Steelers' Maddox leaves hospital fully recovered

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox was released from the hospital Tuesday, with his doctor saying he has fully recovered from his head and spinal cord injuries.

Despite Maddox's remarkably quick recovery from his scary injury Sunday in Tennessee, he most likely will be sidelined at least a couple of weeks. The Steelers and Maddox's doctor, neurosurgeon Joseph Maroon, say it is entirely up to Maddox when he returns.

Kordell Stewart will start at quarterback Sunday against the Bengals, with Maddox listed as out.

Maddox's latest round of neurological tests Tuesday came back normal and, Maroon said, he will need no other treatment other than time and rest to get over the psychological implications of the injury.

Maddox also needs to allow his body to recover from the massive amount of steroids he received en route to the hospital Sunday. Steroids have proved to lessen the severity of spinal cord injuries.

Maddox was injured when hit in the upper back by Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck on a seemingly routine play late in the third quarter of the Titans' 31-23 victory. Maddox immediately lost consciousness, causing his neck to twist and his head to slam into the turf.

Maddox lay motionless for several minutes before being taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was diagnosed with cerebral and spinal cord concussions.

Maddox's recovery was one of the fastest Maroon has seen in the 5,000 cases of football-related brain concussions he has studied.

Asked if Maddox was lucky to have come through the frightening injury with so few problems, Maroon said, "I didn't need to tell him that."