Broken wrist sidelines Bruschi
The New England Patriots are getting used to not having Tedy Bruschi in training camp.
The star linebacker underwent surgery Wednesday for a broken wrist, and will miss the entire exhibition season. He was also out last summer, while he recovered from a stroke.
"His presence, his leadership, his vocal (presence), his mental understanding of the game is huge for us," safety Rodney Harrison said. "Right now, Tedy has an issue and, fortunately for us, we have time right now. We have other guys. We get a chance to look at other young guys."
Bruschi, entering his 11th season with the Patriots, was hurt on July 31, the fourth day of camp, and hasn't practiced since.
True to form, coach Bill Belichick was initially cryptic about his star linebacker's status.
"His wrist is probably sore. I'm sure he has a lot of sore body parts. He's day-to-day."
On Tuesday night, after Bruschi missed his 10th straight workout, Belichick confirmed that Bruschi had a broken wrist and would not play in any exhibition games. He said he didn't know if Bruschi would need surgery, then added, "I said everything I'm going to say about that."
A few hours later, team spokesman Stacey James said Bruschi had surgery Wednesday.
Belichick hasn't said which wrist Bruschi broke or whether the player would be ready for the regular season opener on Sept. 10 at home against Buffalo.
Bruschi had a stroke on Feb. 16, 2005, and returned for the seventh game.
Dwight Freeney will be one of six Indianapolis defensive starters sitting out Thursday night's preseason opener at St. Louis.Freeney missed his second straight morning practice Wednesday, and afterward coach Tony Dungy announced the Colts' three-time Pro Bowl defensive end would be kept out for precautionary reasons.Dungy said Freeney's shoulder, which forced him to sit out Tuesday morning and skip the final team scrimmage Tuesday afternoon, was too sore.
Linebacker Lavar Arrington will miss New York's preseason opener against Baltimore on Friday with soreness in his right knee.The three-time Pro Bowler, signed in the offseason for $49 million, participated in team drills for the first week but has worked only briefly in one practice since last Friday. He watched from the sidelines again Wednesday at the University at Albany.The soreness is affecting the same knee Arrington underwent two surgeries on in 2004 and 2005 when he was with the Washington Redskins.
Terrell Owens ran hard, made cuts and came to some quick stops while catching passes, but did so during a post-practice session with a fourth-string quarterback — not with the rest of the Dallas starters.Owens capped his workout by hauling in a long pass at the back of the end zone, slowing immediately to make sure he stayed in bounds, then walked to the locker room. He didn't stop to talk to reporters, only saying his sore left hamstring felt "better."He missed two practices Wednesday, the ninth and 10th since he first felt the twinge Aug. 2. An MRI taken Saturday showed no damage, but he's concerned enough to have flown in his own doctors, trainers and an oxygen chamber that speeds recovery.
Left guard Floyd Womack strained his right hamstring during practice and will miss at least a week.Womack, is scheduled to replace departed All-Pro Steve Hutchinson on the defending NFC champions' often-dominant offensive line this season.
