Steelers’ nose tackle Chris Hoke’s career threatened by neck injury – NFL News
Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke will have neck surgery this week which not only makes playing in rest of the current season almost impossible for him but also stands threatening his rest of professional football career.
Hoke had suffered the injury in the Steelers game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 16 (2011). He has not played a single game or practice since.
Despite that the 35-year player, who has always been the defensive front for the Steelers, had not been placed on the injured reserve list his teammates think that he was unlikely for rest of the season.
"It's different, but the train rolls on," defensive end Brett Keisel said.
Hoke becomes the Steelers second player to have suffered a career threatening injury as another Steelers Aaron Smith had already been placed on the injured reserves list with neck problems of his own.
Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive lineman Steve McClendon who had expected Hoke at Tuesday's team meeting said that he was told by position coach John Mitchell that Hoke was out indefinitely.
"Hokie, he's a great guy, someone who did everything he could to help me," McClendon said. "That's why it's such a tough loss for me. I probably feel worse about it than he does. He keeps telling me to keep my head up."
Hoke joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as a rookie in 2001 and soon became as one of the most dependable backups in his side. He spent last one decade giving his team his best possible.
He was very popular among players, particularly younger players for his work ethics and light sense of humour.
The Pittsburgh Steelers who (9-3) are leading the American Football Conference (AFC) north division with the Baltimore Ravens; stand to suffer a major setback if the player is unable to make it to rest of the current season.
In case he is out for rest of his professional career the Steelers might struggle to find a right replacement for him. It will bring some difficulties to his side with current National Football League (NFL) season almost half-way
through. The side with their victory over the Cleveland Browns in their game on Thursday night in sight has almost made it through to playoffs.
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