Bills’ Everett released from rehab
Bills tight end Kevin Everett has been released from a Houston hospital to resume his next phase of rehab, 10 weeks since sustaining a severe spinal cord injury.
“While this news is a significant milestone for me, I still have a long journey to full recovery,” Everett said in a statement released Sunday by Houston’s Memorial Hermann/TIRR, where the player spent the past two months in rehab.
It was unclear when this week he was released, but Everett will continue his rehab at the facility as an outpatient.
“I was fortunate to meet many extraordinary people at Memorial Hermann/TIRR, many who have suffered the same or similar injury as myself, many of whom I now consider friends,” Everett said. “Their courage and determination inspired me to fight every day for recovery of my ability to walk.”
Everett returned to his home in Houston in time to watch the Bills host the New England Patriots on Sunday night.
Everett was hurt while covering a kickoff in Buffalo’s season opener against Denver on Sept. 9. He has made significant progress since he was carried off the field paralyzed from the neck down, and after doctors initially feared he’d never walk again.
Besides moving his arms and legs, Everett has developed enough strength to hold himself up briefly on a walker, and has also been using his feet to push himself around in a wheelchair.
McNabb leaves game early
Donovan McNabb was knocked out in the second quarter against Miami with a sprained right ankle, nearly a full year after the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback ended his season with a torn knee ligament.
McNabb, who once finished a game on a broken right ankle, threw the ball away before he was dragged down from behind by Dolphins cornerback Michael Lehan on a blitz. McNabb hobbled off the field and was taken to the locker room for X-rays, which were negative.
Following the game, McNabb walked to the podium without a noticeable limp and said he had some soreness. McNabb also had a bandage on his throwing hand and said he jammed his thumb on a different play.
“I’m going to make sure I’m right to get back out there and do the things I’m used to doing,” he said.
McNabb came out of the tunnel after halftime in full uniform and pads and did some light jogging down the sideline. Feeley, who took McNabb’s place with the Eagles trailing 7-3, started the second half.
No quarterback controversy, though. Eagles coach Andy Reid said a healthy McNabb would be the quarterback next week against New England.
“If Donovan’s healthy, he’s the quarterback,” Reid said.
•The Freak took a seat on the bench.
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jevon Kearse was inactive for the Eagles’ game against the Dolphins.
Coach Andy Reid indicated Friday that Kearse would sit out to rest his knee and return later in the season.