Fast Break
NFL
Diagnosis grim for Bills’ tight end
The Buffalo Bills’ Kevin Everett sustained a “catastrophic” and life- threatening spinal-cord injury and his chances of regaining a full range of body motion are very small, an orthopedic surgeon said Monday.
“A best-case scenario is full recovery, but not likely,” Dr. Andrew Cappuccino said, one day after performing a four- hour operation on the player. “I believe there will be some permanent neurological paralysis. … A full neurological recovery was bleak, dismal.”
Cappuccino noted the 25-year-old reserve tight end did have touch sensation throughout his body and also showed signs of movement. But he cautioned that Everett’s injury remained life-threatening, saying the player is susceptible to blood clots, infection and breathing failure.
Everett is under forced sedation as doctors wait for the swelling to lessen. Cappuccino said it will take up to three days to determine the severity of the injury and the recovery process.
Cappuccino repaired a break between the third and fourth vertebrae and alleviated pressure on the spinal cord. Doctors made a bone graft and inserted a plate and four screws.
Everett was hurt in Buffalo’s season opener against Denver on Sunday when he ducked his head while driving in to tackle the Broncos’ Domenik Hixon on the second half-opening kickoff. Everett dropped face first to the ground after his helmet hit Hixon high on the left shoulder and helmet.
NFL
Sprain sidelines Hawks’ Hackett
D.J. Hackett, who had just moved into the Seahawks’ starting lineup at wide receiver, is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle.
Hackett, an inactive player on game days a year ago, played just one quarter in his new role opposite flanker Deion Branch on Sunday before he got hurt in Seattle’s 20-6 win over Tampa Bay. At the end of Hackett’s only reception, a 7-yard gain in the first quarter, his foot was caught in the turf while trying to pivot as he was hit by Brian Kelly. He did not return.
“He’s going to be down for a while. I can’t tell you for how long. Those things are very unpredictable,” coach Mike Holmgren said Monday.
Tennis
Momma Lindsay back on court
In a warmup for her first singles match in nearly a year, Lindsay Davenport earned a straight-set doubles victory at the Bali Open in Nusa Dua, Indonesia on Monday.
She and Daniela Hantuchova defeated Sophie Lefevre and Ipek Senoglu 6-3, 6-1.
The 31-year-old Davenport played doubles at the Pilot Pen last month after giving birth to a son, Jagger, in June.
“It’s not an easy first match,” she said. “But it’s not really about who I play and winning matches. It’s hard to put expectations on myself after everything that’s happened in the last year.”
Davenport plans to play next week in Beijing and train for the Australian Open.