Bears Notes: Willie Young Suffers Achilles Injury
By Dan Durkin-
CHICAGO (CBS) -- In what's been a very forgettable year overall, the play of defensive end Willie Young has been a major bright spot for the Bears defense.
Since signing with the Bears as a free agent, Young earned the right to be on the field, particularly to rush the passer. Heading into today's game, Young's 10 sacks were a career high. Unfortunately for Young, his season is done and may be in line for a long rehab.
On the first drive of the third quarter, Young was helped off the field by trainers, as he was unable to put any pressure on his left leg. It was reported that Young suffered an Achilles injury and was out for the game.
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Chicago coach Marc Trestman already confirmed that Young will be out for next week's game against the Vikings and reading between the lines, it seems like the Bears are preparing for the worst case scenario.
"He's got an Achilles (injury)," Trestman said. "It's an injury that is going to take some time. Certainly he won't be ready to play this week."
Trestman wouldn't confirm that it was ruptured, and when asked if he would characterize it as a "serious" injury, Trestman replied, "I don't know many that are not serious."
Tough blow for the Bears defense and an even tougher blow for Young who has outperformed expectations and proven to be one of the bigger free-agent bargains.
Lions center Dominic Raiola addresses stomping Ego Ferguson
Just a few plays after Young left the field, fellow defensive lineman Ego Ferguson left the field favoring his right ankle. Replays weren't shown at the field, but videos soon surfaced of Raiola clearly, intentionally stomping on Ferguson's right leg.
Raiola, a notoriously dirty player, hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt. So far this season, he was fined $10,000 for illegally clubbing New England Patriots defensive tackle Zach Moore in the head and had a cut block from the same game reviewed by the league.
Even so, Raiola was defiant in the locker room.
"I was kind of stumbling," Raiola said. "It was totally unintentional. I talked to Ego at the end of the game. Everything was cool."
Ferguson didn't seem to think things were so cool after the game.
"Y'all saw the play," Ferguson said. "I don't have to explain that. You need to stay in between the whistles."
Whatever Raiola was saying to Ferguson after the game didn't resonate.
"None of that matters," Ferguson said. "We all saw the play. You can't take back what happened with that play. That's the end of that."
Well, it's likely not the end of that, as Raiola is nearly certain to be fined -- if not more severely punished -- by the league this week.
