Burroughs, Injured in Game, Told to End Football Career

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Derrick Burroughs, a starting cornerback for the Buffalo Bills who was injured Sept. 24 in a game against Houston, will not play football with the Bills again after doctors discovered a spinal condition.

Burroughs, who was temporarily paralyzed after colliding with Oiler receiver Curtis Duncan and teammate Leonard Smith while making a tackle, has been advised by team physician Dr. Richard Weiss to retire.

Doctors have warned the team that if Burroughs continues to play, he risks permanent paralysis.

“It’s not a result of the sport, but something he brought to the sport,” said Weiss on Wednesday. “With no injury, it would have gone undetected.”

Burroughs was discovered to have cervical stenosis, a condition that has ended the careers of other NFL players, including Houston linebacker Frank Bush, Green Bay defensive back Tim Lewis and New England linebacker Don Blackmon.

“Derrick has a cervical spine with two small rings, 64% of the size of normal rings,” Weiss said. “When he hyperbends or hyperextends, it pinches the spinal cord and causes quadriplegia.”

Burroughs made it clear that while his career in Buffalo is over, he might play elsewhere.

“In the off-season, I might decide that I want to try it again with another team.”