Panthers’ Davis has bum knee
The Carolina Panthers have not had a good week: Running back Stephen Davis was lost Friday with a knee injury, just days after star receiver Steve Smith broke his leg.
Davis and Smith are the defending NFC champions’ top two offensive threats.
Davis, who ran for a career-best 1,444 yards last season, began having problems with his knee after practice Thursday, and an MRI showed “a small cartilage problem,” coach John Fox said.
He had arthroscopic surgery, and will miss Sunday’s game at Kansas City. The Panthers said he would be out two to five weeks.
Smith, who led Carolina in receptions (88) and yards receiving (1,110), is out indefinitely after breaking his left leg in Monday night’s loss to Green Bay.
DeShaun Foster will replace Davis at running back, and rookie Keary Colbert is expected to start at receiver. Chris Gamble, another rookie, could replace Smith on punt returns.
“As I told the team, we have got 53 men out here we think we can start and win for us. They have got to step up,” Fox said. “It is part of the game. Kansas City is going to play without some starters. These guys understand that. It is not the first time it has happened.”
Game-time decision for Alexander
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander practiced and could play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Coach Mike Holmgren said it will be a game-time decision, based on how Alexander feels today. He was still listed as questionable with a bruised right knee.
“I think Shaun moved around well enough to play,” Holmgren said after Alexander’s first practice of the week. “We’ll have to see now how he responds to this tomorrow (today). We’ll see. It will be a Sunday decision.”
Holmgren said backup Maurice Morris will start if Alexander can’t.
Williams out for Vikings
Already missing injured starting running back Michael Bennett, the Minnesota Vikings also will be without short-yardage specialist Moe Williams for Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Williams started Minnesota’s season opener Sunday, but left in the fourth quarter with sprained right ankle.
Williams missed practice Thursday and Friday, and although he was listed as questionable on the injury report, Vikings coach Mike Tice declared him out for the game.
“I think we’ll just plan to hold him out until next week, and just move forward with the rest of the gang,” Tice said.
Williams’ injury leaves the Vikings with three healthy backs.
Onterrio Smith, who racked up 193 combined yards in Sunday’s win over Dallas, will start Monday. Rookie Mewelde Moore also will see action.
•The Vikings signed Aaron Elling to handle kickoffs. He lost his job as place-kicker last month because of inconsistent field goal work in the preseason.
Elling served as Tennessee’s kicker and punter last week, but worked out for Vikings coaches Thursday.
Morten Andersen is still the Vikings’ place-kicker, although Elling could handle field goals longer than 52 yards.
Suggs practices, questionable
Cleveland running back Lee Suggs practiced but is still questionable for the Browns’ game at Dallas this weekend.
Suggs missed the opener against Baltimore with a neck stinger. He practiced three times this week but none involved high-contact drills, coach Butch Davis said.
“He does more every day,” Davis said. “The trainers have asked him to do a little more. It still remains a medical decision.”
If Suggs can’t play Sunday, William Green will get the bulk of carries with James Jackson and Dee Brown as backups.