Jaguars' Stewart likely out for year
Surgery shows knee injury to be partial tear of left ACL
Posted: Tuesday September 22, 1998 08:03 PM
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Stewart injured the knee when he was tackled by linebacker Peter Boulware during Sunday's 24-10 win over the Ravens Andy Lyons/Allsport |
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- Jacksonville Jaguars
running back James
Stewart has a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his
left knee and will likely miss the rest of the season.
After an MRI taken Monday proved inconclusive, a diagnostic arthroscopy
performed this morning revealed a significant partial tear of the ACL.
Stewart, who rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the Jaguars' first
two games, will find out soon a decision on further treatment and
rehabilitation.
"I'm disappointed for James and his family," said Jaguars coach Tom
Coughlin. "He was off to a great start for the 1998 season. While this is
news we did not want to hear, our players and staff wish James a speedy and
complete recovery. While this is a setback, we will regroup and go forward
with renewed purpose."
Stewart injured the knee when he was tackled by linebacker Peter Boulware on the
Jaguars' third offensive play in Sunday's 24-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Rookie Fred Taylor, the
ninth overall pick in the 1998 draft, replaced Taylor and rushed for a
franchise-record 128 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown.
The Jaguars signed Stewart to a two-year contract worth $3.2 million before
the start of the preseason. He rushed for 115 yards on 26 carries in the
season-opening win at Chicago and gained 103 yards on 26 carries in the win
over Kansas City, becoming the first Jaguar to post consecutive 100-yard
games.
The 26-year-old Stewart was a first-round pick in the club's inaugural
season of 1995 and holds club records for rushing yards (2,020) and
touchdowns (24).
Stewart became the first player in 24 years to rush for five touchdowns in
a game in a 38-21 win over Philadelphia last October 12.
The Jaguars are off to a 3-0 start for the second straight season and lead
the Pittsburgh
Steelers (2-1) by one game in the AFC Central.
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