Odrick unsure how he broke leg

DAVIE, Fla. (AP)—Jared Odrick(notes) is unsure how he broke his leg, and he’s unsure when he’ll be back in the lineup.
The Miami Dolphins’ rookie defensive end wore a cast Wednesday from just below his right knee to his toes. He was hurt in the season opener Sunday at Buffalo.
“It was not clear-cut what happened,” Odrick said. “There were a bunch of nfl throwback jerseys
guys in one area. I think somebody fell on it.”
On Tuesday, a person familiar with the injury said Odrick is expected to miss one or two games. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins generally don’t discuss injuries.
“We’re just taking it week to week,” said Odrick, the team’s first-round draft pick. “I’m not going to rush it, but at the same I’m not going to milk it, because I want to get back. … It’s a matter of me dealing with the pain.”
Odrick said he suffered only a slight fracture, although the cast Minnesota Vikings jersey
made the injury look worse.
“Don’t let it fool you,” he said. “It’s there for protection more than anything.”
Odrick has a metal plate in his leg because he broke it in October 2007 while playing for Penn State. That injury forced him to miss the rest of the season.
Also missing practice Wednesday were linebackers Channing Crowder(notes) (groin) and Ikaika Alama-Francis(notes) (illness). Crowder has been sidelined since Aug. 17.
Odrick’s most likely replacement Sunday at Minnesota is veteran Tony McDaniel(notes).
“The next guy has to step up,” coach Tony Sparano said. “These are the things our team is educated on. We call them body blows. Something like that happens, and it’s a little bit of a punch in the stomach, but you’ve got to keep going. We’re becoming a little bit bulletproof to those.”
Steelers QB Byron Leftwich(notes), who missed the season opener vs. Atlanta with a sprained left knee, practiced Wednesday on a limited basis.
Even if Leftwich is healthy enough to play Sunday at Tennessee, he will back up Dennis Dixon(notes), whom Indianapolis Colts jersey
head coach Mike Tomlin named the starter for this week. Dixon completed 18-of-28 passes for 236 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in Pittsburgh's 15-9 OT win vs. Atlanta.
The way we see it
If Leftwich can return this week, the Steelers' QB depth will be significantly improved. Pittsburgh is without starter QB Ben Roethlisberger(notes) for the next three games, and Leftwich gives the Steelers another solid short-term starting option at the position.