Gunzlingr
10-23-2003, 04:35 PM
Already this season, he watched one Bucs starter try to play with an injury that was season-ending and another suffer one that was career-threatening.
It didn't take a Stanford education to tell John Lynch to be smart.
The Pro Bowl safety has nerve damage in his right shoulder, and though he is listed as doubtful, he is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
Lynch's injury, coupled with cornerback Brian Kelly being placed on injured reserve Monday with a torn left pectoral muscle, leaves Ronde Barber, who has a right hamstring strain, as the only member of the secondary that started Super Bowl XXXVII.
On Wednesday, the Bucs reshuffled their secondary again, moving Dwight Smith back to free safety, shifting backup Jermaine Phillips to Lynch's spot at strong safety, and starting second-year pro Tim Wansley at Kelly's left cornerback position.
"It's a burner that is starting in my shoulder and it's affecting my right arm," Lynch said. "It's a nerve injury. The nerve has been damaged and we are just going to have to wait. Rest is the only treatment for it.
"There is really no timetable for this. Sometimes they come back faster (than other times). It's kind of a deal where it has happened the past three weeks and eventually you've got to break the cycle or it's going to be something you're dealing with all year. It limits your effectiveness as a player, and plus, it's not good for you. Each time gets a little worse, so we'll see where that takes us this week."
Lynch was injured in the first half of Sunday's 24-7 loss against the 49ers, but returned to play late in the second half when backup John Howell suffered a concussion.
MORE (http://www.sptimes.com/2003/10/23/Bucs/Bucs_not_counting_on_.shtml)
It didn't take a Stanford education to tell John Lynch to be smart.
The Pro Bowl safety has nerve damage in his right shoulder, and though he is listed as doubtful, he is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
Lynch's injury, coupled with cornerback Brian Kelly being placed on injured reserve Monday with a torn left pectoral muscle, leaves Ronde Barber, who has a right hamstring strain, as the only member of the secondary that started Super Bowl XXXVII.
On Wednesday, the Bucs reshuffled their secondary again, moving Dwight Smith back to free safety, shifting backup Jermaine Phillips to Lynch's spot at strong safety, and starting second-year pro Tim Wansley at Kelly's left cornerback position.
"It's a burner that is starting in my shoulder and it's affecting my right arm," Lynch said. "It's a nerve injury. The nerve has been damaged and we are just going to have to wait. Rest is the only treatment for it.
"There is really no timetable for this. Sometimes they come back faster (than other times). It's kind of a deal where it has happened the past three weeks and eventually you've got to break the cycle or it's going to be something you're dealing with all year. It limits your effectiveness as a player, and plus, it's not good for you. Each time gets a little worse, so we'll see where that takes us this week."
Lynch was injured in the first half of Sunday's 24-7 loss against the 49ers, but returned to play late in the second half when backup John Howell suffered a concussion.
MORE (http://www.sptimes.com/2003/10/23/Bucs/Bucs_not_counting_on_.shtml)