Buffalo Loses Starting QB Loots For The Season
March 27, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release
(BUFFALO, NY) â The Buffalo Destroyers announced today QB Jeff Loots will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his right thumb (throwing hand). Loots will have surgery on Friday to place a pin in his thumb.
Loots injured his thumb late in the third quarter on Sunday on a 37 yard touchdown pass to OS Gunnard Twyner. Loots was nine of 14 for 130 two touchdowns and one interception before the injury.
"It hurts because he was a starter for a reason, he earned the job," said Destroyers coach Ron Selesky. "He had performed really well before he separated his shoulder last month and I think the last few weeks, he was trying to shake off the rust."
Loots missed two games earlier this season with a separated shoulder suffered in the Destroyers 49-45 win against Arizona on February 14. On the season, Loots is 93 of 157 for 1,233 yards 19 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Backup QB's Tim Carey and Chris Sanders will battle it out during practice this week for the starting job for Sunday's game vs. Detroit.
Carey has started two games for Buffalo filling in for Loots this season. His start against Georgia week four was his first start since 2000 with the New England Sea Wolves. In nine career starts, Carey is 161 of 273 (59%) for 2,095 yards, 37 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Sanders has started one game in his professional career, last season with the af2's Roanoke Steam. In his only start, he was named af2 Offensive Player of the Week after completing 16 of 24 passes for 211 yards and four touchdowns in his first ever Arena Football game versus Greensboro. He appeared in three games for the Steam passing 46 of 80 (58%) for 641 yards 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. He left the Steam mid-season after the Tennessee Titans offered Sanders another shot at the NFL. The Titans cut him on the final day of training camp.
Buffalo is home this Sunday, March 30 hosting the Detroit Fury at 3:00 p.m. at the HSBC Arena. Mini packs and group tickets are on sale now, call the Destroyers ticket office at 716-881-4444! Single game tickets can be purchased online at tickets.com and at all tickets.com locations including Tops Friendly Markets or by phone at 1-888-223-6000.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 27, 2003
- AFL Must-See Matchups - AFL I
- Avenger FB/LB Kevin Clemens to sign with Philadelphia Eagles - Los Angeles Avengers
- Buffalo Loses Starting QB Loots For The Season - Buffalo Destroyers
- Rush Activates Gispert, Signs Dillard - Chicago Rush
- 'Birds Return to the Road this Weekend - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- AFL Quick Hitters - AFL I
- New York Dragons Game Notes - New York Dragons
- Rampage Return Home to Face Division Rival Chicago - Grand Rapids Rampage
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
