JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has two broken ribs, yet he is fortunate compared to several other NFL players who are out for the rest of the season.
That list might also include two other starting quarterbacks, Kansas City’s Matt Cassel, who has what coach Todd Haley is calling a “significant” injury to his right, throwing hand, and Houston’s Matt Schaub, who has a right foot injury.
Sidelined for the remainder of 2011 are Denver running back Knowshon Moreno (right knee), Cincinnati cornerback Leon Hall (torn left Achilles tendon), Jacksonville cornerback Rashean Mathis (left knee) and guard Eben Britton (back), Buffalo center Eric Wood, Bears guard Chris Williams (left wrist) and Redskins rookie receiver Leonard Hankerson (hip).
Haley refused to say Monday whether the team discussed putting Cassel on injured reserve, but he did say “it’s a possibility” to happen.
“He will probably have to have surgery at some time,” Haley said. “The length of it, we’re not sure, but there’s some optimism. Each person it varies, but it’s a difficult injury.”
The Chiefs (4-5) have already lost running back Jamaal Charles, Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry, tight end Tony Moeaki and linebacker Brandon Siler to season-ending injuries.
Cassel hurt his hand near the end of the Chiefs’ 17-10 loss to Denver on Sunday. The injury appeared to occur when Cassel was sacked by Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller.
Tyler Palko played the final offensive series, even though Cassel said after the game that he wanted to play.
Schaub has led the Texans to the AFC’s best record (7-3) and four consecutive victories.
Houston coach Gary Kubiak said Schaub was injured on a quarterback sneak coming out of the end zone late in the second quarter of Houston’s 37-9 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. Schaub stayed in the game, but threw only three passes.
Kubiak said the team was bringing in a specialist from Indianapolis to evaluate Schaub, and the quarterback would fly to Charlotte, N.C., later this week to undergo further tests.
“He’s got a significant foot injury, he’s going to miss some time,” Kubiak said. “But we’re going to do everything we can to get it evaluated correctly and see if can get him back on the football field.”
Hall, the Bengals’ best cover cornerback, was on a pair of crutches, his left foot protected by a white medical boot.
“I don’t know how to deal with this type of situation,” Hall said. “I don’t know if there’s a right or wrong way. I don’t know if it’s totally hit me yet, just considering I haven’t had an injury before.”
Hall got hurt as he planted his foot and changed direction just before halftime of the 24-17 loss to Pittsburgh that dropped the Bengals to 6-3. He’ll have surgery later this week.
“I just planted and drove and it kind of felt like somebody had kicked me, but nobody was around me,” Hall said.
San Francisco star RB Frank Gore has a right knee injury that was being further evaluated. Coach Jim Harbaugh is hopeful Gore won’t miss any games.
The two-time Pro Bowler took part in only one play in the third quarter and was held to 0 yards on six carries — his first career game without a yard when he played.
“He’ll get it checked on, yeah. Spare no expense checking on Frank,” Harbaugh said. “I would plan on him playing, but you just feel like right now, we’ve got a stable of backs.”
The Jaguars were one of the healthiest teams over the first 10 weeks of the season, one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise dismal season for the franchise. On Monday, they placed Mathis, Britton and backup linebacker/special teams standout Kyle Bosworth on injured reserve.
Mathis tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Sunday’s 17-3 win at Indianapolis and will have season-ending surgery. Britton, who missed the last four games, developed an infection following back surgery in training camp. Bosworth broke his left hand against the Colts.
“It’s life in the NFL,” coach Jack Del Rio said Monday. “It’s a tough business.”
Mathis could have played his last game in Jacksonville. Born and raised in the city, Mathis is in the final year of his contract. It’s unclear whether the team will give the 31-year-old defender who has missed games in four of the past five seasons a new deal.
Buffalo’s Wood said Monday doctors are waiting for the swelling to subside before determining when to have surgery. It will be the second season-ending operation Wood’s had in his three years in Buffalo; he broke two bones in his left leg during his rookie season
“It’s definitely not something I wanted to go through again, another long rehab process,” Wood said. “But I’ll do it. And I’ll just look to come back stronger next year.”
The initial prognosis is Wood will miss up to nine months, though the center said he’s aiming to be ready for the start of training camp next summer.
Coach Chan Gailey said rookie linebacker Chris White will also have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right knee. White was hurt covering a punt earlier in the third quarter.
Chicago’s Williams had surgery to repair a dislocated left wrist Sunday night after the team’s 37-13 victory over the Lions.
“Chris has been doing a great job of stepping in and being a leader on the offensive line,” center Roberto Garza said. “It’s a tough loss for us, but obviously somebody has to step up and Ed (Williams) did that during the game.”
Hankerson got 106 yards on eight catches in his first NFL start, then was injured. He has a tear in the right hip and will join tight end Chris Cooley, running back Tim Hightower and left guard Kory Lichtensteiger as offensive starters on IR. Receiver Santana Moss and left tackle Trent Williams have also missed multiple games with injuries.
Also on Sunday, backup defensive lineman Kedric Golston tore two knee ligaments. The team believes Golston has a third-degree MCL tear and a partial ACL tear and will miss one game at least.
The Chargers had seven players, including six starters, skip Monday’s light workout.
Chargers coach Norv Turner said left guard Kris Dielman won’t be able to return Sunday against Chicago as he continues to recover from a concussion suffered Oct. 23.
The Chargers’ offensive line was decimated Thursday in a loss to Oakland, with left tackle Marcus McNeill (stinger) and right guard Louis Vasquez (ankle) getting hurt. McNeill saw a neck specialist on Monday and Vasquez was seen in a walking boot.
Receiver Malcom Floyd (hip), outside linebacker Shaun Phillips (foot), inside linebacker Takeo Spikes (concussion) and cornerback Marcus Gilchrist (undisclosed injury) also skipped the workout.
Jets receiver Patrick Turner said he’s fine and never felt pain even though he was removed from Sunday night’s loss to the Patriots with a kidney problem. He urinated blood at halftime, but passed all tests Monday.
Jets coach Rex Ryan had no update on the status of running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who left with a left knee injury in the fourth quarter.
“I think he’s going to be OK,” Ryan said, “but I’m not real sure yet.”