Chad Johnson of Cincinnati, Larry Johnson of Kansas City and Jay Cutler of Denver were among star players who were hurt Sunday.
Chad Johnson’s injury was potentially the most severe, but he flew home with his teammates after medical tests showed he sustained no damage to his neck after being hit late in Cincinnati’s 33-21 loss to Buffalo.
Team spokesman Jack Brennan said Johnson joined the team for its scheduled flight to Cincinnati after having a CT scan of his neck at a Buffalo-area hospital. Brennan said test results were normal.
Johnson was hurt when he was sandwiched by Bills defenders Donte Whitner and Coy Wire while attempting a diving catch over the middle with 1:53 left in the game. Johnson dropped the ball and was face-down on the field at the Bills 37 while the game was delayed for about 10 minutes.
The initial scene was eerily similar to when Bills tight end Kevin Everett sustained a severe neck injury during Buffalo’s season opener against Denver. Everett lost feeling from the neck down, but has since made a remarkable recovery.
After the game, Johnson’s fellow receiver and good friend T.J. Houshmandzadeh jumped into the ambulance to accompany with him.
Larry Johnson was helped off the field at Arrowhead Stadium after injuring his right ankle midway through the fourth quarter against the Packers. He caught a pass from Damon Huard and was dragged down from behind by linebacker A.J. Hawk, catching his toe in the turf.
He immediately grabbed at his right ankle, then tried to put weight on the leg after trainers looked at him, but had to get help to the bench.
A Chiefs spokesman said Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, apparently had a sprained ankle, but that nothing definite would be known at least until Monday.
“He couldn’t put any weight on it. That’s never a good sign,” coach Herm Edwards said.
Cutler, the Broncos’ quarterback, injured his lower left leg while getting sacked by Shaun Rogers early in the second quarter at Detroit. He was helped off the field and was later taken off on a cart as he unstrapped his shoulder pads.
“I got hit with a helmet on the outside of my leg,” Cutler said. “I’ll get an MRI. I’m hoping it’s not broken, but it could be a hairline.
“Hopefully, it’s just a bruise.”
The Broncos were also without John Lynch, listing the free safety as inactive because of a pinched nerve in his neck.
In Cleveland, Seattle running back Shaun Alexander, already playing with a cast on a cracked wrist, briefly left the game against the Cleveland Browns with a sprained left knee and ankle.
Alexander had five carries for 9 yards before getting hurt in the first quarter. He tested the injury on the sideline before heading to the locker room.
Alexander sat out one series before returning in the second quarter of the Seahawks’ 33-30 overtime loss.
“His knee stiffened up,” Holmgren said. “They are going to do some X-rays on it. He got it twisted up on him early (in the game). His ankle and his knee got a little tweaked. As the game went along, it got a little colder and his knee stiffened up on him.”
In Oakland, Houston cornerback Dunta Robinson was told he’ll miss the rest of the season after seriously injuring his right knee in a pileup with teammates in a win over the Raiders.
Robinson, the Texans’ top cornerback and a rising star in his fourth NFL season, left the Coliseum field on a cart late in the first quarter after a teammate hit him from behind.
“My season is over, and I’ve just got to get ready for next year,” Robinson said while leaning on crutches in the Texans’ locker room after their 24-17 win. “It’s just another step in the road, another bump I’ve got to get over.”
In Minneapolis, Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was carted off the field with a concussion in the second quarter against the Chargers.
He took off running on first-and-10 from the Minnesota 36 and scooted past the first-down marker. But as he was tackled, Jackson took a leg to the head. He remained on the turf with his hand up in the air in an awkward position, and several teammates took a knee in prayer nearby.
After a few minutes, Jackson sat up and was talking to team trainers before he was taken away. He returned to the sideline without pads for the second half, with Brooks Bollinger playing in his place.
San Diego cornerback Quentin Jammer and defensive lineman Luis Castillo were also injured in the game. Jammer pulled a hamstring in the second quarter, and Castillo injured his right leg in the third quarter.
Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles was inactive for New York’s 23-20 overtime loss to Washington because of a concussion, ending his streak of 104 regular-season starts.
In Indianapolis, wide receiver Marvin Harrison was one of four Colts starters on the inactive list for a 24-20 loss to the New England Patriots. Linebackers Freddy Keiaho (ear) and Tyjuan Hagler (neck) and offensive tackle Tony Ugoh (neck) also missed the game.
For the Bills, quarterback Trent Edwards was inactive because of a wrist injury. J.P. Losman started for the first time since injuring a knee against New England in Week 3.
In New Orleans, Jacksonville right guard Chris Naeole sprained his left knee during the first quarter against the Saints. Naeole could not put any pressure on the injured leg as he was helped off the field.
Vince Manuwai replaced Naeole during the drive, Jacksonville’s second of the game. The series concluded with a field goal.
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