Kurt Warner to Miss Game in Mexico City
Kurt Warner to Miss Game in Mexico City
Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner will miss Arizona’s upcoming game in Mexico City with a right groin strain.
Warner, the biggest free agent acquisition in the Cardinals’ attempt to quickly end their losing ways, was hurt Sunday while scrambling after the pocket broke down in the second quarter at Seattle.
The injury promotes Josh McCown to first string Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, which marks the first regular-season NFL game played on foreign soil.
On Monday, the two-time NFL MVP had a pronounced limp and called the injury substantial, but said doctors were hopeful for a quick return.
“I think it is going to be sooner rather than later, so I’m very optimistic about it,” Warner said. “Maybe not as optimistic as to hope I could be out there on Sunday, but optimistic that it’ll happen soon.”
Coach Dennis Green’s outlook was less rosy.
“Groins are very difficult because they affect the throwing motion,” he said. “It could be more than one weekend.”
The prognosis wasn’t nearly that good for New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, who will miss the rest of the season because of a torn right rotator cuff, The Associated Press learned Monday night. Pennington’s injury was confirmed by a person with knowledge of his condition, but who declined to be identified because the team had not made an official announcement.
An MRI exam showed Pennington tore his rotator cuff in Sunday’s 26-20 overtime loss to Jacksonville, the second such tear in less than a year. Backup Jay Fiedler also damaged his shoulder Sunday and will be sidelined, leaving third-stringer Brooks Bollinger to quarterback New York against Baltimore this weekend.
Warner and McCown had an impromptu conference in the locker room before giving post-practice interviews, a sign of a friendship that has grown since training camp.
“You don’t want to be sitting out the game,” Warner said. “You want to be out there battling, no question. But at the same time, when those things happen, what do you do? Do you stew on it and pout about it, or do you do everything you can to get back on the winning track?”
Warner, the most accurate passer in NFL history at nearly 66 percent, was 64-of-101 (63.4 percent) for 696 yards, two interceptions and one touchdown this season.
McCown went 10-for-23 for 97 yards in his first action this year. He also threw two interceptions, was sacked twice and had a fumble that led to a Seahawks score.
Arizona (0-3) also lost two regulars at the line of scrimmage in a 37-12 loss to the Seahawks — right tackle Oliver Ross (hand) and defensive tackle Russell Davis (left biceps tendon).
Ross, another important pickup through free agency, may need metal plates in his hand.
Davis, who has started 66 of the last 67 games and whose steadiness contributed to the quick start of second-year defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, may be hurt the worst: An MRI revealed a torn long-head tendon, the connector that ties the top of the bicep to the shoulder cap. Davis can play without repairing the injury, which would cost him three weeks while the trauma settles down, or have season-ending surgery to reattach the tendon.
Fred Wakefield, a former defensive lineman who switched to offense last year while rehabilitating a foot injury, will line up in Ross’ position. Ross Kolodziej is Davis’ backup.
Source: sfgate.com
