Zimmerman Plans To Play With Broken Leg.
Two weeks after injury, Steamwheeler quarterback wants to suit up.

Doctors will inform Tony Zimmerman, after X-raying his fractured fibula, whether he is clear to play against the Pirates at The Mark of the Quad-Cities.

It's only been two weeks since he suffered injury.

"They have to release me," Zimmerman said. "But if they leave it up to me, I am playing."

Coach Rich Ingold says he won't argue and he wants Zimmerman back because he wants a win over the Pirates.

"He is what makes us go," the coach said of his quarterback. "I am going to leave that all up to him because I definitely don't want to set him back. But if we have our sights set on winning the division, we have to win this game."

He had his worst start of the season three weeks ago in Peoria, where his three fourth-quarter fumbles all led to quick Peoria scores.

Zimmerman is itching to play, but insists it is not because of his perfomance in Peoria.

"That game there left a sour taste in my mouth," he said. "I just hate to lose. If I have a second shot, I want to be there."

Off his crutches and out of the boot he wore last week to protect his leg, Zimmerman was scheduled to throw in practice Tuesday.

He traveled to Witchita with the team last week, watching the Wheelers lose for just the third time in franchise in history but for also the second time in three weeks.

"This was my aiming point- to get back for this game," he said. "This is an important game because we lost at their place. With or without the Witchita loss, we needed this game. Losing another national conference game makes it that much more important."

Zimmerman is af2's third-best quarterback, completing 104 of his 178 passes.

Coach Ingold said a shotgun formation could be used to ease the strain on Zimmerman's left leg, but he will still be facing the league's best pass rush in the Pirate's front line.

"That's the strength of Peoria's team- their front," Ingold conceded.

Then obviously he will need to move to be effective.

"We have just got to see what his mobility is like in the latter part of the week," Ingold.