Center Langkow is fine enough now to returned to Calgary

One day after leaving the game against the Minnesota Wild with fans being scared, the Calgary Flames center Daymond Langkow returned to team, wearing back his No. 22 Flames jersey to prepare for the next game.

The 33-year-old spent Sunday night in a St. Paul hospital following the Flames’ 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild, undergoing tests after taking a shot off the back of his neck. He seems all right now, but when he was taken off the ice on a stretcher, many were scared.

“I think everyone was just scared,” said forward David Moss, who watched as Langkow was strapped to a backboard and wheeled off the ice. “Not knowing what was going on, not seeing him move was a scary moment.”

The incident happened at 5:20 of the second period when Langkow was checked in front of the Minnesota net by Wild defenseman Greg Zanon. Unfortunately, his teammate defenseman Ian White fired a point shot while Langkow was heading down while falling forward, and the shot hit Langkow at the base of the neck in between his shoulder blades. Afterwards, the center lay still there on the ice for about ten minutes before trainers came to carry him off. All felt a great relief when they got to know that Langkow actually had feeling in all his extremities all along.

Three key defensive players not to play with Chargers against Browns

Three key defensive players did not take part in the San Diego Chargers’ Thursday practice and are very likely to miss this Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. The defensive trio includes outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, end Luis Castillo and safety Eric Weddle.

All three have some kind of injuries: Merriman has been bothered by a foot injury that has prevented him from working out for all the week; Castillo hurt his ankle in the win over the Denver Broncos on Nov. 22, and has not played or practiced in his Chargers jersey since on; and Weddle may needs the longest time to recover among the three as a knee injury may keep him out for the next two games.

Rookie linebacker Larry English would have increased playing time as he is expected to replace Merriman at the position, and Alfonso Boone will probably start at DE as replacement to Castillo. Weddle’s job is expected to be shared by Paul Oliver and Steve Gregory.

Saints DT Ellis out Sunday with sprained knee

On Sunday the New Orleans Saints won over the Miami Dolphins at 49-34 and remained unbeaten as winning the 6th straight games of the season. They made it without defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and starting nose tackle Kendrick Clancy.

Ellis was sidelined because of a sprained right knee, and he’ll undergo tests Monday. He was hurt late in the second quarter and was helped off the field. After the game, the tackle said he had to wait to see the severity of the injury after Monday’s tests but he had been putting pressure on it and trying to walk on it a little bit.

As for Clancy, he has not played since the team’s first game because of a right knee injury. So he was not supposed to be in his Saints jersey on Sunday night. What was not expected was that fullback Heath Evans also got hurt late in the game.

More Colts on list of injured players

Last month, Colts WR Sam Giguere broke a bone in his leg during practice. Last week, kicker Adam Vinatieri had his right hip repaired and offensive lineman Steve Justice had back surgery. On Saturday's minicamp practice at Franklin College, another Colts, WR Anthony Gonzalez, got a leg injury.


Gonzalez stayed on the field after hurting his leg but spent the rest of practice stretching it out. His coach Jim Caldwell said that Gonzalez is likely to be back by Tuesday or Wednesday.

It seems that the Colts is having a bad offseason. Hope the injuries won't affect their performance in coming season.