Tom Brady and the New England Patriots strolled into the 2008 NFL season with high hopes and Super Bowl dreams. After the first week of the season, everything has changed. Early in the Week 1 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Brady went back to pass and was hit as he made the throw. While Brady has been hit many times before, this hit made him fall to the field awkwardly screaming in pain. He didn’t know it right away but his season was over.

Brady, who was coming off a record breaking season which saw him connect on 50 touchdown passes, tore his ACL and MCL in his knee and must undergo season-ending surgery. In his place, Matt Cassel steps in to fill Brady’s giant shoes as the new quarterback of the Patriots.

Although Brady was the biggest name to get injured in Week 1, he wasn’t the only casualty. Another quarterback, Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans, also hurt his knee. Young strained a ligament in his knee and will miss 2-to-4 weeks. Kerry Collins will start in his place while Young is sidelined.

A number of wide receivers were injured in the first week of the season, most notably Nate Burleson and Marques Colston. Burleson, who entered the first game as the Seattle Seahawks number one receiver, tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season. This is a big blow for the Seahawks since they are already missing wide receivers Deion Branch, Bobby Engram and Ben Obomanu. With four players at the same position now injured, the Seahawks will have to lean on inexperienced wide receivers such Courtney Taylor and Logan Payne.

Marques Colston is one of the brightest young receivers in the game but after thumb surgery, he could be out until Week 7. The lead wide receiver for the Saints, Colston will be replaced by the starting tandem of David Patten and Devery Henderson.

Tags: Football, matt cassel, new england patriots, NFL, nfl week 2, tennessee titans, tom brady, vince young
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