Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress suffered a significant shoulder injury during practice on Thursday, and the team announced that he will undergo surgery to repair the damage. What this means for Burress’ career is uncertain.
The Steelers made the announcement regarding the wide receiver through their official Twitter account.
Plaxico Burress suffered a significant shoulder injury on Thursday. He is scheduled for surgery on Monday. – @CoachTomlin
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 9, 2013
Burress was expected to help out the depth at wide receiver. The two top receivers in Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders are the biggest production for the team. Burress would compete for playing time with Jerricho Cotchery, and first-year players Justin Brown and Markus Steed.
The injury could spell a career-ending result for Burress, who will be 36 years old this season. He is not a young player and the recovery period for this type of ordeal could be significant.
Burress only played in four games for Pittsburgh in 2012, catching three passes and no touchdowns. He is the shell of a playmaker that he used to be, but that comes with age and the off-the-field issues he had as well, spending time in jail for gun-related charges a few years ago.
This was the second stint with the Steelers for Burress.
Pittsburgh opens its schedule on September 8 at home against the Tennessee Titans.