Tomlinson has turf toe

[DomCasual]

Turf Toe for a running back? Not good. Should bug him all year.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/news/...nson/?chargers

Strong second half ends with injury for Tomlinson

Tod Leonard (Contact)

Sunday, September 7, 2008

The Chargers did more than stub their collective big toe in their last-play loss Sunday to the Carolina Panthers.

Reigning NFL rushing champion LaDainian Tomlinson came out of the season opener with an injured big toe, and though he shrugged it off as nothing serious after the game, and the team did not include it in the injury report, he did say his foot will be examined again Monday.

After all the team has been through in trying to get tight end Antonio Gates back from his toe woes, excuse Chargers fans if they're a little nervous when it comes to anything involving podiatry.

“It's not anything like Antonio's injury,” Tomlinson said. “Antonio came out in a boot after the game. It's not that bad. People don't need to freak out.”

Tomlinson said the injury – he termed it “turf toe” – occurred on his next-to-last carry of the game, when he ran for 9 yards to earn the Chargers a first down at the Carolina 7. “The guy kind of landed on the back of my leg,” Tomlinson said.

Tomlinson carried for only 1 yard on the next play, and then motioned to the sideline to be taken out. He never returned, with the Chargers scoring two plays later on a 5-yard pass from Philip Rivers to Vincent Jackson.

The ailment, however slight, and the outcome were a downer in an otherwise decent first outing for Tomlinson, who didn't play in the preseason and hadn't carried the ball in a real game since aggravating his knee injury on the fourth play of last year's AFC Championship Game at New England.

After a collectively lethargic start by San Diego's offense against Carolina, Tomlinson broke out in the second half for 64 of his 97 yards rushing. That total is better than he had in nine of his first 11 games last season.

Chicago stuffed Tomlinson in last year's opener, allowing him only 25 yards. But he did score a touchdown and the ending was better. The Chargers won that one.

“This is a perfect example of how hard it's going to be for us this season, not taking anything for granted,” Tomlinson said. “ ... Today, with the slow start in the first half, it was kind of hard to overcome.”

Tomlinson stirred up the cheers of “L.T.! L.T.!” on his very first touch of the season, when he bounced outside at the Chargers' 12 and scampered for 14 yards.

But the going got considerably harder after that. Attribute it to L.T.'s rust, two new guys on the offensive line, or a stiff Panthers run defense, Tomlinson managed only 19 yards on seven carries the rest of the first half, and on three consecutive drives in the second and third quarters, he had rushes of 2, 2, 1 and 2 yards.

“First games you're always going to see some things that they haven't done,” head coach Norv Turner said. “They had three or four wrinkles in their run defense that they hadn't really shown.”

The bulk of the good runs came in a flurry in the third quarter. On the 51-yard drive to a field goal that gave the Chargers a 10-9 lead, Tomlinson ran on six of the 12 plays and caught a 6-yard pass. The key rush went for 9 yards on a fourth-and-1 effort at the Panthers' 36.

[400HZ]

When it rains, it pours.

[DomCasual]

Originally Posted by 400HZ

When it rains, it pours.

Yeah, I'd say yesterday wasn't the best start you could have had for your season.

At least Michael Turner isn't doing much in Atlanta, though.

Ouch.

Oh well - one game does not a season make.

[Kaylore]

You guys need to invest in some good shoes over there.

[sixtimeseight]

Looks like SD got rid of the wrong RB. They could have gotten a king's ransom for LT also. Phew.

[Spider]

In some cases Turf toe can be career ending , well used to be

[no-pseudo-fan]

Didn't Jack Lambert's career end due to turf toe?

Luck sometimes plays a huge part in who win the Super Bowl.

[Borks147]

oh please this is a hall of fame running back with a minor injury, stop acting like he is over the hill or that Turner/Neal was the actual key to his success. If our defense doesn't figure out how to put its big boy pants on by next week we're in big trouble

[DeuceOfClub]

Also, Philip Rivers suffers from Turf-Brain.

[Borks147]

turf? more like fertilizer

[montrose]

If I'm SD, I may look RB in round 1 next year. Sproles is a nice change-of-pace back but they've relied on LT so much over the years it's bound to catch up with them eventually. On a related note, WTF happened to SD's O-Line yesterday? They're usually dominant.

[BMarsh615]

This season is set up for the Broncos to succeed. Brady is out for the year, the Chargers are banged up, Vince Young is going to miss a few games, the Colts, Browns, Texans, and Jags lost.....

We have a chance to make the Chargers go 0-2 in the division....

If we don't make the playoffs with all these things in our favor I am going to be disappointed.

Come on Shanny lets get us a W against Oakland!

[oubronco]

Originally Posted by Spider

In some cases Turf toe can be career ending , well used to be

it didn't do Billy Simms any justice

[Orange_Beard]

If he were a man he would cut it off.

[Borks147]

Montrose: 2 of their starters were out.

[Borks147]

Yeah, Ronnie Lott style....except that without a toe you get absolutely no push off the ground...why do you think Gerrard sucked when he had bad turf toe a couple of years ago? In a position where leverage and push is crucial, he might as have been wearing roller skates.

[theAPAOps5]

Sounds like a minor case. Unless it gets worse this shouldn't be to bad for him.

[montrose]

Originally Posted by aborquez147

Montrose: 2 of their starters were out.

That would do it.

[Garcia Bronco]

Dang. That sucks. This means the bones has separated from the muscle. Och. that won't help him. Hopefully Turner can....DOH!

[broncofan2438]

Wow, that just adds to how hard it will be for them this year. But yes 400, When it rains it pours

[no-pseudo-fan]

Originally Posted by aborquez147

Yeah, Ronnie Lott style....except that without a toe you get absolutely no push off the ground...why do you think Gerrard sucked when he had bad turf toe a couple of years ago? In a position where leverage and push is crucial, he might as have been wearing roller skates.

LT can cut off the toe and get a solid oak toe to replace it.

[montrose]

If we can't generate pressure on Rivers, they could have KaRon Coleman in the backfield and we'll still get f*ed up. Have I mentioned how much I miss Sam Brandon during these Gates/Gonzalez matchups?

[broncofan2438]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Dang. That sucks. This means the bones has separated from the muscle. Och. that won't help him. Hopefully Turner can....DOH!

Is that what that means? I have always wondered what turf toe was!

[oubronco]

Foneco would cut off his foot and still get 3,500 yds this season

[Borks147]

Foneco could kick a 80 yard field goal with his stump