TAMPA - Bulldozing running back Mike Alstott is one of the hardest ball carriers to put on the ground. But keeping him down is next to impossible.
Having battled back from a herniated disc in his neck that threatened to end his career last season, Alstott sprained and partially tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during Sunday's 19-7 victory over the Bears.
But the A-Train vowed Monday to return to the lineup in four weeks, possibly in time for the Nov.21 game against the 49ers.
"I'm just bummed out, I guess," Alstott said. "Going through a lot of extensive rehab, obviously, to get back on the field from last year's injury. Starting to play better the last five games, getting better and better every game. Then to have this happen ... it's a setback. But a small setback.
"I'm still hungry to play, I still want to play, I still want to get back on the field and I'm going to do everything in my power to resolve this and get out there again."
Alstott was injured late in the third quarter when he swept to his left and was corraled by three Bears, preventing him from cutting the play up inside. Defensive tackle Hunter Hillenmeyer closed in from the right, taking away his only avenue of escape.
As Hillenmeyer fell across his leg, Alstott was folded backward like a lawn chair.
"When I got tackled, somebody had my lower leg and it was basically pinned," Alstott said. "So when they grabbed the upper half of my body and fell on my knee, I felt the thing pop, I just felt my knee pop. I felt the pain. I didn't really know what to expect, I knew in my mind something was wrong."
The 6-foot-1, 248-pound Alstott said he will be in a cast for a week to 10 days. After that, he will begin an intense rehab that includes flexibility exercises, weight training to strengthen the leg and walking countless floors on a stairmill.
"The bottom line is it's no fun," the ninth-year veteran out of Purdue said. "It's frustrating. But I think you've got to look positive at the issue knowing that it's three games and maybe I'll be back the fourth week because we have a bye week. That's my mind(-set)."
The 30-year-old Alstott has been down this road before. He injured the MCL in his left knee in 2000 and missed just three games. That injury also occurred against Chicago.
"The day I came back was exactly four weeks," Alstott said. "The crucial part of it is the first 7-10 days to let the ligament heal and mend itself back together.
"I've done it before, I know what it takes, so I'm optimistic about it."
Alstott and Bucs coach Jon Gruden said they were relieved that tests revealed Monday the injury was limited to the MCL and did not involve the anterior cruciate ligament, as first feared.
"Yeah, I'm very relieved, obviously, that it's no more serious than that," Gruden said. "Although, a four-week injury is a serious injury for any running back or professional athlete."
Gruden said Alstott's fullback role will be filled by backups Jameel Cook, a 5-foot-10, 237-pound fourth-year veteran out of Illinois and Greg Comella, a 6-1, 240-pound seventh-year man out of Stanford who was inactive Sunday with a pectoral strain. Gruden also indicated the Bucs might add another running back to the roster, possibly signing former Florida star Earnest Graham from the practice squad.
In short yardage situations, the Bucs might have to turn to tailback Michael Pittman, who will use the bye week to recover from back spasms.
"The St. Louis Rams got a couple looks that only Mike Alstott, as a tailback on third and 1, might get," Gruden said. "So you have to, I think, put Pittman in there. It was a change of pace for us. It did work."
Pittman, who rushed for a season-high 109 yards Sunday, will have to shoulder even more of the rushing load in Alstott's absence.
"Pittman will get tired," Gruden said. "I just told him again this morning, "You will get tired in this offense for the rest of this season."'
Meanwhile, Alstott will have to summon the energy to return from yet another serious injury.
"I felt really good," Alstott said. "And when I talk about frustration, I think that's what pinpoints it.
"After missing last year, knocking some of the rust off the first two or three games, I was getting better each and every week. And then I was really getting into the flow of the running game (Sunday), Michael and I both. ... Then, of course, this has to happen. Got to draw the plan all over again. But I'm willing to do it."
