Steelers WR Burress To Have Shoulder Surgery, Out Indefinitely
PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress will have surgery on Monday to repair an injury in his right shoulder and is out indefinitely.
Coach Mike Tomlin called the damage to Burress' shoulder "significant" but declined to specify the exact nature of the injury. ESPN and NFL.com reported Burress has a torn rotator cuff.
Burress landed awkwardly while trying to haul in a pass over cornerback Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith near the end of Thursday's practice at Saint Vincent College. The 35-year-old Burress remained bent over on the ground for several moments before getting up and walking to the sideline. He was carted off the field and sported a sling over his right shoulder late Thursday evening.
The Steelers, who open the preseason on Saturday night against the New York Giants, had hoped Burress would become the big red zone target they need while tight end Heath Miller recovers from knee surgery.
Burress signed with Pittsburgh last November and caught three passes in limited action. He was battling Jerricho Cotchery, David Gilreath and rookies Markus Wheaton and Justin Brown for a spot behind starters Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.
