dragondawg
08-12-2007, 02:47 AM
Broncos linebacker Warrick Holdman has been advised by doctors not to play football for at least three months and he is now expected to miss the season.
The ninth-year veteran's career may also be in question if doctors don't see enough progress in healing in three months.
Holdman suffered a spinal cord concussion Aug. 2 during a tackle in the team's morning practice. He spent a night in Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree and not practiced since.
"He's out for a minimum of three months according to the doctors,'' Broncos coach Shanahan said. "Obviously they advised him they would re-evaluate him on three-month timeframe ? They made the recommendation that he not play for at least three months. Obviously they saw something on the X-ray that would make say he shouldn't play.
"I don’t have the exact diagnosis at this point, I just know they've told him not to play for the next three months at minimum.''
The Broncos are currently talking to Holdman as well as the team's medical staff to try and decide if Holdman would be placed on injured reserve, which would keep him on the Broncos' roster, but formally end Holdman's season, or simply released after a financial injury settlement.
Holdman said last week that felt "a lot better'' and was hoping to be cleared by doctors to play sooner rather than later.
"I'm in a battle for a starting position,'' Holdman said at the time. "I don't have no time for letting up, not with guys like Nate Webster and D.D. (Lewis) out there working hard showing what they could do. I don't have time to sit around.
"I have some tingling in my hands, but it's going away. I'm just waiting for the doctors to clear. But I'm ready to go.''
During an 11-on-11 team drill Aug. 2, Holdman moved up to make a tackle on running back Mike Bell. Bell lowered his left shoulder hitting Holdman near the top right side of his helmet. Holdman's neck was bent somewhat awkwardly and he fell to the ground.
Holdman then "went numb for 30, 40 seconds,'' according to Shanahan.
The team's medical staff and paramedics strapped Holdman to a backboard and he was taken to the hospital. The ninth-year linebacker had feeling and movement in all of his limps -- he also initially put his knees up when trainers rolled him over on to his back -- he was taken to the hospital but he was still kept overnight for observation.
Holdman kept having symptoms however -- what he described as tingling in his fingers as well as on some of his body's left side.
Holdman had been among the players trying to win the team's strong side -- across from opposing tight ends -- linebacker job. He signed with the Broncos as a free agent this offseason and has been a starter in Washington, Cleveland and Chicago in his previous eight years in the league.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports/article/0,1299,DRMN_2_5669336,00.html
The ninth-year veteran's career may also be in question if doctors don't see enough progress in healing in three months.
Holdman suffered a spinal cord concussion Aug. 2 during a tackle in the team's morning practice. He spent a night in Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree and not practiced since.
"He's out for a minimum of three months according to the doctors,'' Broncos coach Shanahan said. "Obviously they advised him they would re-evaluate him on three-month timeframe ? They made the recommendation that he not play for at least three months. Obviously they saw something on the X-ray that would make say he shouldn't play.
"I don’t have the exact diagnosis at this point, I just know they've told him not to play for the next three months at minimum.''
The Broncos are currently talking to Holdman as well as the team's medical staff to try and decide if Holdman would be placed on injured reserve, which would keep him on the Broncos' roster, but formally end Holdman's season, or simply released after a financial injury settlement.
Holdman said last week that felt "a lot better'' and was hoping to be cleared by doctors to play sooner rather than later.
"I'm in a battle for a starting position,'' Holdman said at the time. "I don't have no time for letting up, not with guys like Nate Webster and D.D. (Lewis) out there working hard showing what they could do. I don't have time to sit around.
"I have some tingling in my hands, but it's going away. I'm just waiting for the doctors to clear. But I'm ready to go.''
During an 11-on-11 team drill Aug. 2, Holdman moved up to make a tackle on running back Mike Bell. Bell lowered his left shoulder hitting Holdman near the top right side of his helmet. Holdman's neck was bent somewhat awkwardly and he fell to the ground.
Holdman then "went numb for 30, 40 seconds,'' according to Shanahan.
The team's medical staff and paramedics strapped Holdman to a backboard and he was taken to the hospital. The ninth-year linebacker had feeling and movement in all of his limps -- he also initially put his knees up when trainers rolled him over on to his back -- he was taken to the hospital but he was still kept overnight for observation.
Holdman kept having symptoms however -- what he described as tingling in his fingers as well as on some of his body's left side.
Holdman had been among the players trying to win the team's strong side -- across from opposing tight ends -- linebacker job. He signed with the Broncos as a free agent this offseason and has been a starter in Washington, Cleveland and Chicago in his previous eight years in the league.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports/article/0,1299,DRMN_2_5669336,00.html