Injuries strike NFL’s stars during Week 2
The rookie season of Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. may have ended after just two games.
The first-round draft pick is among several players who will be sidelined for a few weeks, or more, as a result of injuries in Sunday’s games. Others include New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister and Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap, both of whom were knocked out of games with a sprained ankle.
The Browns said Winslow will miss at least two months with a broken right leg, and that they might keep him out for the rest of the season. Winslow was injured trying to recover an onside kick late in Sunday’s 19-12 loss at Dallas.
Winslow is scheduled for surgery today and might need screws and plates inserted in the leg, Browns trainer Mike Colello said Monday. The team expects Winslow to make a full recovery in eight to 10 weeks, but coach Butch Davis said the team has considered placing him on injured reserve.
McAllister, who had his foot in a heavy orthopedic boot Monday, said he thought he’d be able to play soon – maybe even this coming weekend. But coach Jim Haslett said the Saints’ top rusher is expected to be out four to five weeks.
Heap, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, will miss two to four weeks with a sprained right ankle. Heap led the Ravens in receptions in each of the past two seasons and has a team-high 12 catches this year. The injury occurred late in the second quarter of the Ravens’ 30-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“It’s huge,” coach Brian Billick said Monday. “He’s your No. 1 target; your No. 1 receiver.”
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox will be out at least six weeks with a torn ligament and tendon damage in his right elbow, an injury that at least temporarily makes rookie Ben Roethlisberger the starter.
Maddox was injured while being hit in the third quarter of the loss in Baltimore. Coach Bill Cowher initially thought Maddox might need season-ending reconstructive surgery, but team doctors said Monday an operation isn’t necessary.
Chicago safety Mike Brown, who returned a fumble 95 yards for a touchdown to spark the Bears’ 21-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, will miss the rest of the season after tearing his right Achilles’ tendon. He was injured in the closing minutes of the game.
And the agent for Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Larry Chester said a torn ligament in his right knee will force Chester to miss the rest of the season.
Priest Holmes missed much of the last quarter of Kansas City’s 28-17 loss to Carolina after spraining his left ankle, and the Chiefs aren’t sure if he’ll play against Houston this coming weekend.
Edgerrin James, the Indianapolis Colts’ top running back, strained his hamstring in Sunday’s victory against Tennessee. He was running through some light drills Monday and was optimistic he would play this week.
But that isn’t all the names that could appear on their teams’ injury lists next game:
•Jets defensive end Josh Evans will have back surgery and is out indefinitely, while Sam Cowart has a sprained left knee ligament and center Kevin Mawae has a broken finger that leaves their status in doubt for their Oct. 3 game against Miami.
•Cowboys rookie running back Julius Jones broke his left shoulder and is expected to be out about two months.
Pryce hurt; Broncos get Johnson
Denver Broncos defensive end Trevor Pryce will travel to California today to determine the severity of the pinched nerve in his back. He sat out Denver’s 7-6 loss to Jacksonville because the pain took away most of the strength in his legs.
As a result, Denver traded a conditional 2005 draft pick Monday to Atlanta for tackle Ellis Johnson.
Brees should start
San Dievo Chargers quarterback Drew Brees expects to start Sunday at Denver despite sustaining a mild concussion in a loss to the New York Jets.
“At this point, I’m looking great for Sunday,” Brees said Monday, 24 hours after he was hurt. “I feel a lot better today than I did yesterday after the game and last night. Things are coming back. I should be ready to go by Wednesday.”
The Chargers (1-1) are off today and return Wednesday to start practicing for the Denver game.
Andersen ties record
Minnesota Vikings kicker Morten Andersen tied George Blanda for first place on the NFL’s career games played list, appearing in No. 340 on Monday night against Philadelphia.
Andersen, the second-leading scorer in NFL history, made three field goals and missed another as he matched the record. The Vikings signed the 44-year-old after he was released by Kansas City during training camp.