November 23, 2009 4:53pm -
Broncos safety Brian Dawkins left last Sunday's against Chargers with a possible neck injury.
The exact time of the injury isn't completely clear, but it's believed to have occurred in the second quarter after Dawkins tackled Chargers running back, Ladanian Tomlinson, on a third-down play.
During the game Dawkins' neck and shoulder area were stretched on the sidelines and in the locker room.
Sources told Fox31's Josina Anderson that Dawkins' was re-examined by an orthopedic surgeon after the game. About 20 minutes thereafter, Dawkins was evaluated by a neurosurgeon who took the veteran player through a series of range-of-motion tests to determine if any flexibility was comprised in the examined area on either side of Dawkins' body.
According to sources the initial assessment of the neurosurgeon was that Dawkins may have a pinch nerve.
Subsequent x-rays of his cervical area showed that Dawkins did not have any dislocated or any subluxation of these bones as well.
Anderson was also told that Dawkins did not overtly complain of pain during the various examinations after the game, but we also know Dawkins is a tough player.
Dawkins was originally scheduled for a 7am MRI on Monday.
The MRI is being done in part to determine if any of the nerves in the examined area that go through the spinal process are inflamed, and to what degree.
Dawkins could potentially play Thursday against the Giants if any inflammation is of a low degree, a high degree of inflammation could potentially be career threatening.
This particular MRI procedure can take about an hour.
Updates are forthcoming
The exact time of the injury isn't completely clear, but it's believed to have occurred in the second quarter after Dawkins tackled Chargers running back, Ladanian Tomlinson, on a third-down play.
During the game Dawkins' neck and shoulder area were stretched on the sidelines and in the locker room.
Sources told Fox31's Josina Anderson that Dawkins' was re-examined by an orthopedic surgeon after the game. About 20 minutes thereafter, Dawkins was evaluated by a neurosurgeon who took the veteran player through a series of range-of-motion tests to determine if any flexibility was comprised in the examined area on either side of Dawkins' body.
According to sources the initial assessment of the neurosurgeon was that Dawkins may have a pinch nerve.
Subsequent x-rays of his cervical area showed that Dawkins did not have any dislocated or any subluxation of these bones as well.
Anderson was also told that Dawkins did not overtly complain of pain during the various examinations after the game, but we also know Dawkins is a tough player.
Dawkins was originally scheduled for a 7am MRI on Monday.
The MRI is being done in part to determine if any of the nerves in the examined area that go through the spinal process are inflamed, and to what degree.
Dawkins could potentially play Thursday against the Giants if any inflammation is of a low degree, a high degree of inflammation could potentially be career threatening.
This particular MRI procedure can take about an hour.
Updates are forthcoming
