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Terrell Owens likely has had his last flamboyant end-zone celebration of the season.
The doctor who performed surgery Wednesday on Owens' injured ankle refused to rule out the Eagles star wide receiver's return for the Super Bowl, but it remains a longshot -- if Philadelphia makes it that far.
"While it is not unreasonable to hope that he returns to play in six weeks, it is not something we would expect," Dr. Mark Myerson said.
In an interesting twist of fate, Owens had the surgery in Baltimore -- the city he so desperately tried to avoid when wanted out of San Francisco. He landed in Philadelphia and became the biggest offensive threat and most animated player for the NFC East champion Eagles (13-1).
"Let's go do it," Owens told Myerson before the one-hour operation.
Myerson said two ankle ligaments were torn, including one damaged all the way up to a fracture a few inches below Owens' knee. The fracture is not serious, the surgeon said, and will be allowed to heal on its own.
Under normal circumstances, Owens' injured ankle would take eight to 10 weeks to heal, Myerson said. But the receiver's conditioning could help him recover faster and keep him in position to play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 6.
"I think there is a reasonable possibility that he will return to play in about six or seven weeks. But that is not predictable," Myerson said. "A lot will depend on his recovery and rehabilitation over the next month or two."
Owens was named to his fifth Pro Bowl on Wednesday. He has delivered everything he promised this season, from spectacular playmaking to outrageous antics.
He was dragged down from behind by Dallas' Roy Williams early in the third quarter last Sunday. His injury (click link for Eagles Star WR Owens Out for Rest of Regular Season story) was a devastating blow to a team that has dominated the NFC and has clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Owens, who had 77 catches for 1,200 yards and a team-record 14 TD catches, has missed just seven games in his nine-year career.
He'll miss the last two regular-season games and possibly two more NFC playoff games. The Eagles have lost three straight NFC title games and were counting on Owens to provide a spark to an offense that often has stagnated down the stretch.
"Yes, it's tough losing a guy like T.O., but the season's not over," quarterback Donovan McNabb said Wednesday after he also was named to the Pro Bowl.
Myerson inserted two screws in Owens' ankle and a plate on the outside of the ankle. He said there was no reason to expect the injury would lead to chronic ankle problems for Owens.
Myerson said he normally uses one screw to stabilize the ankle, but that "everything had to be done to gain maximum stability in the ankle in as quick a time as possible."
Owens could begin physical activity in four to six weeks. He will test the ankle in about two weeks and start riding a bike and do some lower-body workouts in about three to four weeks.
If Owens plays in the Super Bowl, he'll do it with the hardware in his ankle -- the screws and plate won't come out for another three to four months -- creating a potential problem.
"The risk is, (if) the screws fail, there has not been adequate ligament healing and that there's further injury against the ligaments," Myerson said.
Would the Eagles want to risk it?
Without Owens, the Eagles will be left with a receiving corps of Freddie Mitchell, Greg Lewis and Todd Pinkston. Those three have a combined 60 catches for 1,073 yards and one touchdown this season. Seldom-used Billy McMullen also could earn playing time.
The Eagles do have a healthy Brian Westbrook, who missed last year's postseason with an injury and has emerged as one of the most dangerous running backs in the league. Tight ends L.J. Smith and Chad Lewis are reliable options.
While Owens' presence on the field and personality in the locker room will be missed, McNabb said the Eagles are prepared to win without him.
"Losing T.O., obviously it's tough, but we have the full confidence in the rest of the guys stepping up and making the big plays when we need it," McNabb said.
Source: AP
The doctor who performed surgery Wednesday on Owens' injured ankle refused to rule out the Eagles star wide receiver's return for the Super Bowl, but it remains a longshot -- if Philadelphia makes it that far.
"While it is not unreasonable to hope that he returns to play in six weeks, it is not something we would expect," Dr. Mark Myerson said.
In an interesting twist of fate, Owens had the surgery in Baltimore -- the city he so desperately tried to avoid when wanted out of San Francisco. He landed in Philadelphia and became the biggest offensive threat and most animated player for the NFC East champion Eagles (13-1).
"Let's go do it," Owens told Myerson before the one-hour operation.
Myerson said two ankle ligaments were torn, including one damaged all the way up to a fracture a few inches below Owens' knee. The fracture is not serious, the surgeon said, and will be allowed to heal on its own.
Under normal circumstances, Owens' injured ankle would take eight to 10 weeks to heal, Myerson said. But the receiver's conditioning could help him recover faster and keep him in position to play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 6.
"I think there is a reasonable possibility that he will return to play in about six or seven weeks. But that is not predictable," Myerson said. "A lot will depend on his recovery and rehabilitation over the next month or two."
Owens was named to his fifth Pro Bowl on Wednesday. He has delivered everything he promised this season, from spectacular playmaking to outrageous antics.
He was dragged down from behind by Dallas' Roy Williams early in the third quarter last Sunday. His injury (click link for Eagles Star WR Owens Out for Rest of Regular Season story) was a devastating blow to a team that has dominated the NFC and has clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Owens, who had 77 catches for 1,200 yards and a team-record 14 TD catches, has missed just seven games in his nine-year career.
He'll miss the last two regular-season games and possibly two more NFC playoff games. The Eagles have lost three straight NFC title games and were counting on Owens to provide a spark to an offense that often has stagnated down the stretch.
"Yes, it's tough losing a guy like T.O., but the season's not over," quarterback Donovan McNabb said Wednesday after he also was named to the Pro Bowl.
Myerson inserted two screws in Owens' ankle and a plate on the outside of the ankle. He said there was no reason to expect the injury would lead to chronic ankle problems for Owens.
Myerson said he normally uses one screw to stabilize the ankle, but that "everything had to be done to gain maximum stability in the ankle in as quick a time as possible."
Owens could begin physical activity in four to six weeks. He will test the ankle in about two weeks and start riding a bike and do some lower-body workouts in about three to four weeks.
If Owens plays in the Super Bowl, he'll do it with the hardware in his ankle -- the screws and plate won't come out for another three to four months -- creating a potential problem.
"The risk is, (if) the screws fail, there has not been adequate ligament healing and that there's further injury against the ligaments," Myerson said.
Would the Eagles want to risk it?
Without Owens, the Eagles will be left with a receiving corps of Freddie Mitchell, Greg Lewis and Todd Pinkston. Those three have a combined 60 catches for 1,073 yards and one touchdown this season. Seldom-used Billy McMullen also could earn playing time.
The Eagles do have a healthy Brian Westbrook, who missed last year's postseason with an injury and has emerged as one of the most dangerous running backs in the league. Tight ends L.J. Smith and Chad Lewis are reliable options.
While Owens' presence on the field and personality in the locker room will be missed, McNabb said the Eagles are prepared to win without him.
"Losing T.O., obviously it's tough, but we have the full confidence in the rest of the guys stepping up and making the big plays when we need it," McNabb said.
Source: AP
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