Bills notebook: Wood's injury a gruesome sight
Published: November 23, 2009, 7:08 pm
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Injuries, as the Buffalo Bills are all too aware, happen every game in the National Football League.
It's rare, however, that they're as gruesome or disturbing as the one that befell Bills right guard Eric Wood on Sunday in Jacksonville.
The rookie first-round draft pick suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula early in the fourth quarter after 302-pound defensive tackle Montavious Stanley crashed directly into his left leg. The injury was so grotesque CBS did not show the replay after it returned from a commercial break.
The inevitable comparison is between Wood's injury and Joe Theismann's, who had his career cut short at the age of 36 when a sack by the New York Giants' Lawrence Taylor broke his leg in 1985.
Interim coach Perry Fewell was asked whether Wood's injury could jeopardize his availability for next season.
"I can't answer that," Fewell said.
The scene described by Fewell and players Monday was one that tormented them.
"That young man was in pain," said Fewell, whose emotion was clearly on display as he spoke. "That was not a pretty sight to see. ... That's part of our game, but as a human being you never want to see that happen to another."
Several Bills, including receiver Terrell Owens and running back Fred Jackson, were in the middle of trying to help Wood onto an awaiting golf cart, and several more offered a pat on the shoulder pad as he was being taken off.
"When the trainers asked for help in trying to get him up off the turf, you saw receivers and linemen rushing to get him up off the turf and that just tells you the closeness of this football team," Fewell said.
Center Geoff Hangartner said players have no choice but to continue playing after a teammate goes down, but seeing Wood get hurt was difficult to stomach.
"It's tough, because we're all good buddies in that room, and you never want to see your buddy get hurt like that," Hangartner said. "It's unfortunate. He's a good football player and he brings some excitement to the team and the offensive line. Guys respect that."
The Bills not only lost Wood for the season Sunday, but also veteran guard Seth McKinney. Fewell offered no other details of the torn meniscus McKinney suffered in his left knee other than to say the injury would be season-ending.
With Wood and McKinney on the shelf, the Bills have a critical shortage along the offensive line. If left tackle Demetrius Bell (knee) isn't able to play Sunday against Miami, the Bills would likely go with a lineup of Jonathan Scott in that spot and Jamon Meredith at right tackle. Kirk Chambers would move inside to Wood's place at right guard.
Wood and Hangartner are the only members of the line to start all 10 games at the same position, a streak that will end Sunday.
The Bills do have three offensive linemen on the practice squad, including Christian Gaddis, who can play guard or center. He would likely be the first to be called up to the active roster.
"We'll definitely bring some people in and we'll make some moves and we'll announce those as those moves occur," Fewell said.
The Bills did get a bit of good injury news Monday as Fewell said running back Marshawn Lynch's injured shoulder was feeling better. If Lynch were to miss even one game, the Bills would be in a bind there, as well, because there would be no backup to Jackson on the active roster. Third-string back Xavier Omon was cut Nov. 11 to make room for receiver James Hardy. Omon was signed last week to the Seattle practice squad.
If Lynch can't play against Miami, the Bills might have to add a running back, possibly Bruce Hall, from the practice squad.
Defensive tackle John McCargo strained a calf against the Jaguars and is day to day, Fewell said.
Wondering whether that was an intentional attempt at a two-point conversion by the Bills after Owens' team-record 98-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter gave the Bills a 15-10 lead Sunday? It wasn't.
Kicker Rian Lindell said Monday the plan was to kick the extra point, but holder Brian Moorman had to improvise after juggling the snap.
"It kind of cuffed him a little," Lindell said.
Moorman scrambled to the right and his desperation pass to Ryan Denney, who had broken off the line, was a tad too long.
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