VIDEO UPDATE:
Here is video of the hit Slaton takes that we believe could possibly have re-injured his neck during the Texans first pre-season game against the Arizona Cardinals. The video gives a much better sense of the severity of the collision.
Steve Slaton May Have Re-injured His Neck Against Arizona
Pre-season games are useful as a way for young players to get game experience and to allow the front office to make decisions about some of the players at the bottom of the depth chart. Unfortunately, pre-season games are also full contact football and with that comes injuries. It’s inevitable. Rookie running back Ben Tate went down with a broken ankle that will require surgery. Kubiak announced this afternoon that Tate will be placed on the Injured Reserve list, ending his season. The Texans had placed heavy expectations on Tate’s season and he was an important part of the improved talent and depth at RB for the Texans. Tate, along with 2nd year RB Arian Foster and 3rd year rookie fenom, Steve Slaton, were looking like a very deep RB stable for Houston.
Now that Tate is lost for the season, Texans fans have shifted their hopes to the relatively unknown Foster and Steve Slaton to carry the load. Foster looked terrific in the final two games last year (39 carries and 216 yards) and continued to impress in the week one pre-season game against Arizona. Steve Slaton returned to his rookie weight and appears to have regained the quickness from his sensational rookie year. Concerns about Slaton are largely due to his recovery from cervical fusion surgery to correct what Slaton described as a pinched nerve (actually, it is a herniated disk) that caused numbness in his right arm and was a factor in Slaton’s seven fumbles in 2009. The surgery should have corrected the numbness, however, there is very little data available about the success rate of recovery from fusion surgery, because it is often associated with other spinal injuries like narrowing of the spine that can force early retirement. A major unknown with this surgery and the subsequent return to full contact is how will the fused vertebrae respond to the violent collisions associated with an NFL running back?
Slaton got his first test on Saturday and all appeared well. He played well and appeared to finish without any injury. He did fumble on the goal line (something have become all to familiar with as Texans fans.) Was it a lack of focus on his part? Does he need to carry a weighted purple ball? No. The issue may be much more serious. In fact, Texans fans, we may be in serious trouble at running back. Slaton could be done. He could be done for good.
On a 4th and 1 from the [yd line] yard line, Dan Orlovsky ran a QB sneak for a first down and the Texans continued on an extended drive that would invetiably end with Slaton’s fumble at the goal line. The QB sneak appeared to be executed properly without any issues or injuries. Texans Bull Blog watched and re-watched and we’ve found what may appear to be a significant trauma to #20’s neck followed by signs of potential numbness to his right hand.
OBSERVE:
Slaton is the lone RB on a QB sneak play.
The Texans are lined up in a single back set. Arizona is crowding the line preparing for the short yardage play.
Arz LB Brown keys on Slaton
As the play unfolds the Cardinals attack the line of scrimmage and attempt to stop the (quite impressive) surge from the Texans interior line. All of the defensive linemen converge on Dan Orlovsky exept 2nd year LB Cody Brown, #50. Brown is keyed on the RB. As Slaton runs toward the line casually (not selling the run well I might add), Brown takes aim at him and lowers his shoulder into the unsuspecting Slaton.
click “continue reading” for further images of the collision and more…
As Brown collides with Slaton the running back’s head is snapped back violently.
Collision
He appears to be fine and two plays later has a nice run over the left side for an eight yard gain. Later in the drive, he takes an awkward angle and another violent hit near his neck is landed.
Second Collision to the neck.
Then on 3rd and goal from the one, he leaps for the goal line with the ball in his right hand and collides with Leach’s back. The ball comes flying out and Slaton falls to the grass. As he is getting up you can see what appears to be him wincing his right hand (as if to regain feeling in it).
wincing hand
It could be perceived that he is holding his right arm limp as he jogs off the field defeated.
Favoring right arm.
Favoring right arm 02
Favoring right arm 03
Favoring right arm 04
Now, this could all be incorrect and we have nothing to go on other than what we’re told by the Texans (who are less than forthcoming with publicizing injuries). As you re-watch that collision and the events that unfold afterwards it’s certainly reasonable to think he could have re-injured his neck. He did not return to the game (though, due to the timing, he probably was not scheduled to anyway)
If Slaton is still dealing with numbness in his right arm or suffered a reinjury to that area, we fear his season and perhaps his career could be in jeopardy. Hopefully, he will participate fully in the practices versus the Saints this week, play well in the game, and show no ill signs. Hopefully he goes on to have an excellent season, capped off by winning MVP of the Superbowl.
pretty compelling evidence, hope it’s not so…great work
Ronny,
I’d love to be wrong about this as well. It could be nothing but it’s certainly enough to make you wonder about his ability to take the pounding required of him. Stay tuned to Texans Bull Blog and thanks for your comment.
Wow dude! The thing with him checking feeling in his hand coming up from the ground makes it hard to not believe. Maybe it was just him being sure everything was alright. It was his first game back from injury so it could be just him being tentative.
We are hopeful that we can get some video up later tonight. We found one other possibility in regards to the hand-rubbing after the play. After he fumbles, he is still upright and behind the pile when an Arizona player jumps up to hit him. Slaton’s hand is near and possibly caught in the player’s mask. So, it could be that he hit his hand/caught his hand awkwardly on the mask and that was the reason for his gestures. Just looking for other possibilities.
[...] posts:Evidence: Slaton May Have Re-injured Neck Against Cardinals VIDEO UPDATE: Here is video of the hit [...]
I had cervical disc replacement last September. My procedure was different than Steve’s in that they replaced my herniated disc with a prosthetic device rather than fusing two vertebrae together. My surgery was completely successful and I’ve made a full recovery. While my surgery was different, I strongly suspect that my pre-surgery symptoms are pretty much exactly the same as what Steve was going through. Rather than neck pain as you might think, I had extreme, persistent pain that was focused near my right shoulder blade and radiated down my right arm. Additionally, I had numbness and tingling in my right hand. As I finally became aware of the diagnosis that I had a herniated cervical disc (and as I awaited my surgery) it was strange knowing that while my shoulder and arm were in extreme pain, and I had this numbness in my hand, the injury itself was NOT in any of the places that actually hurt.
To my point though…the numbness I had in my right hand was more of a vague tingling kind of thing. I still had full sensation and was able to grasp and hold any item firmly and strongly while still truly feeling it. I fully believe that Steve’s fumbling problems have absolutely nothing to do with the numbness factor, and everything to do with the excruciating agony associated with the injury…this just CANNOT be understated. At times, the pain for me was absolutely debilitating, and I can’t imagine how Steve played through the whole season with that…the dude’s a true warrior in my book. Anyway, just some thoughts from someone who’s had the same injury…hope it’s helpful & GO TEXANS!
First of all, I am sorry to hear about what your back problems and resulting surgery. Once doctors begin messing with bones during surgery, it really ramps up the post-operative pain. My only surgical experience has been on my knees. I can’t imagine spinal surgery.
Second, I appreciate your assistance regarding this issue. Barrett and I are certainly not experts and we have no inside source. We are just attempting to explain the struggles Steve is having and observing indications of pain, discomfort. Thanks again for your comments and we all hope Slaton can fully recover and resume is excellent NFL career.
[...] fumbling problem. By the way, if you missed it – check out the newest Texans fanblog, Texans Bull Blog for an interesting look at Slaton from the Cardinals [...]
[...] Steve Slaton’s spine- Watch to see if he lowers his shoulder on contact or if he runs straight up, exposing the ball. [...]