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L.T. May Have To Sit Out

The Associated Press

Published: January 6, 2009

SAN DIEGO - There was the strained groin in 2004, the lingering rib injury in 2005, a jaw injury in 2006, the knee injury in last year's playoffs and then his jammed right big toe earlier this season.

Now there's the groin injury that's dogging LaDainian Tomlinson to the point that he might have to sit out the San Diego Chargers' playoff game at Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The star running back isn't sure if a week's worth of treatment and rest is going to be enough to allow him to play.

"I don't know. It's tough," Tomlinson said after the Chargers' workout Monday. "This is a tough injury. I would probably venture to say it's probably the toughest of my career. We'll see what happens."

The injury, sustained in the final regular-season game, robbed Tomlinson of his burst and shiftiness to the point that he came out of Saturday night's 23-17 overtime wild-card win against Indianapolis after scoring on a 3-yard run in the second quarter.

Speedy little Darren Sproles took over and had 328 all-purpose yards, including the winning 22-yard touchdown run.

The Chargers say Tomlinson has a strained groin. There have been reports he has a detached tendon.

L.T. chose not to clarify the situation.

"I won't because it is a medical issue and different doctors have their opinions," he said. "I'll leave it at that."

BIZARRE REMATCH: The finish to the Chargers-Steelers game was strange enough, with the first 11-10 score in NFL history and Troy Polamalu stripped of a last-play defensive touchdown by an officiating error.

This may be even stranger: The Chargers, 4-8 with a month left in the season, are returning to Pittsburgh for a rematch in an AFC divisional playoff game Sunday.

The Steelers get a nearly instant replay against the Chargers, and hope it goes more smoothly than the messed-up replay.

QB Ben Roethlisberger practiced Monday for the first time since sustaining a concussion late in the second quarter of a meaningless 31-0 win against Cleveland on Dec. 28. He has had ongoing headaches, but until Monday didn't pass the memory tests given players who receive a concussion; he took three or four such tests last week.

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