San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trent Dilfer left Sunday’s 27-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings with a concussion after taking a hard hit shortly before halftime.
Third-teamer Shaun Hill took over in the second half with San Francisco trailing 27-0.
Dilfer, a 14th-year pro who has been leading the 49ers’ struggling offense in Alex Smith’s absence, scrambled in an attempt to pick up a first down in the final minute of the first half. Backup cornerback Charles Gordon made the tackle by driving his left shoulder into Dilfer’s helmet.
Dilfer stayed on the turf for at least four minutes, and players from both teams gathered around him. Dilfer, who fell a few inches short of the first down, eventually walked gingerly to the sideline and sat on the bench.
He left the field on a cart moments after both teams headed to the locker room.
Buffalo safety George Wilson was taken to the hospital after he broke two ribs in the Bills’ 38-17 victory over Miami.
Wilson, a converted receiver, was injured on a kick return in the first quarter. He came back for a couple of defensive plays, but left in the second quarter. Coach Dick Jauron said Wilson went to the hospital as a precautionary measure.
Jauron didn’t know how long Wilson might be out.
Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor was escorted to the locker room after hurting his left ankle near the end of the first quarter. The 2006 Defensive Player of the Year returned in the second quarter.
Taylor was hurt while pressuring Bills quarterback Trent Edwards. Taylor’s feet got twisted up with Edwards’ just after the quarterback got off a pass.
San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers left the Chargers’ game against the Tennessee Titans with a left knee sprain, then returned to start the second half and lead them to a comeback 23-17 win in overtime.
The quarterback limped off the field after taking a blow from defensive end Antwan Odom in the second quarter. Rivers handed the ball to LaDainian Tomlinson, rolled out and was clipped to the ground. He nearly fell on his way to the sideline.
Rivers headed to the locker room and was replaced by Billy Volek. But he was back for San Diego’s opening series of the third quarter wearing a brace.
Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman left the game in the second quarter with a left knee injury and didn’t return.
San Diego added to its slew of injuries when fullback Lorenzo Neal was carted off the field for X-rays on his right leg in the fourth quarter.
Titans left guard Jacob Bell will undergo tests for what team officials called a “burner,” a neck injury resulting in tingling or burning.
Lions punt returner Troy Walters walked off the field with a concussion in Detroit’s 28-27 loss to Dallas and did not return.
The side of Walters’ helmet slammed against the turf in the first quarter when Cowboys safety Patrick Watkins threw him down on a 2-yard return. Players on both teams immediately started to wave their arms, signaling for help from the sidelines, and kneeled in a circle around him.
Eventually, Detroit’s training staff helped Walters sit up after he was able to move his legs. With some assistance, he walked off the field.
Raiders quarterback Josh McCown, starting in place of the injured Daunte Culpepper, woke up with a stomach virus and took intravenous fluids before Oakland’s 38-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He was 7-of-15 for 110 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before being replaced by Andrew Walter early in the fourth quarter.
Raiders running back Justin Fargas also left the game in the fourth quarter with a bruised rib. He had only 57 yards on 15 carries.
Packers linebacker Nick Barnett was poked in the eye but returned. Left tackle Chad Clifton came back in after being kicked in the shin but later left the game after injuring his shoulder.
Jacksonville Jaguars three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, returning from a four-game suspension for violating the league’s steroid and related substances policy, injured his right ankle in the third quarter of a 37-6 win over the Carolina Panthers and did not return.
Already playing with a backup left guard and quarterback, the Texans relied on undrafted rookie running back Darius Walker for most of their 28-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Ron Dayne struggling with a tender ankle after the first drive.
Bucs coach Jon Gruden said receiver Ike Hilliard is “beat up” and he is unsure of his availability for next week. Right guard Chester Pitts’ streak of 770 consecutive plays was broken when he was shaken up in the third quarter and missed two plays.
Arizona tight end Leonard Pope was taken off the field on a cart after injuring his right ankle late in the third quarter of the Cardinals’ 42-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
After Pope caught a 5-yard pass, he turned upfield and cornerback Marcus Trufant grabbed Pope around the ankles, falling onto his lower right leg.
Pope remained down on the field for more than five minutes while trainers placed an air cast around his foot and ankle.
Eagles tight end L.J. Smith was knocked out of Philadelphia’s 16-13 loss to the New York Giants in the second half with a knee injury.
Smith was drilled after a catch late in the third quarter and was down for a few minutes. Smith left the game briefly in the first half with a rib injury.
Eagles right guard Shawn Andrews had his knee twisted backward on a running play late in the first quarter and was down for several minutes. He walked over the sideline and eventually returned later in the half.
Andrews and Smith will have MRIs on Monday.
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