Green's Return Uncertain

[Hache Man]

Green's Return Uncertain
Trent Green (QB, KC)

The hit on Green last Sunday was as violent as any we''ve seen in recent memory. Green suffered a severe concussion (a bruising of the brain) and was carted off the field after being strapped to a backboard as a precaution. He was later admitted to the hospital for tests and observation. When we include the fact he was unconscious on the field but came to while the medical staff was attending to him, it''s easy to see why it is a severe concussion. According to early reports just after the injury, the Chiefs medical staff believed he would miss two weeks or maybe a bit longer. On Wednesday, it was rumored he would miss a month and there were denials he''d will consider retirement. The reality is projecting how long he''ll be out will be determined by his post concussion syndrome symptoms - not by a set of rules. Once the dizziness, nausea and headaches disappear and his mental functions are normal, only then will he be allowed back to practice and games.

After doing a detailed look into his injury history, I could not find one incident where he suffered a concussion while playing in the NFL. This works in his favor as players with multiple concussions, like former QB Steve Young, take longer to recover. He''s out two weeks for sure, most likely a month but his symptoms and neurological test will be the final determing factor.

Ben Roethlisberger (QB, PIT)

Roethlisberger was back on the practice field on Wednesday, just ten days after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. Veteran Pittsburgh observers indicate he looked sharp for a player out of action a week and a half. If he''s able to practice on Thursday and Friday without any setbacks and his strength continues to improve, he''ll be a game-time decision for the Steelers.

Clinton Portis (RB, WAS)

By the time the second half rolled around in the Redskins- Vikings game on Monday, you wondered what all the fuss was about Portis'' playing status in Week 1. You could see him gaining confidence and comfort with each carry with no signs he was favoring his sore left shoulder. On Tuesday, Portis complained of a little more than normal soreness, which is expected considering he missed a good chunk of the preseason. There aren''t any reports he has any new pain with his left shoulder and that''s good news. While he''s listed as questionable for Sunday''s game against the Cowboys, unless he gets hurt in practice this week, it''s a solid bet he will start and get almost a normal load of carries in Week 2.

Steve Smith (WR, CAR)

After sitting out the preseason due to a strained left hamstring, Smith then strained the right one late in training camp. Now Smith doesn''t appear any closer to returning with the Carolina-Minnesota game just few days away. In an interview on Tuesday, Smith admitted he could not play ''today'' if he had to. Now this may be sandbagging on his part but it''s unlikely. The tone of his and the Panthers comments in recent days suggests he isn''t ready to hit the field. Even if he''s able to practice Thursday through Saturday, it''s unlikely Smith or the Panthers would want to risk losing him for the whole season by rushing him back too soon. The key to getting hamstring strains to heal properly is time, which the medical staff is giving him plenty of right now. While the NFL injury report may say he''s questionable, from this vantage point, it looks highly doubtful.

Joe Jurevicius (WR, CLE)

It looks like Romeo Crennel learned from the master in New England, Bill Belichick, by ''fogging up'' the medical information regarding Jurevicius'' rib injury. During Sunday''s game, he suffered what was termed several fractured ribs, pending X-rays and he would miss 4-6 weeks. By Wednesday, his injury was being termed ''''some rib-area damage'''' by Crennel. This could be torn ribcage cartilage, maybe a stress fracture of one of the ribs or a soft-tissue injury. He''s definitely out for this week''s game but don''t drop him in lieu of a healthy receiver until better medical information is released regarding his injury.

Carnell Williams (RB, TB)

The fact the Buccaneers stunk up the joint on Sunday was only part of the reason Williams managed just 13 touches the entire game. Back spasms also cut into his opportunities, especially in the second half. He''s expected to play this Sunday without any restrictions. If however, the spasms return, there might be a more serious problem lurking in the background regarding his back.

Mike Bell (RB, DEN)

Bell suffered a fractured right index finder during last week''s game; he was examined by the team physician and allowed to return to the game. Bell will practice this week and isn''t expected to lose any playing time to this injury. How he plays with the fractured finger is another question. During Bell''s college career at Arizona, and at times during his first training camp, he produced his share of fumbles. If the fracture causes some difficultly holding onto the football, it will only take a couple of fumbles for Mike Shanahan to bench him.

Offensive Line Injuries

The Rams have lost starting center Andy McCollum with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee. The loss of this savvy vet definitely cuts into the Rams depth on the line.

Carolina lost left tackle Travelle Wharton for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his left knee. His strength was in the running game so it could impact the Carolina running backs, especially this week as the Panthers adjust to his loss.

One of the reasons for optimism by the 49ers this season is the addition of veteran guard Larry Allen to the offensive line. They will have to make due without him for at least a couple of weeks due to a strained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee.

Quick Pitches…

WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh of the Bengals suffered a bruised heal in the preseason game against the Packers in late August and sat out Week 1 to allow more time for the heal injury to clear-up. He''s expected to start in Week 2 and the injury should have a great impact on his able to run his routes.

Both RBs Travis Henry and Chris Brown have turf toe injuries, but only Henry is questionable for the game against San Diego this week. This opens the door for running back Lendale White to get more touches and to add his name to the running back mix in Tennessee. He''s also questionable, though.

The Bills aren''t concerned about the ankle injury RB Willis McGhee suffered in Week 1 against the Patriots. The Bills plan on McGhee to get his normal carries this week.

TE Erron Kinney underwent surgery on his right knee August 1, reportedly to remove some loose cartilage causing irritation in the knee joint. He missed the season opener and is out for Week 2 also. Reports from the Titans camp indicate he may not play in Week 3 either.