In an unsurprising move, Ahman Green was placed on IR today after it became apparent that the knee injury he suffered in Week 1 couldn't take game day activity. Undrafted Notre Dame running back, Darius Walker will be put on the active roster for the game against the Bucs this Sunday. Ron Dayne is expected to be the starter, though his time may be limited due to a minor ankle injury he suffered last week.Green suffered what was called a "knee bone bruise" in the game against Kansas City. He tried to come back from that injury, but had to leave games due to swelling and pain. As I discussed last September, a diagnosis of a bruised knee bone gave Texans fans no comfort because the description of the injury sounded very similar to the same thing that ended Texans running back Domanick (Davis) Williams' career.
You hear fans talk about a bruised knee bone like it is no big deal, as if it is bumping it into a coffee table. However, as I understand it, the knee bone is a place with not a lot of blood flow, and can be hard to heal. If you have more of a medical interest in in knee bone bruises, check out this link. If you would like a first hand account of how knee bone bruises might slow down a sports blogfather, check out what Jamie Mottram has to say about it, including an x-ray of knee badness.
Domanick, Ahman, and Jamie: such promising sporting lives interrupted by what is a wussy sounding diagnosis, but actually is hard for doctors to treat, estimate healing time and determine its effect on future use.
Many people will suggest that Green on IR means that it was a huge mistake to sign an aging running back. Given his knowledge of the system the Texans were running you can understand why they acquired him, though the amount was a little brow raising. If the information that has been revealed about his injury is accurate, (a big if), any running back of any age could have been put on the IR with the same injury.
The Texans have buzzards luck with the injured reserve list, leading the lead with now 17 players on IR.
For those who are interested, you can check out Ahman Green's career to date stats here. Given his problems this season, they might be his final ones. He has come back from a worse injury, and in today's practice quotes he believes he will be back, and back with the Texans.
As for the Texans running game, one of Gary Kubiak's biggest regrets of last season wasn't getting rookie running back Chris Taylor more carries. Taylor went out during camp this year, but I am guessing Kubiak may have his regret about Taylor in mind some in wanting to see Darius Walker down the stretch.
In very limited time in the preseason, Walker had some promising moments with quick decision making and burst. Running against Tampa Bay can prove difficult in the best of circumstances, but will be a particular challenge given the new starter at the right guard position, Mike Brisiel.
If you are interested in getting more of a sense of who Darius Walker is, please check out his Wednesdays With Walker Texans TV segments. The Texans have him on camera showing how things are behind the scenes at Reliant Stadium.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-08-2007 @ 12:29AM
bob said...
Isn't this the same injury Marvin Harrison has? If so, doesn't the same apply to him? I have a feeling his career will come to an abrupt end.
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12-08-2007 @ 12:43AM
Stephanie Stradley said...
bob-
Yes, you are correct. It's one of the reasons why I am sketical of those reports that suggest that Harrison is just being saved for the playoffs.
The medical information I've read about bone bruises say that 1. doctors don't know the best treatment other than rest; 2. they often don't know how long the pain will last; 3. how it might limit future activities.
There was a report by ESPN that this might be something that Harrison has problems with for the rest of his career, but the Colts denied that.
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/11/11/marvin-harrison-out-for-colts-vs-chargers-get-ready-for-the-aa/
If it is truly a knee bone bruise, I am not sure how they can say that.
Polian denies that this is career threatening, and explained the injury in this article:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071120/SPORTS03/711200413/-1/LOCAL17
"Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said Monday that Pro Bowl wide receiver Marvin Harrison's injured left knee is sound, stable and mechanically functional, describing it as a "minor sprain" along with a "pretty big blow" to the bursa sac.
....
Polian said the bursa sac "burst and it got fluid all over the knee. That's it, simple as that. The ligaments are fine. The bursa is healed up. The inflammation hasn't gone down."
The bursa is a fluid-filled sac that functions to reduce friction at points where muscles and tendons glide over bone."
That doesn't sound like a good thing for a receiver to have.
With knee bone bruises, the players can do a little work on it, but can get immediate pain and swelling. Ahman Green sometimes had okay practices, but in game situations it got really bad.
But I suppose there are players who come back from this, but I think it is difficult for doctors to say who will and won't come back. Harrison's age probably doesn't make this an optimistic scenario.
Hope you find this information helpful.
-Steph
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12-08-2007 @ 9:26AM
Jamie Mottram said...
Yes, it is a very "wussy sounding," which is why friends don't understand why I still can't ball seven months after the injury.
(Of course, playing softball a lot this summer and fall may have a lot to do with the lingering pain.)
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12-08-2007 @ 2:40PM
Justin said...
Well, there are some good running backs that'll be entering the draft. The Texans won't get McFadden because the Patriots will nab him with the 2nd pick but, there are other good RBs that they could get.
Just to name a few...
Mike Hart
Ray Rice
Felix Jones
Pairing up one of these with Ron Dayne could make a really good combination.
Reply
12-08-2007 @ 2:40PM
Pigskin28 said...
Next year's draft is turning out to be the perfect time for the NFL to move the event to prime time.
With the way AP is producing, does anyone think teams are going to sit back and watch the Patriots select McFadden with that pick?
Oh, I can just see the the jostling behind close doors. The one thing the Patriots need will be fought for. NFL teams cannot afford for this guy to go to New England........Must see TV...and the weeks leading up to it!
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12-08-2007 @ 2:41PM
Pigskin28 said...
On another note.....maybe the NFL should take the draft off ESPN( thus Cable! ESPN still does not pay for the right, yes?) another bargaining chip for the league. I like how you think pigskin...whaaaahahahahahaa.
Sorry folks, rainy, foggy, cold day here. Great day for watching football. :)
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