Forbes Out For Season; Second DS Lost For Year

June 2, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


WARNING: Playing DS for the Quad City Steamwheelers is not good for your health. That's what the sign should almost read for whomever the next DS is that will take over for recently injured DS Matt Forbes.

Forbes, who is in his rookie season with the ‘Wheelers, went out of last Saturday's game late in the first quarter. He was escorted off the field and did not return to the game. The only return that he made was to the bench in crutches and in street clothes.

On a kickoff return, Forbes was on his way back to block when he tore his medial collateral ligament (MCL). The tear, which head trainer Craig Wainwright described as a Grade 3 tear, or a complete tear, will keep him out for at least six to eight weeks. Forbes had an MRI earlier today and Dr. Tuvi Mendel will evaluate the results and know more tomorrow.

Wainwright said that the MRI would show if there is any further damage to his knee. The thing that he said that they would look for most is cartilage damage, which would keep Forbes out longer.

Forbes is not the only DS to go out however, in the Steamwheelers second game, DS Eric Thigpen left in the third quarter of the game against Tennessee Valley and was carried off the field with a torn ACL, that injury will keep Thigpen out until at least the start of next season.

After last week's combination of WR/DB Tim Dodge and WR/LB Jeff Hewitt sharing Forbes' position Ingold is left with a few decisions to make and will do so this week.

"Before last Saturday's game, Hewitt had never taken a snap at the DS position, then he comes in and makes three interceptions and has five pass deflections," Ingold said. "Tim Dodge was huge in that win too.

Right now the Steamwheelers are a little banged up at the DS position, with Shawn Orr and Lee Wiggins both battling injuries and did not make the trip to Cincinnati this past weekend. All of this leaving Ingold with a few moves to make before next Saturday's game.

The ‘Wheelers will be back in action this Saturday night at The MARK of the Quad Cities as they will take on the Cincinnati Swarm at 7:30 p.m. Good seats are still available and can be purchased at The MARK box office or through TicketMaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 563.326.1111.



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