Article by Michael Battaglia
It became difficult to remember that a game was still being played toward the end of the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s prime time NFC match up between the first-place Arizona Cardinals and the first-place Minnesota Vikings.
With the host Cardinals up 17 points on the Vikings and just under seven minutes in regulation, Vikings star middle linebacker E.J. Henderson attempted to make a wild tackle on Cardinals running back Tim Hightower when Henderson rolled awkwardly and took a hard fall.
Quick Profile
E.J. Henderson 6’1″ 245 lbs. Age: 29 Born: Fort Campbell, KY
Headshot Photo Credit: ESPN
In doing so Henderson fractured his femur, or broke his leg. It was a vicious play that is difficult to watch, similar to the Portland Trailblazers’ center Greg Oden injury from earlier in the week.
Here is a Youtube video of the injury courtesy of Youtube user “shaqtakesatumble.”
The long-haired man in the cart when Henderson was carted off the field is Henderson’s brother, Erin, who was on the practice squad for the Vikings and travels with the team.
The devastating injury caused Henderson to writhe in pain on the field while other players looked on, some taking a knee, while Henderson was treated to by the Vikings medical staff.
It was a “rough break” according to Al Michaels, the play-by-play commentator for NBC, the station that regularly broadcasts Sunday Night Football.
Henderson is currently the team leader in tackes with 83 which is 12 more than any other player. He has two sacks and has played in all games so far this year.
It will be nice to see Henderson back on the field next season, hopefully in good condition. He is an asset to the Vikings offense and surely will be missed for the rest of this year.
Get well, E.J.
Tags: al michaels, arizona cardinals, ej henderson, greg oden, minnesota vikings, nbc, nfc, nfl, portland trailblazers, snf, sunday night football, tim hightower, youtube
