Lynch concerned over latest neck injury

[dragondawg]

By Arnie Stapleton, AP Sports Writer
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — John Lynch said he felt optimistic Wednesday that the stinger he suffered Monday night was unrelated to his 2004 neck surgery - but the concerned look on his face and the worry in his voice belied that brave front.

"I'm feeling all right, obviously not too well when you've got to come out of a game. But I got a little stinger and just waiting on doctors to see how we're going to proceed. But I feel better," the eight-time Pro Bowl safety said after watching the Denver Broncos' workout.

Lynch, 36, struggled with neck injuries in 2003, his final season in Tampa Bay, and he had surgery to remove bone spurs in early 2004, just before joining the Broncos.

He said the doctor who performed his neck operation was reviewing his latest MRI, and that he had no timetable for his return.

"No, again, just waiting on all the information to come back. Took the MRI yesterday and they're waiting on the specialist out in Los Angeles who did my neck surgery to kind of check it out and see what he has to think," Lynch said. "But I think everything's good and we'll see."

Lynch sustained what the team said was a pinched nerve in his neck early in Denver's 19-13 overtime loss to Green Bay on Monday night. Lynch said one of his arms went numb for a while and that he was never cleared to return to the game even though the team said that night his return was probable.

"Well, just you know, a stinger, you get your whole arm kind of goes numb," Lynch said. "Been there before, but hopefully this is something not related and we'll be all right."

Lynch said he was worried given his history with neck surgery.

"I've had little episodes since I've been here but this is the first kind of big one I've had, so it's a little bit of a concern," Lynch said. "But things bounced back fairly quickly, I'm feeling a lot better and just taking in all the information and go from there."

The 15th year pro has 24 tackles so far. He missed one game with a pulled groin, against Indianapolis on Sept. 30, and was replaced by Domonique Foxworth, who also replaced him Monday night.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-10-31-3748038840_x.htm

[SoCalBronco]

Broncos notes: Lynch in wait-and-see mode

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
October 31, 2007
Broncos safety John Lynch said he felt "better'' Wednesday after suffering what he called a stinger in Monday night's loss to the Green Bay Packers, but he is still awaiting word from doctors about when he might return to the field.
Lynch did not practice Wednesday. He underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam Tuesday and those results were sent to noted neck and spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins in California, who performed surgery on Lynch's neck after the 2003 season.

"I'm feeling all right,'' Lynch said. " . . . Just waiting on doctors to see how we're going to proceed. (I'm) just waiting on all of the information to come back . . . I think everything's good and we'll see.''

Watkins removed bone fragments in Lynch's neck after the '03 season. The fragments were causing a loss of strength as well as numbness in his arms.

A stinger, which Lynch had suffered before the surgery, causes a loss of strength and numbness in the arms and shoulder area. Lynch passes a battery of physicals from several teams, including the Broncos, before signing in Denver before the '04 season.

"It's a concern because I've had little episodes since I've been here, but this is the first kind of big one I've had,'' Lynch said. "So it's a little bit of a concern . . . Hopefully this is something not related and we'll be all right.''

Lynch suffered the injury early in the second quarter Monday night when he tackled Packers running back Ryan Grant after a seven-yard gain.

The 15th-year veteran left the game and did not return.

He has missed just one game in his four seasons with the Broncos – Nov. 7, 2004, against Houston – and that was a result of a bruised scarum, which is near the tailbone.

Cornerback Domonique Foxworth and Curome Cox each played in Lynch's spot in some packages against the Packers, while Hamza Abdullah could play if needed as well.

Out of the ordinary

When Broncos defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, who coaches the team's defensive backs, looks at wide receivers Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson lining up wide in the Detroit Lions offense, he sees the unexpected.

Asked if 16 seasons ago, when he entered the NFL as a Dallas Cowboys defensive assistant, he could have foreseen a day in the league when a 6-foot-3, 211-pound player like Williams would be in the same formation with a player like the 6-foot-5, 239-pound Johnson, Slowik simply shook his head.

Especially at the idea of two players that big, yet with 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash.

"No, absolutely not, never thought I'd see anything like it,'' Slowik said. "You can see the trend over probably the last five, six years, you've seen bigger, bigger, faster, faster, bigger. So no you never expect to see guys like that out at receiver. You'd think they'd be linebackers.''

Johnson, who was the Lions' first-round pick this past April – second overall, has missed some time with a sore back this season, and has 15 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns.

Williams, who was the Lions first-round pick in '04, leads the team with 40 receptions for 524 yards and three touchdowns, including a 91-yard score.

"It's amazing, when I was (coaching) in college they would have been defensive ends,'' said Lions coach Rod Marinelli. "They're big guys, they're special.''

Henry back

Running back Travis Henry, who missed the game against the Packers with what he has called a rib cartilage injury, practiced Wednesday and took his regular work with the offense.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Henry was still in some pain, but expected to practice through the week if he didn't have any additional trouble with the injury.

Rookie Selvin Young started in Henry's place Monday night with rookie Andre Hall playing as Young's backup.

Detroit has the 18th-ranked run defense in the league.

ETC.

• Wide receiver Rod Smith, who is on the Broncos physically unable to perform (PUP) list, did not practice Wednesday because he had visited the doctor to gauge his recovery from offseason hip surgery.

Smith had worked in practice last week and by league rules can work this week and next before the Broncos have to decide whether to add him to the roster or place him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

Shanahan said he expected Smith to practice Thursday.

• The Lions are 4-0 at home this season. The team has not started a year 4-0 at home since 1993.

Injury report

Other than Lynch and wide receiver Javon Walker, who continues to recover from knee surgery, defensive tackle Sam Adams was the only other player held out of practice Wednesday. The Broncos have not put Adams on the practice field on Wednesdays this season, letting him work out on his surgically-repaired knee in the team's weight room instead.

He is expected to practice Thursday.

Linebacker D.J. Williams, who had an MRI on his shoulder Tuesday, practiced fully with the starting defense.

For the Lions former Broncos tackle George Foster (ankle) was the only player held out of Wednesday's practice. Johnson, who had left the team's win over the Bears Sunday with back pain, practiced on a limited basis.

"(Johnson) seems to be fine right now,'' Marinelli said.

Numbers game

3 former Broncos starters now playing for the Lions. Foster and running back Tatum Bell were sent to Detroit during the offseason in the trade that brought cornerback Dre' Bly to the Broncos. And safety Kenoy Kennedy played five seasons in Denver before signing with the Lions in free agency before the 2005 season.

Foster and Kennedy are starters while Bell is third on the depth chart behind Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett. Bell was a gameday inactive Sunday.

He said it

"He's a Hall of Famer. He's a great player, a great person, I was very fortunate to be with him.''

Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli on Broncos safety John Lynch. Both were with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers together.

Heavy hitters

The Broncos four losses thus far have come against teams with eyes on the postseason. They have a combined winning percentage of .786.

Team Record Pct.

Indianapolis 7-0 1.000
Green Bay 6-1 .857
Jacksonville 5-2 .714
San Diego 4-3 .571

Totals 22-7 .786

legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_5736185,00.html

[broncos love]

Without Lynch in the defense, well its pretty bad.

[Orange_Beard]

Without Lynch in the defense, well its pretty bad.

It's really bad with him.

This would be a big loss. I hope he is ok.

[broncos love]

It's really bad with him.

This would be a big loss. I hope he is ok.

Not as bad though. You got Fergy moving over to Lynch's postion and then you got Cox looking like a deer in the headlights, IMO. No Lynch means really bad news for the defense.

[BroncoBuff]

Yup, brutal.

When does Hamza come back? Lots of tough road games coming up ... if we can't string several wins together PDQ, I'm thinking it's time to just kick back and let all the kids play. Maybe just cut loose the old-timers and rental players ... Sam Adams, Simeon Rice, Ian Gold, SA, and let Travis Henry serve his suspension.



If Lynch needs surgery again, It's definitely time to let these guys go, activate the practice squad, and play all the kids. I wanna see:Hamza Abdullah
Greg Eslinger
Steve Harris
Ryan Harris
Jamie Winborn
Mark Fenton
Steve Cargile
more Glenn Martinez
more Chris Kuper
more Shoate and Paymah
more Selvin
more Mike Bell
Andre Hall
Roderick Rogers
Louis Green
Marquay McDaniel
Jamie Winborn
If Lynch is gonna be out for the season, just cut loose and empty the benches....

[maher_tyler]

Definitley gotta draft Saftey and LB's in the next draft

[Blueflame]

Like with Al Wilson, Lynch's health is much more important than the game.

[missingnumber7]

I was curious why we brought in Snell instead of signing Eslinger off the ps...also how is shoate improving? Are they going to utilized him at FS or SS?

[Broncoman13]

SoCal... tell us more about your boy:

Kenny Phillips S 6’2 210 Miami Jr.
By: Robert Davis
Kenny Phillips came to Miami with the expectations of being the next study safety from the U. Early on he showed that those lofty expectations were valid. He was on everyone’s Freshman All American lists after finishing the year with 88 tackles, three for loss and an interception. As a sophomore, he stepped his game up even more, finishing with 71 tackles, six for loss, and four interceptions despite missing the final three games with a broken thumb.

Phillips has it all. From a physical standpoint, he has everything you want. He has excellent size and can match up with just about anyone in coverage. He also possesses the athleticism, quickness, and speed to fly around the field making plays. He is aggressive, active, and willing to do whatever it takes to get to the football. Phillips is a complete safety as he can attack the line of scrimmage in run support and make plays on the football in coverage. He has also earned All ACC honors for his success in the classroom, so he is getting it done off the field as well.

There is not much to dislike about Phillips’ game. He is a rare safety that can do it all and is a legit Top 10 pick. If you want to pick things apart, he can go for the big hit a little too often instead of making the safe play.

If Phillips declares this season, he is in all likelihood a Top 10 pick. He is a playmaker in the secondary, and has all the skills to develop into a perennial pro bowler.


I think this should be our #1 priority in next year's draft. Address DT in free agency. We're not going to get Dorsey as we won't draft high enough. Players like Briggs and Dansby are available LB in FA and I personally think that DJ has shown enough improvement (game to game this season) to be objective and say he's capable of playing MLB at a very high level.

Playing the best TE's in football means you have to have a safety and/or LB's that can cover. A combo of Brigss and Philips could really neautralize the better TE's in the league.

[Smiling Assassin27]

The Broncos have not put Adams on the practice field ...

Skip the practice FIELD and just move him to the practice SQUAD. The guy's a shell of his former self.

[T henry rulz]

The guy is 36. He has done all he needs to in this league. His health is much more important than another wasted season. Too bad we got **** for depth.