CINCINNATI, Ohio (AFP) — Keith Rivers, a rookie linebacker with the Cincinnati Bengals, broke his jaw in Sunday's 38-10 National Football League defeat to Pittsburgh and will likely miss the rest of the season.
Rivers, selected ninth overall in last April's NFL draft, was hurt in the first quarter on a block by Steelers receiver Hines Ward.
"Keith sustained a broken jaw," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "He will probably be lost for the year."
Ward defended his play after the game.
"I'm not going to change the way I play," he said of the block, which was within the rules and well before the whistle. There was no penalty on the play.
In Charlotte, New Orleans running back Reggie Bush suffered a left knee injury that will probably require surgery as the Saints fell 30-7 to the Panthers.
Bush was hurt just before halftime on a punt return.
"The plan is to scope it," New Orleans coach Sean Payton said of Bush's injured knee. "We'll have this week and then the bye week and we'll see where he's at.
"I'll probably know something tomorrow. Right now, we're going to have it evaluated and go from there."
Bush, 23, will miss next week's game against the San Diego Chargers, but could be back after the Saints' week off.
And there was yet another demoralizing injury for Kansas City quarterback Brodie Croyle, who sprained his left knee in a 34-10 loss to the unbeaten Tennessee Titans.
Croyle, playing his first game since separating his shoulder in the season opener, was hurt early in the second quarter after getting sandwiched between a pair of defenders while throwing a pass.
Croyle limped off the field, slammed his helmet to the field on the sideline and limped down a tunnel to the dressing room. It was the fourth injury in just a dozen career NFL games for Croyle.
The Dallas Cowboys former Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams is another player whose luck has run out, as he suffered a fractured right arm for the second time this year.
It was the first and likely last game back this season for Williams who broke the same arm in the Cowboy's second game of the season.
Dallas officials said he would miss the rest of the season.
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