Let’s take a look at some of the more notable injury news from yesterday’s playoff games. We will update this post as necessary throughout the day as Wild Card Weekend rolls on:
- Although it’s likely Roethlisberger attempts to play in the Steelers’ first divisional playoff contest since 2010, the Steelers expect him to be “severely limited” next weekend against the Broncos, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reports (video link). Using the 12th-year quarterback’s pain level before he re-entered in time for Pittsburgh’s last-ditch drive as a gauge, sources told Cole that Roethlisberger won’t have his usual array of physical tools available to him by the time the Steelers take the field in Denver.
Earlier updates:
- The Chiefs got some great news, as receiver Jeremy Maclin avoided a torn ACL during last night’s win over the Texans, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). Although Maclin did suffer a high ankle sprain, there’s a chance he plays against the Patriots next week.
- Roethlisberger will undergo an MRI today, and though he does not have a broken collarbone, the belief is that he has a sprained AC joint (or, in layman’s terms, a separated shoulder). The MRI will provide more details (all Twitter links via Albert Breer of the NFL Network).
Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown was diagnosed with a concussion following the much-discussed blow to the head he absorbed from Vontaze Burfict and will enter the league’s concussion protocol, per head coach Mike Tomlin (article via Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com). Brown’s availability for next week’s matchup with the Broncos is now very much in doubt.
- The Steelers may have wound up on the winning side of last night’s bizarre tilt with the Bengals, but in addition to the potential loss of Brown, Pittsburgh could be without its starting quarterback next week. Ben Roethlisberger sustained an injury to his throwing shoulder following a (legal) hit from Burfict, and the fact that Landry Jones came onto the field in Roethlisberger’s place for what everyone believed would be Pittsburgh’s final drive of the game speaks volumes about the severity of the injury. Although Roethlisberger ultimately did return for what proved to be the game-winning, penalty-aided drive, he told the coaches that he was in a great deal of pain and would not be able to take any deep shots to the end zone (article via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler). As for his availability for his team’s clash with Denver next week, Roethlisberger said, “I’m going to give everything I can.”
- With his team now eliminated from the playoffs, Texans star DE J.J. Watt says that he will undergo groin surgery on Tuesday (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). Watt, who was in obvious pain in yesterday’s loss to the Chiefs, said he has been dealing with the groin injury for the past six or seven weeks. As yet, there is no indication whether the surgery will impact Watt’s availability for offseason workouts, training camp, etc.
Gonna be hard to win in Denver without your starting QB,WR or RB.
I guess your saying driving a knee into the QB’s shoulder after the sack is legal? This guy should have been kicked out of the game long before this.
Attempting to stomp on a player’s foot, verbally threatening 2 officials, sacking a QB and driving his knee into the QB’s shoulder, then taking out the best WR in the NFL. When is this BS for ratings gonna stop. Maybe this is all a diversion so you would notice the bad officiating. 2 touchdowns that would effect the games outcome are not being talked about. On Green’s touchdown he false started himself and no call. The Shazier return for touchdown was blown dead. If the official is so sure it’s not a fumble, he should blow the whistle. If he is wrong on review he should be fired! This will stop the NFL from blowing the whistle on these game changing plays.
On most plays, the fans at home at least have the benefit of watching multiple replays on different angles. The refs have to make a call in real time before seeing replays. And even after seeing a replay, they can only reverse or keep the call (as opposed to changing a call completely if you get what I’m trying to say). Thats why you often see defensive players pick up the football and bring it to the endzone just in case they do rule it a fumble and the player goes untouched. And wasn’t the Shazier return after another Pittsburgh defender fumbled the ball? If so, the other defender was down and I think the review was more so to review the touchdown, as all touchdowns are always reviewed even if it was an obvious touchdown.
Jt19…they should’ve never blown the whistle on the Shazier fumble. That should’ve been a TD.
Yeah dude shazier led with the crown of his helmet which is a penalty that wasn’t called on the Bernard hit…burficts hit on roethlisberger was perfectly legal (it was a normal sack and since he didn’t tackle him upside down his knee was nowhere near his shoulder) and Joey porter is a coach who was on the field talking to the other team, again a penalty that wasn’t called….I couldn’t care less about either team but Robert get a grip man you guys won and your tears are flooding the greater Pittsburgh area…haha I’m so glad fans like you are goin to get smoked in Denver next weekend
Joprx….that is not called on RBs. Once you’re a runner, all bets are off.
Leading with the crown of your helmet is the penalty no matter what…the player being hit doesn’t even have to be hit in the head a defender is not allowed to hit with the crown of his helmet at anytime or anywhere on the field…the shazier hit was 100% with the crown of his helmet is that is an illegal play
Yet the retired NFL referee now working for the network stated it was a legal play.