NASHVILLE, Tenn. —Titans center Brian Schwenke was overwhelmed by well-wishes Sunday night after suffering a season-ending injury earlier in the day against the Dolphins.
"The support and positive words from all the friends, family and fans are helping in this tough time,'' Schwenke said via text. "I want nothing more than to be playing alongside my teammates."
Unfortunately, Schwenke's season is over.
The popular third-year player dislocated his left ankle in the second quarter of Sunday's 38-10 loss. He was taken off the field on a cart, his lower leg in an air cast, after being tended to by medical personnel on the field at Nissan Stadium.
The sight of the injury was so gruesome, players were visibly disturbed.
Guard Chance Warmack walked at least 20 yards downfield immediately afterward, and took a knee facing the other direction. Schwenke was injured when a player fell on his lower leg on a Bishop Sankey run.
"That guy is awesome,'' Lewan said of Schwenke. "He is a great friend of mine on the team; I love that guy. I saw what happened, I saw the injury, and that is nothing you want to see and that messes you up mentally when you are out there. That hurt. My heart goes out to him and his wife, his family. I just hope for a speedy recovery. But that's this game. That could have happened to me today."
A fourth round draft pick by the Titans in the 2013 draft, Schwenke's 2014 season was cut short because of a knee injury. He was placed on Injured Reserve last November.
The Titans are expected to place Schwenke on Injured Reserve this week to open up a roster spot.
On Sunday, rookie Andy Gallik was called into action to replace Schwenke. It was his first action at center since the preseason, although he stepped in to play guard on two other occasions this season.
"He will be in my prayers,'' Gallik said of Schwenke. "I'm going to go see him as soon as I can. He has always been a mentor to me. He's one of the first guys who really took me under his wing, the minute I got here after I got drafted. I see him as an older brother to me and it kills me to see that happen to him."
