Injury Bug Bites Former UH Standouts

By Fred Guzman

Two of the three former University of Hawaii football players chosen in last year’s NFL draft have suffered season-ending injuries.

The first to go down was Green Bay running back Alex Green in Week 7.  The third-round selection sustained a knee injury after seeing duty mostly on special teams for the defending Super Bowl champions and the league’s only remaining unbeaten team.  Green had three carries for seven yards for the Packers.

St. Louis wide receiver Greg Salas broke his right leg when a tackler rolled on him after a 5-yard catch in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s overtime loss at Arizona.  Salas, a fourth-round pick, had seven catches for 59 yards in that game and was leading the Rams with 27 receptions.

Only Kealoha Pilares, a fifth-round pick by the Carolina Panther has managed to remain healthy. But he’s seen very limited duty. He’s been on the active roster for five of his team’s eight games, but still is looking of his pro catch.

The injury bug also has been bitten their former college team.

Senior left tackle Clayton Laurel’s career has ended because of a broken left arm and sophomore slotback Justin Clapp will miss the final four games with fractured ribs suffered in last Saturday’s home loss against Utah State.

Top receiver Royce Pollard also is out for this week’s road game against Nevada because of a torn meniscus in his left knee and a sprained left ankle.