Heimspiele » a lot last year and we expect to be leaned

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson and starting defensive tackle Mike DeVito will miss the remainder of the Kansas City Chiefs season after MRI exams confirmed that both players ruptured their right Achilles tendons in Sundays loss to Tennessee. Johnson went down without getting touched near the end of the first half. Eight plays later, early in the second half, DeVito went down at nearly the same spot on the field. The blows are significant to a Chiefs team that was already missing several key pieces to injuries and suspensions, and was routed 26-10 by the Titans at Arrowhead Stadium. "The guys that got hurt, our heart goes out to them for the work they put in," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday, "but we also have some good players that can step up in and do the job and thats what we expect of them." Middle linebacker Joe Mays, who was expected to start alongside Johnson, is already on injured reserve after surgery to repair a broken wrist. The injuries leave the Chiefs with Josh Mauga and James-Michael Johnson starting in the middle of an already suspect defence. Defensive tackles Jaye Howard and Vance Walker are next in line to start for DeVito, who had rededicated himself in the off-season and was looking forward to a promising year. "Weve still got a lot of good football players on this football team, and you have the personnel department looking at options," Reid said. "We still have a lot of games left." The Chiefs head to AFC West favourite Denver on Sunday then visit Miami before returning home for Monday night game against New England. Thats followed by games at San Francisco and San Diego sandwiched around their bye week. Four of the next five opponents reached the playoffs last year. "Things happen. Thats how this league works," Reid said. "You see it with every team. I have a lot of experience in this business and Ive been on teams where things happen, and you work around it and get better. Thats where were at right now." Johnson and DeVito werent the only players to come out of Sundays season opener with injuries, though none of the others was nearly as serious. Right tackle Jeff Allen has an elbow strain, and safeties Husain Abdullah and Eric Berry had bruised quads. Outside linebacker Tamba Hali had a slight ankle sprain, and wide receiver Frankie Hammond hurt his shoulder but is expected to be available for the Broncos. Reid said that cornerback Marcus Cooper, who missed the opener with an ankle injury, should be back, but wide receiver DeAnthony Thomas could miss another game with a hamstring injury. "Itll be a fight for him to get there," Reid said. Perhaps the biggest bit of silver lining for the Chiefs will get Dwayne Bowe back from his suspension. The former Pro Bowl wide receiver was forced to miss the opener following an arrest last November, depriving the Chiefs of their top talent on the outside. Of course, that wont help a defence that has been suddenly ransacked by injuries. "It was just a freaky day," Berry said. "When you got guys like that that things happen to, everybody is going to have to up their game with a little bit more focus." Defensive tackle Dontari Poe said he spoke to Johnson briefly at halftime Sunday. "When you see them go down, you go and talk to him and it seems like theyre kind of down and out already," he said. "What can you do about it? Its understandable for them to be in the position theyre in. Like I said, we have to step up -- keep their heads up, keep our heads up." That could be difficult given what transpired in the second half Sunday, when Johnson and DeVito -- both critical to stopping the run -- were no longer on the field. The Titans ran 25 times for 110 yards while putting the game away. "Youve got to be ready," Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston said. "Its a part of football. You just take injuries. You just pray they dont happen, but it did happen, so weve just got to prepare and be ready for the next day." Colin Wilson Jersey . And, just for good measure, lets say the lottery team finishes the game short-handed because two starters come down with the very same injury. Patrick Roy Jersey . - Tiger Woods only made it through 10 holes Thursday — this time because of the weather, not his back. http://www.cheapavalanchejerseys.com/ . Hamilton signed offensive linemen Mike Filer, Joel Reinders, Landon Rice and Carson Rockhill. Nail Yakupov Jersey . Didnt need any help this time. Wood beat Cincinnati for the first time in his career, repeatedly pitching out of threats for seven innings, and Chicago stalled the Reds week-long surge with a 2-0 victory Monday night. Nathan MacKinnon Jersey . They know how difficult it is to beat the San Antonio Spurs. George scored 28 points and Indiana defeated San Antonio 111-100 on Saturday night, snapping an 11-game skid against the Spurs.TEMPE, Ariz. -- Expressing "extreme" disappointment in Daryl Washington, Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said he wont talk again this season about the standout inside linebacker, who has been suspended a year for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy. "He made a choice and were all living with it," Arians said in his first public comments since the suspension was announced last week. The coach said he "obviously hopes Daryl gets his life straightened out." "But he also was very unaccountable," Arians said, "to his teammates, the organization, the fans and everybody else." The coach spoke after the team resumed volunteer organized team activity Monday. Washington, who says the punishment was for marijuana, also was suspended the first four games of last season for violating the NFL substance abuse policy. He faces further potential punishment from the league following his guilty plea to assaulting his ex-girlfriend. The loss of Washington leaves the Cardinals without the two dynamic inside linebackers who were the core of the teams strong defence a year ago. Karlos Dansby, the Cardinals leading tackler last season, signed a free agent contract with Cleveland. Second-year player Kevin Minter, who played one defensive snap as a rookie, already is penciled in as Dansbys replacement. Larry Foote, signed as a free agent, will be a candidate to take Washingtons place, at least part of the time. Lorenzo Alexander, who started at outside linebacker before going down with a foot injury three games into last season, will move inside, a position he has played before and says he loves. Kenny Demens, on the practice squad last season, is another possibility, and the team is looking to sign others. "Its not imperative but we still would like to have some depth because were short now going into camp," Arians said. "Wed like to have seven inside linebackers go to camp, so well see whats available and pursue it from there." Asked if someone could be signed and become a starter, Arians said, "Hed have to earn it. Iff theres one available that could do that, Id like to have him.ddddddddddddquot; Alexander said the Cardinals still have the outstanding defensive front that was largely responsible for the success of the inside linebackers. "All those guys were taking a block to allow D-Wash and Karlos do what theyre going to do," he said. "So I dont see why thats going to change and allow us to run for the ball. ... Obviously theyre good players but it was a collective team effort that enabled them to have those type of plays and impact in games." Quarterback Carson Palmer said an improved offence should help offset the impact of losing Washington. "We have to step up," Palmer said. "When you lose a guy like Daryl and you lose Karlos to free agency, Tyrann (Mathieu) is not going to be back probably as fast as wed like, you kind of have to transform. Thats the NFL. ... Offensively we have to pick up a ton of slack. We leaned on the defence a lot last year and we expect to be leaned on this year. We need to come through and we will come through." Palmer said the players need to support Washington "and love him and try to be there for him through this phase." He said Washington needs to keep preparing as a football player through his suspension and "stay away from bad people and bad places." "Dont just sit back and relax and wait til next year," Palmer said, "because the game can pass you by." He said the Cardinals players would welcome Washington back "with open arms." "I think this locker room understands guys make mistakes," Palmer said. "Some mistakes are more detrimental than others and hurt you more than others ... I cant wait to see him. I know hes been through a lot and theres been a lot of crazy things but this locker room will give him a hug, welcome him back and be glad to see him back." Washingtons experience has been an example to the teams younger players. Minter has watched what has happened with eyes wide open. "Its like man," he said. "Id better not mess up." ' ' '