'Severe' knee injury ends season for Pats star Harrison
Say goodbye to Rodney Harrison.
The New England Patriots' star safety will miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury Sunday that his agent, Steve Feldman, characterized as "severe."
Results of an MRI taken Monday, Feldman said, revealed that Harrison suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
"He's done," said Feldman, who spoke to his client Monday afternoon. "His season is over."
Harrison was hurt when Pittsburgh receiver Cedrick Wilson rolled into his left leg midway through the first quarter of Sunday's game. Guss Scott, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, replaced Harrison.
Harrison is expected to undergo surgery, but not for four to six weeks, Feldman said.
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| The Pats will miss the physical style of Rodney Harrison, one of the team's defensive leaders. (Getty Images) |
Harrison bows out before New England faces his former team, the San Diego Chargers this Sunday. It would have been his first game against the Chargers since the club released him following the 2002 season.
Harrison, 32, has been one of the key defensive leaders, helping New England win the past two Super Bowls.
"I feel so bad because he's one of the hardest working guys on the team," linebacker Willie McGinest said Monday. "He puts everything into this game. He plays it with passion."
Patriots coach Bill Belichick refused to disclose anything on Harrison or tackle Matt Light, who left Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Sunday with a cast on his right leg.
"We'll do the injury report on Wednesday," Belichick said.
Harrison kept the patched-up secondary together last season. Now that task falls to free safety Eugene Wilson, a starter since the Patriots drafted him in 2003 out of Illinois.
"Of course, Rodney was the leader back in the secondary, and now I'm going to have to take on that," Wilson said. "He's like a big brother to me out there. He's helped me along since I've been here."
The Patriots played Sunday without three injured defensive backs: cornerbacks Tyrone Poole and Randall Gay and safety James Sanders. Cornerback Duane Starks was hurt on Pittsburgh's first series, but returned later in the game.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
