by mysteryhunt » Mon Sep 27, 2004 12:11 am
Garner could miss rest of season with right knee injury
By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer
September 27, 2004
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Tampa Bay running back Charlie Garner is likely lost for the season after tearing the patella tendon in his right knee during Sunday night's loss to the Oakland Raiders.
``We lost a couple of key players,'' coach Jon Gruden said after the Buccaneers' 30-20 loss. ``We probably lost Charlie for the season.''
It wasn't immediately known whether Garner would need surgery.
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Starting Tampa Bay tight end Rickey Dudley didn't return after halftime with what team officials said was a broken right thumb.
Garner was carted off in the second quarter. He carried the ball on first-and-10 and slipped and appeared to twist his right leg. A teammate and a Raiders' defender also tripped over him.
``That's my guy. My prayers are with him. It looks like a pretty serious injury,'' Oakland cornerback Charles Woodson said.
Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon left in the first quarter after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit by linebacker Derrick Brooks.
Gannon ran 2 yards on third-and-goal during Oakland's first offensive series, and was stopped at the 5 by Brooks. The 38-year-old Gannon grimaced in pain on the ground, but walked off the field on his own looking groggy.
He was examined by trainers, then left the field as backup Kerry Collins started warming up. Gannon was taken to the locker room for examination of his back, then returned to the sideline in the second half wearing a jacket and cap and his uniform pants.
The Raiders settled for Sebastian Janikowski's 23-yard field goal on the drive.
Gannon wasn't made available after the game.
Coach Norv Turner said Gannon had hurt his neck, but said, ``It doesn't seem to be too serious.''