Packers offensive tackle Chad Clifton, who was injured in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will be out indefinitely and could miss the rest of the season due to ligament damage in his pelvic region, Packers GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman said Monday.
Clifton was injured on a hit delivered by Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp during Brian Kelly's 31-yard interception return midway through the third quarter. After being carted off the field he was taken to a Tampa-area hospital, where he remained as of Monday, undergoing further diagnostic tests.
"He has a massive collection of blood in his pelvis, which is not good," Sherman said. "What he actually did was separated the ligaments, both front and back, that hold the pelvis together -- a pretty serious injury. There's a chance that he could be done for the season. We'll do more tests when he comes back here later in the week."
Clifton is currently unfit to make the plane trip back to Green Bay. A date for his return has not been set.
Sherman said he couldn't comment on the full extent of the injury until Clifton returns to Green Bay and is reexamined by the team's medical staff. Clifton is currently under the watch of Tampa hospital staff, but is accompanied by Packers assistant trainer Bryan Engel.
Asked if Clifton's injury is career threatening, Sherman said, "That hasn't been presented to me, but what has been presented to me is that it could end the season for him."
