Armchair Quarterback: Injuries already taking toll
The bug has already bitten this NFL season, with Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter going down in week two of pre-season play.
For those who missed it, Buckhalter, who looked to be the Eagles’ main rushing threat this year in light of Duce Staley’s move to Pittsburgh, went down in the first quarter of the game against the Ravens Friday night. It was obvious from the way he hit the ground that there was significant damage, since it appeared his knee simply gave out as he was cutting into the line. He has since been diagnosed with a torn patella tendon which will mean he will likely miss the season, sending the fantasy football stock of Brian Westbrook soaring, seeing Westbrook is the sole surviving member of the three-headed monster the Eagles used in the backfield last year. A guy named Reno Mahe is Westbrook’s backup, if you’re stretching in your fantasy draft.
As far as impact, I kind of doubt it hamstrings the Eagles’ hopes of going far in the playoffs as they still have a legitimate defense along with weapons like Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens. Frankly, I thought Westbrook was the most explosive of the three Philly running backs anyway. However, by the same token, the Eagles are now one play away from possibly having a starting running back who has never run an NFL play. And, we should remember Westbrook was plagued with injury problems last year.
The Eagles are only the latest team to feel the bite of the injury bug. The Dolphins lost David Boston for the season, the Cardinals have lost Anquan Boldin for eight to 12 weeks and have also lost back Marcel Shipp with a broken ankle, and the Bears have lost Brian Urlacher for several weeks, and this is just naming a few. We’re just two weeks in and the infirmary list is already lengthy. And, if history shows us anything, we know there are going to be major injuries which will impact entire seasons during the final two weeks of pre-season. I’m writing this on Saturday afternoon, and the chances, there will be another impact injury before you even read this column.
Cases in point, Michael Vick and Chad Pennington, both went down with pre-season injuries last season. Their losses spelled disaster for their teams, both of whom had been playoff teams the year before. Of course, a starting quarterback being lost will generally have the most visible impact on a team, especially when it’s a Vick or a Pennington, both of whom were the superstars of their teams.
But don’t underestimate the loss of a role player like a Peter Sirmon who is out for the Titans with a pre-season knee injury this year. Sermon was lost in a year the Titans really wanted to use a 3-4 look defensively, a defense which relies heavily on good line-backing corps. The loss of Sirmon may really impact their defensive scheme even though the Titans are somewhat linebacker rich.
Of course, pre-season injuries are just a fact of life. Some people, especially players, say the pre-season is too long, many wanting to go to a two-game pre-season. The owners, however, covet the income they get from the extra games where they generally charge fans the same admission as a regular season game. But, even cutting the pre-season length will not stop the injury bug, since many come in those first two weeks, some perhaps the result of not staying in good off-season shape.