Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount did not practice on Wednesday and is receiving examination to determine the nature and extent of an injury he suffered in Sunday's season-opening win over Carolina. General Manager Mark Dominik said that Blount's injury is definitely not a concussion, as has been speculated in recent days.
UPDATE: Dominik informed the media shortly before 6 PM that Blount's injury has been diagnosed as a stinger. Dominik said Blount is fine, and will be available to practice on Thursday.
"He obviously took a hit in the game and went down, as we all saw," said Dominik. "I can categorically confirm that it has nothing to do with a concussion whatsoever. However, we're going to do our due diligence on our players to make sure that player safety is number one, the most important thing.
"We always take time to make sure we monitor any player that's ever gone down. We go back and look at everything that's happened with the player. What we're doing right now is making sure he sees all the correct people that we think he should see."
Dominik said that the Buccaneers' due diligence on Blount includes MRI examinations on his neck and back, and that the team hopes to have an answer on the injury within 24 hours. Blount's status for the rest of the week of practice and for Sunday's game against the New York Giants will be determined after that information has been gathered.
"If he's cleared he'll be out there, and if there's something else than we will fill [the media] in on what is going on," said Dominik. "Again, our number-one focus is the safety of our players and we'll take our time even if that means he's not here today at practice."
