GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers cornerback Al Harris was undergoing 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.
Harris’ agent Jack Bechta said the 33-year-old veteran had some internal bleeding and the initial diagnosis is that he ruptured his spleen, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“He would most likely miss the season, it would just depend on the severity,” Bechta told the newspaper. “But we don’t have any definitive information except there was a rupture. Now we have to get him to a specialist as soon as possible.”
And while nothing is definitive, Bechta said the odds of Harris returning this year aren’t good.
“Any time you have a ruptured spleen, you’re not going to take any chances because it can re-rupture and be worse and then you have to have it removed,” Bechta told the Journal Sentinel. “If that’s the case, then there’s always risk for infection. We’re going to take a really conservative approach.
“Most doctors will tell a player to forego a season just because of all the downside risk. The conservative answer now from the original [diagnosis], I believe from Dr. [John] Gray, is to shut it down. But nothing is imminent as of yet.”
Earlier in the day, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the team’s medical staff was “just doing scans” on Harris and was “checking for everything.” A team spokesman said no additional information was available.
Packers defensive backs coach Kurt Schottenheimer told the Journal Sentinel he didn’t know Harris’ status, but he did say the loss of Harris would have a major impact on the team.
“We just hope for the best for Al,” Schottenheimer told the newspaper. “He brings such a spirit to the team, the way he plays. If you give him a job, you know that job is going to be taken care of and you can go to the next challenge. He brings such a winning performance to you all the time. I just hope he’ll be all right.”
If Harris, who is coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance, is done, Tramon Williams would get the start opposite an ailing Charles Woodson. The cornerback has been hampered with a broken toe.
Harris could be facing a road similar to Chris Simms. The Tennessee Titans backup quarterback missed the last 13 games of 2006 after having his spleen removed while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He tried to come back last year but had difficulty regaining his form before entering the season as the fourth-string quarterback.
ESPN – Report: Pack’s Harris could miss rest of season with ruptured spleen – NFL
