Quarterback Kurt Warner underwent left hip surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum but is expected to be back on the field in late May.
Kurt Warner had surgery Tuesday to repair a labrum tear in his left hip, but the Cardinals quarterback is expected to recover quickly enough to return for most of the team's offseason workouts.
Warner played with the injury most of the 2008 season. The arthroscopic surgery, performed by Dr. Marc Philippon of the Steadman Hawkins clinic in Vail, Co., also allowed for the cleaning out of loose fragments in the area.
Dr. Philippon called the surgery a success and Warner's range of motion in the hip was immediately improved. Warner's rehabilitation began quickly in Colorado.
"Everything went well and I am feeling great," Warner said in a statement released by the team. "I began rehab on a stationary bike just a few hours after surgery and then a couple more times (Wednesday).
"(The injury) was one I sustained and played with last season and although I could have continued to play with it, I felt it was best for short-term success on the field as well as long-term comfort off the field. I am ready to go to work and back to normal so we can build on what we accomplished last season."
Warner is scheduled to return to Arizona over the weekend to continue his recovery.
Warner will likely sit out the team's mandatory minicamp May 1-3. The hope is he can begin on-field work when the Cardinals begin their voluntary organized team activities beginning May 19.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the team was aware of Warner's injury and the need to have it fixed even before Warner signed his new two-year, $23 million contract.
"We talked right after the season and we all agreed that this procedure was the best option and this would be a good time," Whisenhunt said. "I talked to Kurt (Wednesday) and he felt good. I don't think we're going to push him to do much at minicamp and see the OTA's as a more realistic target."
Philippon is the same doctor who recently repaired the injured hip of New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, who is also in Vail undergoing rehab.
Contact Darren Urban at askdarren@cardinals.nfl.net. Posted 3/18/09.
