NFC: Bears' Urlacher injures leg, out for 4-6 weeks
By wire services
Published November 16, 2004
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Just when their defense was playing at a high level and sparking a three-game winning streak, the Bears lost star linebacker Brian Urlacher .
Urlacher, who didn't miss a game in his first four seasons, will be out four to six weeks after an injury to his lower left leg that required a surgical procedure Monday to relieve the pressure of internal bleeding.
The four-time Pro Bowl player was injured during Sunday's 19-17 victory over the Titans, but the severity did not surface until later.
"He suffered a blow (Sunday) to his lower leg," coach Lovie Smith said, adding he didn't know when Urlacher would be released from the hospital.
Meanwhile, rookie defensive back and special-teams player Alfono Marshall has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will be placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
MOSS LIKELY OUT AGAIN: Randy Moss probably will miss at least one more game. The Vikings receiver hasn't caught a pass in a month because of a strained right hamstring. Coach Mike Tice said Moss is progressing, but won't be allowed to play again until he completes a week of practice. The Vikings have lost three straight. Tice said Moss' return for the Nov. 28 game against Jacksonville is "more than likely."
LIONS: Joey Harrington is still the starting quarterback. Coach Steve Mariucci gave his third-year quarterback a lukewarm endorsement one day after Harrington went 11-for-33 in a 23-17 overtime loss in Jacksonville. Harrington didn't have a problem with the idea of backup Mike McMahon getting more work in practice this week. "That's fair - I've had two straight subpar performances, and it isn't like the quarterback position is set in stone," he said. "Maybe it will light a fire under me."
PANTHERS: Carolina's first victory in more than six weeks did not come without casualties: quarterback Jake Delhomme has a broken bone in his right thumb, linebacker Dan Morgan has another concussion and kicker John Kasay strained his calf. Morgan is the only player definitely out this week. Kasay's status is up in the air, while coach John Fox said Delhomme would play against Arizona at home on Sunday.
SEAHAWKS: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had his right knee wrapped with ice, treatment for a bruise from a collision with running back Shaun Alexander . It wasn't known if the injury would sideline Hasselbeck when the Seahawks host Miami on Sunday.
