Plaxico Burress may have to retire after severe shoulder injury
Pittsburgh receiver Plaxico Burress might have to call it a career after suffering a severe shoulder injury while diving for a ball in Thursday’s practice.
According to multiple reports, all citing unnamed team and player sources, Burress suffered a torn rotator cuff when he hit the ground with his arms extended. He was carted off the field. The Steelers announced Friday that he will undergo shoulder surgery on Monday.
Burress, who turns 36 next week, played in four games for Pittsburgh last season after signing with the team in November. He signed another one-year deal with the team in March.
Burress was the eighth overall pick in 2000 by Pittsburgh, and spent his first five seasons with the Steelers. In 11 seasons with the Steelers, New York Giants and Jets, he has 553 catches for 8,499 yards and 64 touchdowns. He missed the 2009 and 2010 seasons after he accidentally shot himself in the leg and was jailed on weapons charges.
The 6-foot-5 receiver had high hopes for this season, telling the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in June: “I know I can still play, I know I can dominate in the red zone. Just go out and play at a high percentage. In those one-on-one opportunities, just succeed at a high rate. I know I can. Being out there last year, I drew double coverage in the red zone without hardly playing, I think teams will have to respect that.”
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