Matt Cassel could miss opener with rib injury

Posted by Ryan Wilson

It wasn't pretty to watch, but shortly after nose tackle Howard Green -- all 340 pounds of him -- sacked quarterback Matt Cassel with all his weight during last Thursday's preseason game between Green Bay and Kansas City, the Chiefs said Cassel had just had the wind knocked out of him.

Cassel confirmed this afterwards when he said “I just got the wind knocked out of me,’’ he said. “We were just being cautious.’’

Head coach Todd Haley added “Unfortuntately, he got dinged up a little bit. I’m not overly concerned.’’

Well, it might be time to start panicking. Turns out, Cassel suffered a rib injury and might not be ready for the season opener Sunday against the the Bills, according to the Kansas City Star's Adam Teicher. This comes days after tight end Tony Moeaki was placed on injured reserve after hurting his knee against the Packers.

And now Kansas City, whose first-team offense struggled throughout the preseason (they started things off with a 25-0 shellacking at the hands of the Bucs in Week 1), face the very real possibility of hosting Buffalo with Tyler Palko under center.

Palko played collegiately at Pitt but went undrafted in 2007. (Fun fact: Palko was so entrenched as the starter that a backup named Joe Flacco transferred to Delaware for more playing time.) He's shuttled between NFL practice squads and 53-man rosters for the Saints, Cardinals and Steelers, and in 2009 was also signed and cut by the UFL's California Redwoods (now the Sacramento Mountain Lions) and the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. Palko played well this preseason for the Chiefs, earning the backup job, but has thrown just six passes in his NFL career dating back to 2007.

“I feel like I’ve gotten better every day in training camp and that’s really my main focus,’’ Palko said recently, according to Teicher. “It’s not to look at anything past just getting better every day. I know it sounds boring, but I’m not in a situation where I can really look ahead. Every opportunity you get, you’ve got to try to seize the moment and do your job.’’

Cassel missed one game due to injury last season and the Chiefs lost 31-0 in San Diego. In 2009, Cassel missed the season opener against the Ravens, a 38-24 loss. Both time, Brodie Croyle, who is now in Arizona, got the start.

Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Howard Green (95) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel (7) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

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Matt Cassel could miss opener with rib injury

dfgtewg Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Dec 2, 2011	Posted on: January 16, 2012 7:42 pm Score: -2 Matt Cassel could miss opener with rib injury [ Reply to Comment ]
hgtrerte Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Dec 2, 2011	Posted on: December 26, 2011 8:34 am Score: 14 This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
Tomly Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Oct 21, 2011	Posted on: October 23, 2011 11:09 pm Score: 22 This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
irregardless Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Apr 14, 2007	Posted on: September 8, 2011 3:42 am Score: 77 Matt Cassel could miss opener with rib injury Met4ever called them "star players." Fun stuff. [ Reply to Comment ]
marionc Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Jul 27, 2010	Posted on: September 5, 2011 2:30 pm Score: 127 Matt Cassel could miss opener with rib injury I flipped this game on to see the end and to my surprise saw Dwayne Bowe and many of the starters playing into the 3rd and 4th Q. I know you can't predict injuries, but why risk it in the last game of the preseason? I mean the D you are facing is full of guys who either A. Make a play. or B. get cut. They are going to be going all out, trying to make the big hit, the big sack, the big turnover. There was no reason and really not much of an upside to having th starters out there. Now, not only do they have to face the fact that their 1st team couldnt beat the Pack's 2nd/3rd stringers, they have to deal with an unnecessary injury to one of their most important players. Granted the hit happened in the first half, but even still.....Haley is going to have a lot of critics for the start of the season. [ Reply to Comment ]
doctorian Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 16, 2006	Posted on: September 5, 2011 10:23 am Score: 120 Matt Cassel could miss opener with rib injury Unfortunately, this may not even be the biggest news regarding the Chiefs offensive woes. The genius who manufactured injuries to Cassel and Moeaki (when they should have been watching the action) also forced 2 first quarter timeouts due inappropriate personel for plays called. Jamal Charles limped off the field twice (including the second half) and the offensive line is so thin there is concern regarding having a warm body at the o-tackle positions. [ Reply to Comment ]
joefan71 Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Jun 17, 2007	Posted on: September 5, 2011 8:36 am Score: 90 Matt Cassel could miss opener with rib injury Last season the Bills had the number three ranked passing defense but were dead last in run defense. Run Chiefs, run. [ Reply to Comment ]
Met4ever Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Apr 23, 2009	Posted on: September 5, 2011 8:21 am Score: 82 Matt Cassel could miss opener with rib injury This is just what you dont want as a player coach and fan is top see your star players go down in a meaningless exhibition game TE and QB down just great!! [ Reply to Comment ]
sky1597vw Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Aug 26, 2011	Posted on: September 5, 2011 1:52 am Score: 19 This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
robotfighter Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 28, 2010	Posted on: September 5, 2011 12:44 am Score: 61 This could be a good thing The Chiefs get to find out if thry have another quarterback who can win a game. [ Reply to Comment ]

I flipped this game on to see the end and to my surprise saw Dwayne Bowe and many of the starters playing into the 3rd and 4th Q. I know you can't predict injuries, but why risk it in the last game of the preseason? I mean the D you are facing is full of guys who either A. Make a play. or B. get cut. They are going to be going all out, trying to make the big hit, the big sack, the big turnover. There was no reason and really not much of an upside to having th starters out there. Now, not only do they have to face the fact that their 1st team couldnt beat the Pack's 2nd/3rd stringers, they have to deal with an unnecessary injury to one of their most important players.

Granted the hit happened in the first half, but even still.....Haley is going to have a lot of critics for the start of the season.

Matt Cassel could miss opener with rib injury

Unfortunately, this may not even be the biggest news regarding the Chiefs offensive woes. The genius who manufactured injuries to Cassel and Moeaki (when they should have been watching the action) also forced 2 first quarter timeouts due inappropriate personel for plays called. Jamal Charles limped off the field twice (including the second half) and the offensive line is so thin there is concern regarding having a warm body at the o-tackle positions.

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