Rumors circulated that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Chris Rainey suffered a punctured lung and a broken rib in the win Sunday over the New York Giants, but those rumors proved to be false as the rookie flew back on the plane with the team according to Alby Oxenreiter on Twitter.
Rainey would not have been allowed to fly home if either of those two things had happened. Head coach Mike Tomlin talked about the injuries suffered in the game during his post game press conference.
“Chris Rainey has rib or rib cartilage of some kind,” said Tomlin.
Rainey was injured and stayed down near the Steelers sidelined following a kick return with les than two minutes left in the third quarter. On the return it looked as if he took a hit to the midsection from Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich.
Rainey tried to get up after the hit but then went down after almost making it off the field.
The running back eventually was taken to the Steelers locker room and of course did not return to the game. Tight end Heath Miller suffered a rib cartilage injury a few weeks back, but did not miss the next game as a result. With the Kansas City Chiefs up next, the Steelers might decide to hold the diminutive running back out as a precaution.
