Aware of risks, Ty Montgomery intends to play at Denver despite sickle-cell trait

[Vegas]

You'd think the Packers would hold him out of a meaningless game.

Ty Montgomery knows the dangers and the history. But he also knows his body and knows the facts about sickle-cell trait. And that’s why the Green Bay Packers running back plans to play in Saturday night’s preseason game at Denver, even though the altitude there has been an issue for other carries of the sickle-cell trait in the past.

“I think obviously there’s questions that are going to arise when you find out a guy has sickle-cell trait and he’s going to play in Denver,” Montgomery said Tuesday evening after returning to practice -- he missed a week with a lower leg injury. “Because of what’s happened to some guys in the past.”

In 2007, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark felt a sharp pain in his side and became gravely ill during a game in Denver. He later had to have his spleen and gall bladder removed. Clark, now an NFL analyst at ESPN, was later held out of games at Denver during the 2011 playoffs and 2012 regular season.

Last October, Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman considered sitting out the Falcons’ game in Denver, but he ultimately played and had 163 yards and a touchdown on 10 offensive touches in the Falcons’ 23-16 win. And Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown dealt with issues related to being a carrier of the sickle-cell trait last season as well.

Aware of risks, Ty Montgomery intends to play at Denver despite sickle-cell trait

 

[RP-29]

The greatest danger is the lack of awareness. With awareness, they can take appropriate precautions. Shouldn't be an issue.