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Dallas
Cowboys running back Marion Barber is tackled by Green Bay
Packers cornerback Al Harris after a 2-yard gain during the
first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday at Lambeau
Field. Harris underwent additional medical tests Monday amid
a report he might have ruptured his spleen in Sunday's loss
to the Cowboys.
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GREEN BAY -
Green Bay Packers cornerback Al Harris underwent additional medical
tests Monday amid a report he might have ruptured his spleen in
Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
The National Football Post, a Web
site that lists Harris' agent as a contributor, reported that the
injury could end Harris' season, but Harris was seeking a second
opinion. Agent Jack Bechta did not immediately return a message from
The Associated Press.
Earlier in the day, Packers coach
Mike McCarthy said the team's medical staff was "just doing
scans" on Harris and were "checking for everything."
A team spokesman said no additional information was available.
Harris left Sunday night's game with
6:51 left in the first quarter after he collided with Packers
linebacker A.J. Hawk. Harris returned two plays later.
But Harris had to leave again later
in the series after tackling Cowboys running back Marion Barber —
and this time, he didn't return. Harris went to the Packers' locker
room in the second quarter with what team officials described as
cramping.
McCarthy said after the game that
Harris had blood in his urine and was not allowed to return by the
team's medical staff.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback
Chris Simms ruptured his spleen in a game against the Carolina
Panthers in 2006 and had an emergency procedure to have it removed.
He missed the rest of the season and returned in 2007, but was
inactive for the first five games before being placed on injured
reserve.
The Buccaneers cut Simms in August,
and he signed with Tennessee in September. Simms has yet to play in
three games for the Titans this season.
The loss of Harris would be a
difficult blow to the Packers' defense. Harris, who specializes in
the aggressive style of bump-and-run coverage favored by Packers
coaches, went to his first Pro Bowl last season.
Despite both being over the age of
30, he and Charles Woodson form one of the NFL's most formidable
cornerback tandems. Woodson was effective against Cowboys receiver
Terrell Owens on Sunday, but the Packers had a hard time containing
the rest of the Cowboys' offense without Harris on the field.
"Anytime you lose guys, it's
hard, but you expect other guys to step up," Packers defensive
coordinator Bob Sanders said after Sunday's game. "But
certainly losing Al, a guy of that caliber, that hurts. Anytime you
lose a guy like that, it's not good."
And Harris isn't the only member of
the secondary who's hurting.
Already missing strong safety Atari
Bigby because of a hamstring injury, the Packers also had to handle
a back injury to fellow safety Nick Collins during Sunday night's
game.
And Woodson continues to play through
a broken toe, toughing it out on game days but skipping most or all
of practice during the week. Woodson said Sunday night that his toe
was "hurtin'," and that the Packers faced a difficult week
with so many injuries in the secondary.
"It's a tough week, but this is
what we're paid to do," Woodson said. "Regardless of
injuries and what hurts on the guys, you've got to get it right to
get ready for next week."
McCarthy said Collins has a lower
back contusion, but did not provide a timeframe for his return. And
he didn't seem certain Bigby would be back this week.
"I don't know," McCarthy
said. "You know how hamstrings are. It's different with all of
them. You can scan them, you can look at them, and get all of the
information. Every one of them is different, so we'll see how he
responds. He's been a quick healer in the past, so hopefully."
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