Hines Ward Injury Update

Pittsburgh Steeler wider receiver Hines Ward left the AFC Championship game Sunday night with a sprained MCL in his right knee. Team officials passed through the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Ward is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

Hines Ward's Previous Injuries

During the 2007 season, Ward played on torn MCL and PCLs. Following the season, Ward had surgery to repair the torn ligaments, but was regularly excused from Wednesday practices during this year's regular season in order to minimize the impact on the repaired ligaments to keep him healthy. Ward will have an additional week to recover from the current sprain before Pittsburgh takes on the Arizona Cardinals in the 2009 Super Bowl. What is unknown is how the current injury will impact Ward's approach to playing in the Super Bowl and if there is concern for a catastrophic failure of the previously repaired knee ligaments. Ward did publicly tell the press that the injury was minor--even though he did not return to the AFC championship game against the Ravens--and would be no impact to his performance in the Super Bowl.

Hines Ward's Career

Ward has been playing as the Pittsburgh Steelers' No. 1 wide reciever. Against the Ravens, he had 3 catches for 55 yards before having to leave the game. Hines Ward was initially drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft and was a four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection (from 2001-2004). In the same timeframe, he had four consecutive 1,000 yard seasons which he almost extended through 2005 until he sat out a game for injury. In 2005, Ward became the Steeler all-time leading receiver with his 538th reception. More Notably, Hines Ward is known as an outstanding post-season performer, with 57 catches for 761 yards and 8 touchdowns. In the 2006 Superbowl he was named the MVP in the Steelers 21-10 victory. This past December, Ward caught his 800th career reception and obtained his first 1,000 yard season since 2004 finishing the regular season with 81 catches for 1043 yards and 7 TDs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers Without Hines Ward

Hines Ward has been the number one receiver at Pittsburgh for a long time. When Limas Sweed replaced him after the injury occurred against the Ravens, the offensive makeup of the Steelers changed significantly. Sweed had a solid game against Baltimore with two catches for 20 yards, but will have to be ready to play against Arizona if Ward's MRI turns out negative this week.