TEICHER-Injury could force Croyle to sit Sunday

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Croyle

Injury could force Croyle to sit Sunday
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle was obviously out of sorts early in last week’s game against Oakland after he took a knee in the back from a Raiders player.

Croyle moved around in evident discomfort, wore a stimulating wrap while on the sideline and even retreated to the locker room at one point for an injection to deaden the pain.

But Croyle played through the pain, and the general assumption by outside observers was that he would be fine for this week’s game against San Diego at Arrowhead Stadium.

Those closer to Croyle realized otherwise.

“It didn’t look that bad, but you could tell it was bad,” reserve quarterback Tyler Thigpen said. “I know from the type of person Brodie is that he was hurting. Just from the way he was talking and holding his posture and everything, you could tell.”

Croyle wouldn’t discuss the exact nature of the injury. He didn’t practice Wednesday as the Chiefs began preparations for the Chargers game. He wasn’t confident he would be able to practice today or play on Sunday.

“If we can (practice) by Friday, we’ve got a good shot,” Croyle said. “I’m not in this thing deep enough where I can do the Steve McNair thing and not practice and then just go in and play. I’m still young in this league, and I still need all the snaps I can get.”

Coach Herm Edwards agreed that Croyle would play if he could practice by Friday.

“Remember, he’s taken (practice snaps) like a starter from the beginning,” Edwards said. “We’re not going to put him in harm’s way. If he’s not mobile enough to get out of the way (of the pass rush), then it doesn’t make any sense.”

Damon Huard, who began the season as the starter before being replaced by Croyle earlier this month, stepped in at practice Wednesday. He would start against the Chargers if Croyle doesn’t play.

“Physically, I feel pretty good,” Huard said. “I certainly haven’t taken the hits and my body has recovered a little bit. It wasn’t that long ago, so hopefully the timing is still there. It was good out there at practice.”

Croyle took the hit on the second offensive play of the game. He rolled to his right and, unable to find an open receiver, tucked the ball under his arm to run.

He gained 4 yards but paid the price. He threw his only interception of the game on the next play.

When he got to the sideline, Croyle received attention from Chiefs medical personnel and Huard warmed up as if he was getting ready to replace Croyle.

That never happened. Croyle continued to play to the finish and the Raiders beat the Chiefs 20-17.

“He fought through it and played,” Edwards said. “That’s what kind of kid he is. He’s a tough guy. He got through it, but he was still sore the next day.”

Croyle said little about the injury to reporters afterward.

“You don’t ever want to make a big deal about injuries,” he said. “If it’s bad enough to make a big deal out of, you shouldn’t be in the game.”

Croyle has made only two starts for the Chiefs, but is used to the idea that quarterbacks have to play through pain. The right-handed Croyle played almost his entire sophomore season at Alabama with a separated left shoulder.

“But that,” he said, “was a little different than this.”

Huard took several severe hits as the starter in the first nine games. He was sidelined by a hit to the head in the fourth quarter of a September game against Chicago.

He was also sent out in the fourth quarter of last month’s game against Jacksonville because of an injured shoulder that the Chiefs initially believed would prevent him from playing in the following week’s game, but Huard played.

“You’re a sitting duck a lot of times back there,” he said. “Brodie certainly fought through some good shots. It’s never fun to get hit back there.”