Reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady left Sunday’s game against Kansas City after being hit on the left leg, depriving the New England Patriots of the quarterback who last season led them to a 16-0 regular season and their fourth Super Bowl berth in eight years.
Brady, who has started 128 consecutive games, went to the turf clutching his left knee midway through the first quarter when he was hit in the pocket by Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard. After being tended to on the field, he walked off, limping, between two trainers.
The 31-year-old Brady went to the locker room and was not seen again on the sideline as backup Matt Cassel led the Patriots to a 17-10 victory. The two-time Super Bowl MVP was not available for comment after the game, and coach Bill Belichick said he had nothing to add to the in-game announcement that it was a knee injury.
“They’re looking at him, doing some tests on him, so I don’t have any information there,” the coach said, cracking a smile as he added, “doubt anybody’s interested.”
The Chiefs also lost their starting quarterback when Brodie Croyle was sacked in the third quarter. The team said he had a bruised right shoulder and he was replaced by Damon Huard.
Brady was 7-for-11 for 76 yards, completing a 26-yard pass to Randy Moss on the play in which he was injured. Moss fumbled the ball away when he was tackled; the Patriots forced Kansas City to punt, then Cassel came in for New England.
Another AFC quarterback suffered a knee injury on Sunday.
Vince Young was on crutches after spraining his left knee late in the Titans’ 17-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said his quarterback will have tests to determine the severity of the injury, but added that Young’s knee eased up in the locker room.
“The biggest concern that I have right now, not knowing, I don’t think it is serious about Vince,” Fisher said. “We are going to do some studies, some tests on his knee.”
Young iced his knee and apparently was good enough early that team officials said they thought he could talk to reporters. But he was moving very gingerly while trying to get dressed with crutches at his locker and left without talking to reporters.
He was hurt on a bootleg when Jaguars linebacker Daryl Smith collided with his left leg a couple plays after Fisher had to talk to his quarterback about whether he could go back into the game. Young had thrown his helmet on the sideline after being intercepted for the second time, and he didn’t have his helmet with him when the Titans got the ball back.
Seahawks receiver Nate Burleson is confident he’ll play next weekend after limping off the field with a left knee injury.
Coach Mike Holmgren was more reserved, saying Burleson’s status won’t be determined until he has more tests once the team returns to Seattle.
After the game, Burleson walked with a limp but told reporters he expects to be ready to play Sunday, when Seattle hosts San Francisco.
Seattle also lost starting running back Maurice Morris, who did not return after hurting his right knee early in the second half. Holmgren would only say that Morris will also be evaluated Monday.
Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber was taken to the locker room with bruised ribs in the second half against the Cleveland Browns.
Barber rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. He also had three catches for 21 yards. Barber had five carries in the third quarter before leaving the game.
Several Saints left the game against Tampa Bay with various injuries, including safety Roman Harper, cornerback Randall Gay and lineman Antwan Lake (left groin). Payton did not specify some of the injuries other than to say they appeared minor.
Deuce McAllister dressed for the game but did not play, as expected, after missing some practice because of tenderness in his surgically repaired left knee.
Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks left the game with a hamstring injury in the third quarter.
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