Ed Bouchette is reporting this morning that Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke needs neck surgery and will be lost for the rest of the season. Bouchette notes that this could also be the end of the line for Hoke after 11 seasons in the NFL, all with the Steelers.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said Monday in his press conference that Hoke was being re-examined by a doctor yesterday because of problems with his neck.
Hoke has had problems with his neck after suffering stingers very close together with the latest coming in week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was reported in late October that Hoke was having problems with regeneration of a nerve sheath and that it would likely be an issue going forward for him. Hoke has not shown up on the Steelers injury report for several weeks now, but has been inactive and not dressed since suffering his latest stinger.
Hoke was originally signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent by the Steelers out of Brigham Young in 2001 and has been the primary backup to nose tackle Casey Hampton for several seasons.
