Gruesome Leg Injury Devastates NFL Team, Star Player's Season Is Finished
Football is often described in military terms, and not just “support the troops” or any of the performative patriotism of the NFL but actual swords-and-guns combat.
And by that standard, the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans fought a battle so drawn-out thanks to weather and brutal thanks to injury that its historical parallel can be found at places like Cannae and Verdun.
And one of the casualties, the Titans’ Delanie Walker, is going to be MIA for the rest of the campaign this year, as he suffered a monster of a leg injury that has been determined to be season-ending.
The injury happened late in the fourth quarter of the six-hour-long, twice-weather-delayed slog, and as always, those of squeamish temperament are strongly advised to avert their eyes.
Delanie Walker injury video: #Titans TE, R ankle gets caught under player. With foot planted on the ground & opposing force directing above ankle, dislocation occurs. There was also a reported fracture as well which will increase healing time. pic.twitter.com/nRHJlfNqyx
— #ReiffReport (@ReiffReport) September 10, 2018
Walker caught a short pass, got tackled, and the Miami defender’s momentum caused him to roll up with his full weight onto Walker’s ankle, which then buckled and snapped like a twig.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who initially reported that the injury “appears serious” (gee, you don’t say), clarified the extent of the problem Monday morning.
Titans’ TE Delanie Walker suffered a broken ankle and ligament damage in there as well, per source. He is not expected to play again in 2018.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 10, 2018
The extent of Mariota’s elbow injury is not known, but considering he was pulled after throwing interceptions on back-to-back passes, fans are speculating that his “injury” might just be a case of Steve Blass Disease.
Marcus Mariota out with an elbow injury, also known as "hesucksitis" for the #Titans
— Jeff Mans (@Jeff_Mans) September 9, 2018
Indeed, the Tennesseean decided to grant that rumor some mainstream media credibility as well.
Is Marcus Mariota losing his grip? The excuses are losing relevance https://t.co/3io9oHiweL pic.twitter.com/tachMfsa2i
— Tennessean (@Tennessean) September 10, 2018
Blaine Gabbert came into the game for the Titans, which wasn’t exactly comfort for the Titans faithful.
Real talk:
How do Sam Bradford and Blaine Gabbert have starting spots on NFL squads but Tim Tebow doesn’t?
— 🐆 DuuuvalGator🐊 (@gatorfll) September 9, 2018
This is the same Gabbert who got the starting job over Colin Kaepernick in 2016 with the 49ers, as Tomi Lahren astutely pointed out a week ago.
Does anyone remember how many games Kaepernick sat on the bench before he turned into a social justice warrior? Was it really ever about “oppression” or was it that he was pouting about losing the support of his teammates & getting benched for Blaine Gabbert…
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) September 4, 2018
The Titans, who are coming off a 9-7 season and had playoff hopes in 2018, now look a lot further from that goal after losing the marathon game 27-20.
And with a MASH unit developing on offense, they may be hard-pressed to find weapons to run their attack and put enough points on the board to win ballgames.
With Tennessee’s next three games against a resurgent Houston Texans squad, at Jacksonville, and then against the defending Super Bowl champs from Philadelphia, they need to figure things out fast.
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