http://www.dallasdesperados.com/news.cfm?id=772167D4-00B7-C7DE-2964E2E5D087AFE3
Mark Norris - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
March 3, 2008 6:10 PM
IRVING, Texas - Upon further review, Desperados quarterback Clint Dolezel suffered a separated shoulder in Saturday's season-opening victory over Georgia and is likely to be out four to six weeks.
The injury is more serious to the quarterback's throwing shoulder than originally diagnosed immediately after the game when there was some thought he might miss only a minimum of two weeks.
Dolezel has a third-degree separation, which means tendons have been torn in his right shoulder, and the medium-grade separation is slightly more serious than the originally-diagnosed second-degree separation. The veteran said time will heal the injury enough for him to return this season but that he likely will require off-season surgery to correct any other damage.
"It's worse than they thought," said Dolezel, who had a doctor's appointment first thing Monday morning. "The X-rays looked worse than they did in Atlanta."
Dolezel and doctors agreed the best way for him to recover is to start using the shoulder as soon as possible. When Dolezel does get back on the field, he will have to wear some type of extra padding for protection.
Dolezel suffered the injury when he was blindsided during the fourth quarter of Saturday's game at Georgia. Force defensive lineman Jermaine Smith hit Dolezel coming from his left side, causing the quarterback to land on his right shoulder with his arm stretched out.
Despite the hit, Dolezel finished the game and led the Desperados to a 51-41 season-opening victory over the only team to beat Dallas during last year's regular season.
But for now, Dolezel will be holding a clipboard on the sideline and serving solely as the team's offensive coordinator, now calling the plays for backup quarterback Chris Sanders.
This is not a role the veteran quarterback is accustomed to, especially since he began the dual role of quarterbacking and coordinating offenses. Injuries have cost Dolezel only seven games in 13 AFL seasons, and four games previously had been his longest inactive stretch, occurring during the 2005 season with the Las Vegas Gladiators.
"Right now it's not that bad but as soon as reality sets in I know I'll be ready to get back," said Dolezel, who had made his 44th consecutive start Saturday in Atlanta.
That streak will be snapped on Friday, which means Sanders, the team's recently acquired backup who played his high school ball at suburban Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus and two years at SMU, will be taking the reins of the offense in the home-opener against Columbus (0-1) at American Airlines Center (7:30 p.m. CST).
The Destroyers eliminated Dallas in the second round of the AFL playoffs last season.
Sanders, 30 and in his fifth AFL season, is six inches shorter than Dolezel but more athletic when it comes to moving around in the pocket if necessary.
"The fact that Chris performed capably in the scrimmages gives us encouragement," McClay said.
Dolezel said Sanders is a better thrower in the flats since he puts more of an arc on his throws but that he plans to use the same set of plays for Sanders he would have call for himself, only with minor tweaks.
