Injury affects Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark chances for playing in NFL postseason – NFL News
The Pittsburgh Steelers have expressed concerns about the health of their safety Ryan Clark saying that the player condition can be problematic further in case he joins the squad for their game against the Broncos this weekend.
A meeting between the player and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin reportedly held on Monday ended on the decision that Clark will sit out the team’s next game, as advised by the coach and his other teammates.
"Looking at data and all the variables he is at more risk, so we're not going to play him," Tomlin said. "It's just that simple."
The coach conclusion came inspite of Clark’s claim that he was ready to play and would still be looking for an opportunity to make it to his side for their game in Denver.
"I mean, everybody knows I want to play and I would have played," he said. "I talked to my doctors and we actually had a plan in place for me to play. All things pointed to me going until (Tomlin) told me I can't. He said he wouldn't have let his son play
and so I'm not playing either."
He however also went on thank the Steelers for their concerns about his health and all the support he got from his teammates during all this time.
"Well I guess we all know now. I will not be playing. Glad that it's out now. So no more questions to ask. Thanks for your concern!" he tweeted after the meeting with his coach.
Clark has sickle cell trait and there are fears that his condition can deteriorate in the climate of Denver with the match fever expected to be on high pitch.
These fears have come out in the context of his condition in 2007, which got worse and out of control in the match hype.
He had also been made to sit out a game in the season 2009 and another preseason game last year for the same condition.
Almost all members of the Steelers team have advised him again to miss their next game and work on his recovery before joining them for rest of the season.
The Steelers have reached the playoff through a wild card chance after they beat the Cleveland Browns in the last game of the regular season of the National Football League (NFL).
The side is already uncomfortable with the delayed recovery of their quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from an ankle injury. It is unclear yet how much the absence of Clark will affect their performance next week.
In any scenario the team is hopeful of going after a win in the game, improving their chances to go through the postseason successfully.
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