Line judge Gary Arthur returns to the field this weekend

Veteran official has recovered from serious Week 1 injuries

Gary Arthur is back. He’s back on Gene Steratore’s crew. That’s something many of us thought was impossible for this season after the veteran line judge was seriously injured in Week 1 action in Denver.

In the first quarter, on a punt play, Arthur was hit from behind on the sideline (video). He suffered injuries that one might expect from a car crash on the interstate: a broken collar bone, nine broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung.

Dana McKenzie was slated to be a swing head linesman this season, but after Arthur’s injury, McKenzie moved to line judge and subbed for Arthur every week. (McKenzie returns to the head linesman position on Ron Torbert’s crew in Pittsburgh.)

After nine weeks of recovery — and, I’m sure, extensive rehab — Arthur will be back on the field this weekend for the Chiefs-Broncos game, the same stadium where he was injured in Week 1.

It is a wonderful full-circle recovery for the veteran official.

Welcome back, Gary Arthur!

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