Getty Images

With Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor sidelined for at least a week after having emergency surgery yesterday to drain a pocket of blood from his left calf, the Washington Redskins must shuffle the defensive line for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Injured when he was inadvertently kicked in his calf Sunday in Washington's 24-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, Taylor underwent a 20-minute procedure early yesterday morning at a Northern Virginia hospital, Coach Jim Zorn said, in an effort to avert potential nerve damage. Taylor was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon.

"They went in and cut open that portion where the blood was pooling and released that pressure. As soon as it released the muscle went back down to normal," Zorn said. "They closed it back up, and he's going to be fine. Our problem is he's going to be out for this Dallas game for sure. I can't tell you beyond that."

Taylor, who deflected three of quarterback Kurt Warner's passes at the line of scrimmage against Arizona, had his calf wrapped and played the rest of the game after being kicked. "Later on that night it started getting more sore," Zorn said. "He started feeling a little bit [of numbness] in his ankle."

The loss of Taylor — who has started in 133 consecutive regular season games and has not missed a game since 1999 — could prompt defensive coordinator Greg Blache to make major changes up front.

Source: Washington Post