More stars went down with injuries Sunday as the NFL season continued to take its toll.
Quarterbacks Dan Marino, Mark Brunell and Charlie Batch all went down with injuries–and their teams won anyway.
Marino, who had back spasms and also a sore shoulder, gave way to Damon Huard, whose touchdown pass with 23 seconds remaining lifted the Dolphins past the Patriots.
Jay Fiedler, a fourth-year veteran from Dartmouth, came in when Jaguars starter Brunell was sidelined with injured ribs. Fiedler was 12 of 14 as Jacksonville beat Cleveland.
Gus Frerotte relieved Batch when the Detroit starter injured his arm. The former Washington QB had five straight completions for 45 yards to set up Jason Hanson’s winning field goal against Minnesota.
Other teams lost quarterbacks and weren’t as fortunate in the outcomes of their games.
Arizona’s Jake Plummer left Sunday night’s game against Washington early in the third quarter when he broke the ring finger on his right hand. Plummer’s finger became stuck in Shawn Barber’s face mask when he was sacked. Cardinals coach Vince Tobin said Plummer would miss four to six weeks.
Jets quarterback Ray Lucas, a last-minute replacement for ineffective starter Rick Mirer, sprained his left ankle when he was sacked on the final play of a loss to Indianapolis.
Injuries weren’t limited to quarterbacks. Eric Moulds, Buffalo’s leading receiver, injured his hamstring in the fourth quarter against Oakland and will be out for three weeks.
Vikings running back Robert Smith, who has battled injuries throughout his career, has a hernia and will have surgery. He may miss six weeks, coach Dennis Green said.
Bengals running back Corey Dillon missed much of the first half with a twisted ankle, and his teammate, receiver Darnay Scott, left with bruised ribs. Steelers Pro Bowl center Dermontti Dawson was lost to a pulled hamstring.
MINNESOTA MELTDOWN
Last year’s 15-1 season is a distant memory in Minnesota.
Quarterback Randall Cunningham was benched in favor of Jeff George, and though George ignited a second-half comeback against the Lions, Minnesota fell short and dropped to 2-4.
A 26-yard field goal by Gary Anderson with 1:40 to play put Minnesota ahead 23-22. But some of the Vikings thought they should have gone for a touchdown instead of settling for three. Detroit then took the ball and kicked a field goal to win.
“I wanted a touchdown,” said Randy Moss, who had 10 receptions for 125 yards. “We were catching everything. But that’s not my decision.
“Last year’s team went for everything.”
Moss doesn’t seem to be going for everything, though, judging by some comments.
“If we can get in the playoffs, hopefully we’ll be a different team,” he said. “Right now we’re just trying to get a wild card.”
The Vikings are in last place in the NFC Central, but only 1 1/2 games out of first. However, at 1-3 in the division, they would be in trouble in a tight race.
BEARS CONNECTION
Jeff Fisher, whose Titans beat Mike Ditka’s Saints on Sunday, played for Ditka with the Bears from 1982-84. Fisher, a defensive back, actually was given his coaching start under then-Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan while on injured reserve in the Super Bowl season of 1985. Fisher followed Ryan to Philadelphia the next year when he took the Eagles’ job.
HAIR TO DYE FOR
Chargers linebacker Junior Seau’s garish blond–actually, neon orange–hair was on display for all to see as he walked out to midfield for the pregame coin toss on Sunday.
Seau had to dye his hair Saturday night because his alma mater, Southern Cal, lost to kicker John Carney’s school, Notre Dame. But Seau didn’t mind after Carney’s field goal at the final gun gave the Chargers a 13-10 victory over Seattle.
“I love Notre Dame right now,” Seau said. “I will wear this hair anytime John Carney does that for me. It’s just a great feeling. I’m so happy right now.”
![After weeks of area college students protesting the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as part of a nationwide movement, leaders of Chicago’s Jewish community responded Wednesday by demanding action against hate speech as a group of Northwestern students filed suit against their school for allowing protests there to become “increasingly hostile to Jews.” Meanwhile, seven members of Northwestern’s President’s Advisory Committee on Preventing Antisemitism and Hate stepped down to protest the university’s agreement with protesters. The agreement outlined a plan intended to allow demonstrations to continue while preventing the chaos and occasional violence that has engulfed other campuses across the country. […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CTC-L-cps-sit-in-response02_189144560.jpg?w=525 "After weeks of area college students protesting the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as part of a nationwide movement, leaders of Chicago’s Jewish community responded Wednesday by demanding action against hate speech as a group of Northwestern students filed suit against their school for allowing protests there to become “increasingly hostile to Jews.” Meanwhile, seven members of Northwestern’s President’s Advisory Committee on Preventing Antisemitism and Hate stepped down to protest the university’s agreement with protesters. The agreement outlined a plan intended to allow demonstrations to continue while preventing the chaos and occasional violence that has engulfed other campuses across the country. […]")