All our week 21 content
Week 21 Early Injury Report
by Mark Wimer, Exclusive to
Footballguys.com
Quarterback
QB Ben Roethlisberger - PIT - Roethlisberger did not practice last Wednesday due to lingering back soreness after the AFC Championship game. He returned to practices on Thursday. Roethlisberger is expected to practice this week and start as usual in the Super Bowl.
Running Back
RB J.J. Arrington - ARI - Arrington sat out of practices throughout the bye week due to his sore right knee. He insists he'll be "fine" for the Super Bowl, but Cardinals' fans will want to monitor his practice participation once the team arrives in Tampa. The team expects him to "test" his knee in practices later this week.
RB Willis McGahee - BAL - McGahee suffered a neck injury during the game on Sunday and was taken to a local Pittsburgh hospital for observation - he was reported to be "neurologically intact" when he left the field but was in considerable neck pain.
RB Mewelde Moore - PIT - Moore injured his right ankle during the 3rd quarter on Sunday and did not return to action. He'll be evaluated further as the bye week goes along and receive appropriate treatment for the injury.
As of last Wednesday, Moore was held out of practices in order to rest the injury and promote healing. The team is hopeful he will return to practices this week leading into Super Bowl XLIII.
Wide Receiver
WR Anquan Boldin - ARI - Boldin started and played throughout the NFC Championship game despite his sore left hamstring after being listed as questionable in the days leading up to the contest.
During the bye week, Boldin participated fully in practices on Thursday and Friday. He reports "no problems" with the hamstring entering the final week of preparations for Super Bowl XLIII. It looks like the Cardinals' receiving corps will be full strength on Sunday.
WR Hines Ward - PIT - Ward injured his right knee early in the game on Sunday and didn't play during the second half as a result. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along to determine the exact nature and severity of the injury, and to determine a course of treatment - initially, the team believes he has a slightly sprained MCL in his knee. A MRI is scheduled to aid in diagnosing the injury. "I don't plan on missing this game, trust me," Ward said of the Feb. 1 Super Bowl. "Don't worry about the knee...I didn't want to go out there and hurt our team if I wasn't 100 percent. I probably could have played at maybe 75 or 80 percent. I'm going to be ready for the Super Bowl.
Last Wednesday, as he took a week off from practicing to heal up the injury, Ward commented: "I have two weeks to prepare for the Super Bowl and I won't miss the Super Bowl...Things feel good," Ward said. "The MRI came out pretty good; where I sprained it at was in a good place and it's a great place to heal. I have all this week off. Just going through the game plans and getting prepared mentally. Next week I'll go out there and get ready to practice."
Coach Mike Tomlin added: "Hines is going to play. It's going to be miserable between now and next Sunday, but he'll be there. He did a little bit today."
Tight End
Kicker
Offensive Line
OL Pittsburgh Steelers - PIT - C Justin Hartwig (sore knee) and OT Max Starks (sore knee) sat out of last Wednesday's practice to heal up their tweaked joints. Hartwig played through the pain in practice on Thursday, and looks good for the Super Bowl. Starks returned to practice on Friday with a knee brace on his injured limb.
Defensive Tackle
Defensive End
DE Antonio Smith - ARI - Smith was limited in practices during the bye week due to a sore knee - the team hopes he can participate in preparations for the Super Bowl once they arrive in Tampa on Monday.
Inside Linebacker
ILB Patrick Bailey - PIT - Bailey is battling a sore hamstring, and missed some practices during the bye week. The Steelers hope to see him back in action during the coming week leading into the Super Bowl this Sunday.
ILB Lawrence Timmons - PIT - Timmons, who missed practice time early in the bye week due to illness, had returned to full participation by Friday. He should be fine for Super Bowl XLIII.
Outside Linebacker
OLB Travis Laboy - ARI - LaBoy was knocked out of the game vs. Philly with an arm injury of undisclosed severity - he was cradling the limb as he exited to the locker room. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along. He has also been battling a sore ankle during the playoffs.
Last week, it was revealed that LaBoy has a strained biceps tendon - he has been limited in practices while the trainers work to fit him with a brace that will allow him to play in the Super Bowl. He is expected to try and play in the big game, but it remains to be seen how effective he can be with an injured arm.
Cornerback
Safety
S Ryan Clark - PIT - Clark had to be helped off the field and was obviously groggy after a huge collision with Willis McGahee which involved helmet-to-helmet contact. The team will evaluate Clark further as the bye week goes along in case of after-effects from the bone-rattling hit.
