The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/751827
DECEMBER 2016 THE WOLVERINE 71 BY CHRIS BALAS J ake Long might have to call it a career after his latest injury — to his Achilles' tendon, suffered Nov. 13 — proved serious. He was carted off near the end of Minnesota's 26‑20 loss to the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field, and Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer confirmed the left foot injury was a likely season ender. Long signed with the Vikings in October after seeing limited action with Atlanta last season. He started three games at left tackle after the team suffered a number of offensive line injuries. The 31‑year‑old Long, the 2008 No. 1 overall pick (Miami Dolphins), has seen his career derailed by in‑ juries. He's suffered two tears of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and his injury history pre‑ vented the Baltimore Ravens from signing him in the offseason when he declined to sign an injury waiver. Long was in only his fourth game with the Vikings and had been im‑ proving when he went down. "We were in St. Louis together and both went through some inju‑ ries there, and I know how difficult that is," Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford told the Associated Press. "He was excited just to be back play‑ ing and starting. For him to get in‑ jured, obviously it's really tough." Long is the third Vikings tackle to go on injured reserve this season, joining Matt Kalil and Andre Smith. FORMER WOLVERINES ON NFL ROSTERS Through Nov. 14 • Richard Ash (Played at U-M from 2010-13), DT, Jacksonville Jaguars: Signed to the 2-7 Jaguars' practice squad for the second straight year and was promoted to the active roster in week eight … Played in one game and registered four tackles (one solo) … Graduated from U-M and spent his fifth-year senior campaign at Western Michigan. • Brennen Beyer (2011-14), DE, Baltimore Ravens: Signed to 5-4 Bal- timore's practice squad for the second straight year. • Tom Brady (1996-99), QB, New England Patriots: Connected on 121 of 166 passes (72.9 percent) for 1,635 yards with 12 touchdowns and one pick in five games after returning from a four-game suspension resulting from the Deflategate investigation … The Pa- triots are 7-2 overall and 4-1 with him in the lineup … Led the league in passer rating (125.5), was second in passing yards per game (327) and was tied for 15th in touchdowns despite missing the four games. • Alan Branch (2004-06, DT, New England Patriots: Star ted all nine games in which he's appeared for 7-2 New England … Registered 30 tack- les (17 solo), one sack and one forced fumble. • Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Seattle Seahawks: Recorded 29 tackles (15 solo), 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble in eight games (three starts) for 6-2-1 Seattle, missing one contest with an injury … Ranked seventh in the NFL in sacks. • Blake Countess (2011-14), DB, Los Angeles Rams: Cut by Philadelphia Sept. 3 and signed to the 4-5 Rams' practice squad Sept. 4 … Graduated from Michigan and spent his fifth-year senior season at Auburn. • Devin Funchess (2012-14), WR, Carolina Panthers: Started four of nine games and hauled in 14 receptions for 234 yards and three touchdowns for 3-6 Carolina. • Graham Glasgow (2012-15), OG, Detroit Lions: Started four games and played in eight for the 5-4 Lions during his rookie year. • Brandon Graham (2006-09), LB, MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Another Injury Derails Jake Long's Comeback Long, a former No. 1 overall pick who played for the Dolphins, Rams and Falcons before signing with the Vikings, suffered an Achilles' tendon injury Nov. 13 that could force him to call it a career. PHOTO COURTESY RAMS