Utah Blaze: Bryant suffers devastating injury

The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 02/08/2008 03:19:29 PM MST

Posted: 3:19 PM- Utah Blaze receiver and defensive back Orshawante Bryant ruptured his Achilles' tendon during the team's second day of practice Friday morning and is probably out for the season, a Blaze spokesperson has confirmed.

Bryant, a six-year Arena Football League veteran who has been with the Blaze all three years of their existence, will undergo surgery on Monday morning, according to Andrea Krall, Blaze communications director.

Bryant played in nine games last year and recorded 24 receptions for 331 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, he tallied 28 1/2 tackles, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and a team-high five interceptions.

He has been placed on injured-reserve list.



Orlando Predators Training Camp

UCF product Jimmy Fryzel suffers season-ending injury as Orlando Predators open camp

Iliana Limon
Sentinel Staff Writer
February 8, 2008


Jimmy Fryzel can't catch a break.

Fryzel, a UCF grad who struggled with a hamstring injury last season with theOrlando Predators, was finally back to full strength when the Arena Football League team's training camp began this week.

Then Fryzel crumbled during practice Wednesday. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscus in his right knee. Fryzel will undergo surgery to repair the season-ending injuries.

"It's a major impact," Predators Coach Jay Gruden said. "We had some big plans for Jimmy."

Fryzel, 26, is a fan favorite entering his fourth season with Orlando and the final year of his contract.

He finished the 2007 season with 55 receptions for 581 yards and eight touchdowns, bouncing in and out of the lineup because of the hamstring injury. In 2006, Fryzel led the team in receptions (87), receiving yards (1,108) and receiving touchdowns (23).

"The silver lining, if there is one, is that it happened early," Gruden said. "It gives us some time to make adjustments."

The Predators had 37 players on their roster entering training camp and must trim to 24 players. Gruden said six receivers in camp, including Javarus Dudley, Antoine "T.T." Toliver and Roosevelt Kiser, should take over Fryzel's workload.

Gruden plans to sign a few new players on two-day contracts during the next three weeks to see whether they can help his receiver rotation.

"We're always looking at the waiver wire, but I expect some of the guys who are already here to step up," he said.

Man this sucks. I hate to see anyone go down with these type injuries.

Best wishes to both. Hope they have speedy and full recovery's.