Injury roundup: Scary day in San Diego sees player carted off
The San Diego Chargers lost receiver Dontrelle Inman to a neck injury and cornerback Brandon Flowers to a knee injury in the first quarter of their game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Inman was immobilized on a backboard and taken off the field on a cart after he was sandwiched by safety David Bruton Jr. and linebacker Brandon Marshall.
Chargers coach Mike McCoy said after the game that ''everything is looking good as of right now and they are going to run a few more tests'' on Inman, who was able to move his extremities before being taken from the field.
''Yes he was. He was moving his hand when I was out there with him. Before they took him away he was moving his hands and his feet. They asked him to move a few things and do some things and he responded to all of those things, which was great,'' McCoy said.
Inman, who had moved into the starting lineup after Keenan Allen suffered a season-ending kidney injury on Nov. 1, was hit after making a 15-yard catch for a first down. The drive ended with Josh Lambo missing a 48-yard field goal.
A few plays later, Flowers hurt his left knee in a collision with Broncos tight end Owen Daniels. He too was taken off the field on a cart.
The Broncos (10-2) won the game 17-3, but they lost several players in the process.
Running back C.J. Anderson went out with an ankle injury. Tight end Vernon Davis and linebacker Danny Trevathan left with head injuries, returner Omar Bolden injured a hamstring and safety David Bruton Junior was helped off late in the game with a knee injury.
Davis was concussed on a helmet-to-helmet hit by Melvin Ingram on the final play of the first half that wasn't whistled.
The Broncos were already missing three defensive starters in DeMarcus Ware (back), T.J. Ward (ankle) and Sylvester Williams (ankle) and Peyton Manning missed his third straight game with a torn plantar fascia in his left foot.
In other injury news Sunday:
** In New Orleans, Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux suffered a hamstring injury, tarnishing a day in which he picked off Cam Newton, one of three takeaways by the Saints in the first half of their 41-38 loss to the perfect Panthers.
** In Oakland, Chiefs defensive lineman Mike DeVito left the game with a concussion and Raiders safety Nate Allen was sidelined by a knee injury.
** Bills starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore did not return to the game against Houston after hurting a shoulder in the third quarter while tackling Texans running back Akeem Hunt. LeSean McCoy (112 yards rushing) missed one series before being cleared to return after being examined for a concussion. The Bills also lost linebacker Tony Steward to a back injury. He started in place of injured linebacker Nigel Bradham, who was out with a sprained right ankle. Steward was replaced by Kevin Reddick, who was signed by the Bills on Tuesday.
** Ravens tight end Crockett Gilmore left in the second quarter of Baltimore's 15-13 loss to Miami with a back injury, and Miami reserve defensive tackle Robert Thomas left in the fourth quarter with an elbow injury.
** Two Rams, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and tight end Lance Kendricks, were ruled out with concussions late in their 27-3 loss to Arizona. Jenkins was evaluated twice, both times on hits from teammates, and didn't recover from a blow delivered by Mark Barron on David Johnson's 10-yard TD catch with 5:51 to go in the third.
** The Browns lost left guard Joel Bitonio to a left ankle injury and wide receiver Travis Benjamin to an injured shoulder in their 37-3 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Bitonio, who had missed the past two games with a severely sprained left ankle, was blocking on a running play when rookie Duke Johnson rolled up on the back of his legs. He was replaced by rookie Cam Erving. Benjamin got hurt making a catch.
** The Jaguars were thin at wide receiver with Allen Hurns scratched because of a concussion and Rashad Greene suffering a shoulder injury.
** The New York Giants' already thin O-line got thinner when left tackle Ereck Flowers was carted off with a sprained left ankle against the Jets. He was injured after a 5-yard catch by Myles White in the third quarter, one play after Flowers' holding penalty erased a 35-yard reception by White. Flowers stayed down on the turf for several minutes in obvious pain, even pushing a Giants trainer away. He was helped to the sideline by two teammates and later taken to the locker room. Jets defensive end Mike Catapano suffered a foot injury.
** The 49ers lost tight end Vance McDonald and linebacker Michael Wilhoite at Chicago. McDonald left with a head injury after a 12-yard reception in the second quarter. Wilhoite hurt an ankle in the first quarter.
