Lions WR breaks arm trying to save pizza

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Lions receiver Nate Burleson broke his arm in a single-car accident early Tuesday after he reached over to keep two pizza boxes from falling off the front passenger seat, authorities said.

Burleson was hospitalized after his car hit a center median wall on a highway in suburban Detroit. Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said there was no indication Burleson had been drinking before the 2:25 a.m. crash.

Coach Jim Schwartz stopped short of writing off the rest of Burleson's season. Surgery is scheduled for today.

"It's not an emergency surgery," Schwartz said. "Nate'll be back at some point, and when he will, he will be a big contributor again to our team."

The team didn't say which arm was broken.

Burleson has a team-high 19 catches, 10 for first downs, and his 239 yards receiving trail only teammate Calvin Johnson this season. The 11-year veteran had six receptions for 116 yards, his most since 2007, on Sunday to help Detroit win at Washington for the first time in franchise history.

"Anytime you're in a highway accident, there's potential for worse than broken bones," Schwartz said. "I think we've all dealt with some sort of distraction driving before. I've cured myself of texting and driving. I did for about two months — and now I've got that SYNC thing with the Fords. I never even touch my cellphone in the car, but one thing that I probably need to cure myself of is eating and driving.

"There's too many times I leave the office real late at night, and you grab something — and I've had it happen to me — drop it on your lap or do something else. That's stuff we all need to learn from."

The Lions signed Burleson in 2010 to complement Johnson, and he has done that when healthy. He had 128 receptions for 1,382 yards and nine touchdowns in his first two seasons in Detroit.

QB QUESTIONABLE: The Raiders will begin a short week of preparation with uncertainty about who will start at quarterback as Terrelle Pryor recovers from a concussion. Pryor, who was knocked out of Monday night's loss at Denver, can't practice until he goes through the league-mandated concussion protocol. Oakland will have to prepare for Sunday's game with the possibility that either Pryor or Matt Flynn will start.

CARDINALS TAKE HIT: Arizona's injury woes at outside linebacker got worse, with rookie Alex Okafor out for the season with a torn bicep. Okafor confirmed reports of the injury via Twitter. The Cardinals, who visit the Bucs on Sunday, lost starting outside linebackers Sam Acho (broken leg) and Lorenzo Alexander (foot injury) in their loss to the Saints.

COWBOYS LOSE DE: Dallas defensive end Anthony Spencer will have season-ending left knee surgery and may have played his last game for the team. Spencer's agent, Jordan Woy, said doctors have a "good idea" what type of surgery but were considering options.

FAN HURT: A teenage fan suffered a concussion and a broken arm and nose at Candlestick Park after police say he was attacked during the 49ers' loss to the Colts on Sunday. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of beating the 15-year-old boy for urinating in the man's car.

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