Plaxico Burress suffered torn rotator cuff, career in jeopardy

Plaxico Burress’ season, and career, may be over after the Steelers’ receiver tore his rotator cuff in practice Thursday, NFL.com’s Albert Breer reported.

Burress, who turns 36 next week, was vying for the role as the Steelers’ fourth or fifth receiver, but with a season-ending injury that aspiration is gone. The big question becomes whether Burress can return to the game at all. Season-ending injuries are hard enough to come back from, but at his age, Burress will no doubt face an uphill battle to get another contract from any team, let alone see the field again.

Once a highly-valued receiver for the New York Giants, Burress never regained his form after accidentally shooting himself in the leg and spending two years in prison for an illegal weapons charge. He spent a year with the New York Jets before returning to Pittsburgh, the team that drafted him. He had just three receptions for 42 yards in 2012 with the Steelers, though he did catch a touchdown in the last game of the season.