Center Langkow is fine enough now to returned to Calgary

One day after leaving the game against the Minnesota Wild with fans being scared, the Calgary Flames center Daymond Langkow returned to team, wearing back his No. 22 Flames jersey to prepare for the next game.

The 33-year-old spent Sunday night in a St. Paul hospital following the Flames’ 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild, undergoing tests after taking a shot off the back of his neck. He seems all right now, but when he was taken off the ice on a stretcher, many were scared.

“I think everyone was just scared,” said forward David Moss, who watched as Langkow was strapped to a backboard and wheeled off the ice. “Not knowing what was going on, not seeing him move was a scary moment.”

The incident happened at 5:20 of the second period when Langkow was checked in front of the Minnesota net by Wild defenseman Greg Zanon. Unfortunately, his teammate defenseman Ian White fired a point shot while Langkow was heading down while falling forward, and the shot hit Langkow at the base of the neck in between his shoulder blades. Afterwards, the center lay still there on the ice for about ten minutes before trainers came to carry him off. All felt a great relief when they got to know that Langkow actually had feeling in all his extremities all along.

Three key defensive players not to play with Chargers against Browns

Three key defensive players did not take part in the San Diego Chargers’ Thursday practice and are very likely to miss this Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. The defensive trio includes outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, end Luis Castillo and safety Eric Weddle.

All three have some kind of injuries: Merriman has been bothered by a foot injury that has prevented him from working out for all the week; Castillo hurt his ankle in the win over the Denver Broncos on Nov. 22, and has not played or practiced in his Chargers jersey since on; and Weddle may needs the longest time to recover among the three as a knee injury may keep him out for the next two games.

Rookie linebacker Larry English would have increased playing time as he is expected to replace Merriman at the position, and Alfonso Boone will probably start at DE as replacement to Castillo. Weddle’s job is expected to be shared by Paul Oliver and Steve Gregory.

Dolphins RB Cobbs to be out for season with knee injury

“A tremendous, tremendous warrior,” the Miami Dolphins Coach Sparano said Tuesday about running back Patrick Cobbs’ injury. “But that’s how this game goes.” Indeed, injuries are inevitable for those who play in football jerseys, what the coach can do is only to express his regret.

The reserve running back has been considered to be an important contributor to the team’s wildcat package. He was hurt on a carry in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s victory over the New York Jets, and tests results showed that he has torn an anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Thus Cobbs will have to miss the rest of the season to recover from the injury.

As a mainstay in the wildcat, which uses three running backs, Cobbs had a 53-yard touchdown catch and a 44-yard run from the formation last year and led the Dolphins with 16 kickoff returns for a 22.6-yard average this season. His leaving will force the team to find another runningback to take over his position, and rookie Lex Hilliard may be the choice.

Another player got injury in OTAS

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook's surgery already arose anxiety from the fans. On Thursday, another player, the Bears RB Matt Forte missed practices because of MRI.

As we counted, Westbrook and Forte are not the only two who got injuries in OTAS. Some one will recover soon and be able to go through the season, but someone may not be able to play in the season. Injuries and surgeries make the outlook of the coming season full of questions.