Post by Leroy Jenkins on Aug 5, 2006 6:40:38 GMT -5
Benson carted off field with shoulder injury
By Larry Mayer
August 4, 2006
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - The Bears offense lost one of its key components Friday night when Cedric Benson was carted off the practice field after hurting his left shoulder.
The second-year pro sustained the injury while being hit in rapid succession by Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown after catching a short pass from Rex Grossman during 11-on-11 drills.
Benson dropped the ball, went down to one knee, removed his helmet and grabbed his shoulder in pain. Surrounded by concerned teammates, he was treated on the field for about seven minutes before being driven to the locker room with his shoulder wrapped.
"Cedric Benson injured his shoulder," coach Lovie Smith said after the practice at Olivet Nazarene's Ward Field. "We'll get X-rays on it. That's about all we know is that."
The hits Benson absorbed were consistent with most during a padded practice and weren't overly aggressive or vicious. The injury occurred on such a seemingly ordinary play that even the two defenders who were involved couldn't explain what transpired.
"I don't know what happened," Urlacher said. "I just turned around and he was on the ground. That's all I saw."
"I really don't know what happened," Brown said. "I think after we all see it on film we'll know exactly what happened. I wish I had more info, but I don't."
With a strained hamstring sidelining veteran running back Thomas Jones since the start of training camp, Benson was thriving while practicing with the No. 1 offense.
"I would say that he's having an excellent camp like he had an excellent offseason," Smith said. "Hopefully we'll get him back out here before long. He went down tonight, but we'll see exactly how bad the injury is. It was a freak accident. Hopefully it isn't too serious."
For the second straight day, Smith declined to confirm a newspaper report that Jones would be out for another 7-10 days. "He's getting treatment every day," Smith said. "I know he's trying to get back as soon as possible, and that's about all I know.
"We've said all along that you need two and possibly three good running backs to make it through an entire season. We're just using up our mulligans a little bit early as we see it."
Without Benson and Jones, third-stringer Adrian Peterson likely would assume the No. 1 job.
"I haven't heard anything," Peterson said. "I'll just continue to do what I do on special teams and if they call upon me to carry the ball a little bit more, then that's what I'm going to do."
When Jones and Benson were both injured last season, Peterson rushed for a career-high 120 yards and 1 touchdown on 24 carries in a 17-9 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
"We like Adrian Peterson," Smith said. "Every time we've had to play him he's played well. We feel comfortable with him."
In other news Friday, receiver Bernard Berrian exited practice with a hip flexor injury, defensive tackle Ian Scott remained sidelined with a sore knee and receiver Airese Currie and offensive lineman Terrence Metcalf both underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.
By Larry Mayer
August 4, 2006
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - The Bears offense lost one of its key components Friday night when Cedric Benson was carted off the practice field after hurting his left shoulder.
The second-year pro sustained the injury while being hit in rapid succession by Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown after catching a short pass from Rex Grossman during 11-on-11 drills.
Benson dropped the ball, went down to one knee, removed his helmet and grabbed his shoulder in pain. Surrounded by concerned teammates, he was treated on the field for about seven minutes before being driven to the locker room with his shoulder wrapped.
"Cedric Benson injured his shoulder," coach Lovie Smith said after the practice at Olivet Nazarene's Ward Field. "We'll get X-rays on it. That's about all we know is that."
The hits Benson absorbed were consistent with most during a padded practice and weren't overly aggressive or vicious. The injury occurred on such a seemingly ordinary play that even the two defenders who were involved couldn't explain what transpired.
"I don't know what happened," Urlacher said. "I just turned around and he was on the ground. That's all I saw."
"I really don't know what happened," Brown said. "I think after we all see it on film we'll know exactly what happened. I wish I had more info, but I don't."
With a strained hamstring sidelining veteran running back Thomas Jones since the start of training camp, Benson was thriving while practicing with the No. 1 offense.
"I would say that he's having an excellent camp like he had an excellent offseason," Smith said. "Hopefully we'll get him back out here before long. He went down tonight, but we'll see exactly how bad the injury is. It was a freak accident. Hopefully it isn't too serious."
For the second straight day, Smith declined to confirm a newspaper report that Jones would be out for another 7-10 days. "He's getting treatment every day," Smith said. "I know he's trying to get back as soon as possible, and that's about all I know.
"We've said all along that you need two and possibly three good running backs to make it through an entire season. We're just using up our mulligans a little bit early as we see it."
Without Benson and Jones, third-stringer Adrian Peterson likely would assume the No. 1 job.
"I haven't heard anything," Peterson said. "I'll just continue to do what I do on special teams and if they call upon me to carry the ball a little bit more, then that's what I'm going to do."
When Jones and Benson were both injured last season, Peterson rushed for a career-high 120 yards and 1 touchdown on 24 carries in a 17-9 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
"We like Adrian Peterson," Smith said. "Every time we've had to play him he's played well. We feel comfortable with him."
In other news Friday, receiver Bernard Berrian exited practice with a hip flexor injury, defensive tackle Ian Scott remained sidelined with a sore knee and receiver Airese Currie and offensive lineman Terrence Metcalf both underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.
too Ty.
