the Texans continue to win with Matt Leinart? In 29 career games with the Arizona Cardinals Leinart has thrown for 14 touchdowns to 20 interceptions has a quarterback rating of 70.8, and a career completion percentage of 57.1. In his four year career with the Arizona Cardinals Leinart has underachieved which lead to his release in 2010. The Texans picked him up later that season to be the backup quarterback, and now with the injury to Schaub the former Heisman trophy winner has been given another chance.

Houston has a bye this coming week (week 11.) but coming off the bye they play the 3-6 Jacksonville Jaguars, and have three of their next six games versus sub .500 teams. With the Texans averaging 158 yards on the ground per game (third in the league,) have the leagues first ranked defense, and the expected return of star wide out Andre Johnson in week 12. I think you can expect Matt Leinart to do well in his second chance as a starter.

Matt Cassel: Sunday afternoon Chiefs starting quarterback left Sundays game wearing a cast on his throwing hand, and is likely out for the rest of the season. With a week AFC West  the 4-5 chiefs were no wear near out of playoff contention, but with Matt Cassel out I think its almost safe to say the Chiefs will not make their second straight playoff appearance.

 With Cassel out of the mix the Chiefs turn to backup Tyler Palko who has only thrown only nine passes in his NFL career. Palko went undrafted in 2007, and has been in the league for four years playing for three different NFL teams such as the Saints, Steelers, and now the Chiefs. The Chiefs are only one game out of first place in the AFC West and play the Patriots this Monday night. In my opinion at this late in the NFL season if the Chiefs still want to contend i think it would be smart to sign a veteran QB.



Chiefs Matt Cassel



The Chiefs have a few options:

• Jake Delhomme
• Trent Edwards
• Chris Simms
• Troy Smith
• Patrick Ramsey
• Charlie Frye
• Marc Bulger

Out of these six quarterbacks still on the market Jake Delhomme would be the best option. Delhomme has the most NFL experience, has a NFC championship, and Superbowl appearance under his belt. If the Chiefs do decide to sign a veteran QB look for Delhomme to be the guy. Marc Bulger would also be a good option if Kansas City can convince him to come out of retirement.

Mike Vick:  After the Eagles loss to the Arizona Cardinals Sunday fans are thinking can it get any worse? Well it can actually Mike Vick suffered two broken ribs during the first quarter of Sundays game, however Vick finished the rest of the game. For this Sunday it's not certain weather Vick will play or not, if he isn't able to go Vince Young will get his first start of the season. With the loss on Sunday The Eagles are now 3-6 and have pretty much dismissed any chance they had before of making the playoffs, and to make matters worse their next game is on Sunday night 8:20pm versus the NFC East leading New York Giants.

Knowshon Moreno:  Broncos runningback tore his ACL Sunday, and will miss the rest of the season. Broncos starting running back Willis McGahee also left Sundays game with a hamstring injury, but is expected to play this Thursday night against the New York Jets. While Morenos injury doesn't hurt his team as bad as the others, it certainly hurts with the Broncos changing their offense around to fit Tim Tebows strengths Denver only threw the ball two times in Sundays game compared to 40 plus runs. With Moreno down look for the third year back out of Maryland Lance Ball to get the bulk of the carries for Thursday nights game.

Cornerbacks

Leon Hall:  The Bengals are the surprise team in the AFC and in a three way tie with Pittsburgh and Baltimore the last thing they wanted to happen was see veteran corner out for season with a torn Achilles.

Antoine Winfield:  as if the 38 point loss to the Packers on Monday night wasn't depressing enough. Vikings starting cornerback Antoine Winfield has been lost for the season with a torn Clavicle.

Rashean Mathis:  The Jacksonville Jaguars have lost their pro bowl cornerback for the year with a torn ACL. The Jaguars are 3-6 on the season, and find themselves in third place in the AFC South.



Bengals CB Leon Hall



Al Harris:  The Rams have lost starter Al Harris for the season with a torn ACL, Harris was placed on IR Monday after coming off a one point win against the Cleveland Browns. The Rams are 2-7 on the season, and are a shue in for a top 5 draft pick.

Devin McCourty:  McCourty suffered a separated shoulder in Sundays game against the Jets, and is likely out for a three week maximum. This Injury shouldn't effect the Patriots to terribly, as the Pats next three game are versus teams with losing record.

Other Notable Week 10 Injuries

• Bears starter Chris Williams has been placed on Injured Reserve after having season ending wrist surgery.
• Both Raiders RB Darren McFadden & WR Jacoby Ford are questionable for Sundays game against the Vikings
• Peyton Hillis likely to miss his fifth straight game with a "Hamstring injury"
• Bengals WR A.J. Green Hyperextend his Knee in Sundays loss to the Steelers. Green isn't sure on how soon he will return, but Greens injury shouldn't be too serious

The NBA Lockout

It's day 137 of the NBA lockout, and unfortunately it looks like we will see many, many more. After the NBAPA rejected the owners latest deal It doesn't look good for the NBA and its fans as the likes of a season just got even slimer. The NBAPA plans to decertify as a union today after a deal could not be reached.

 Earlier this week commissioner David Stern said if the NBA player didn't accept this deal it would only get worse, and that the owners wouldn't improve their offer to the players. From the looks of things now David Stern was right, look for Stern to publicly announce in the next few days that the 2011-2012 NBA season will be postponed.

I'm sure the owners and players union were working very hard to get a deal done, but I just don't understand how they couldn't come away with ANYTHING. The NFL never stopped negotiations, and eventually figured something out because they know how much money could have been potentially lost, and how disappointed their fans would have been. With the likes of any sort of season diminished this wont be a story to forget for the next few years.


In Other News...

• Former Penn State Coach Joe Paterno has had his name removed from the Big Ten Championship trophy (Just when you thought Penn St. couldn't go any lower)
• Dodgers center fielder, and likely MVP winner Matt Kemp agree to a 8 year 160 million dollar deal
• Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel wins the NL Rookie of the Year award by a unanimous vote
• Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeremey Hellickson has won the AL Rookie of the Year award
• The Packers remain are 9-0 and remain the NFL's only unbeaten after 45-7 win over the Vikings Monday
• Carl Edwards leads former Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart by 3 points heading in to Nascars season finale this Sunday.