Titans DT Haynesworth out until playoffs

Dec 15, 2008 - 9:50 PM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The Tennessee Titans lost more than a football game on Sunday.

Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering an MCL sprain in his left knee in the waning minutes of Tennessee's 13-12 loss to the Houston Texans.

Haynesworth had an MRI exam on Monday, which confirmed the injury.

"Often this is a 10-day to two-week thing," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "There's no doubt he'll be back."

Tennessee (12-2), which already has clinched the AFC South title and a first-round bye in the playoffs, will be without Haynesworth for Sunday's showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers that could determine the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Fisher also said that defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who has been plagued by a groin injury, will be sidelined until the playoffs.

The leader of a fearsome defense that has allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL, the 6-6, 320-pound Haynesworth got tangled in a pile and fell awkwardly in Sunday's game, trapping his knee. He eventually hobbled off the field.

Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse said his initial fears over Haynesworth's condition were quelled when he saw him in the locker room.

"It looked like, seeing him on the field and hearing his moans and groans, it sounds like he is going to be out for (a while)," Kearse told the Tennessean. "But seeing him walking around the training room just now it looks very promising.

"I know when I had my major injury (a torn ACL) a couple of years ago, there was no way I was going to be walking any. So I know it is not that bad at least."

With 8 1/2 sacks and his ability to stuff the run, Haynesworth is among the favorites for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.