Dallas nose tackle suffers season-ending biceps injury By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com (Archive) Updated: September 10, 2007, 4:32 PM ET http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/index Starting nose tackle Jason Ferguson, arguably the most indispensable member of the Dallas Cowboys' defensive front seven, will miss the rest of the season with a torn right biceps tendon. The injury, confirmed by several sources hours before Dallas coach Wade Phillips' mid-afternoon announcement, occurred in the first quarter of the Cowboys' season-opening 45-35 victory over the Giants on Sunday night. The team said Ferguson will undergo surgery on Friday. The Cowboys don't practice again until Wednesday. "That's certainly bad news for us," Phillips said at his news conference Monday in Irving, Texas. The loss of Ferguson is a critical one for the Cowboys because they don't have another true nose tackle on the roster. Converted defensive end Jay Ratliff, a third-year veteran, replaced Ferguson and played well against the Giants, finishing with three tackles and a sack. The former Auburn standout enjoyed a strong training camp and preseason, but does not possess the bulk power of Ferguson. He is, though, the Cowboys' best option at this point. Dallas might be forced to consider going outside the organization for depth, although there aren't many options in the free-agent market. Filling the backup role to the 6-foot-3, 312-pound Ferguson, who typically occupies multiple blockers, has been a problem for the Cowboys over the past two seasons. Ferguson, 32, has played at a Pro Bowl-caliber level since signing with Dallas as an unrestricted free agent in 2005. A defender whose statistics don't always reflect his overall value to the team or to the 3-4 scheme, his 64 tackles in 2006 nonetheless led all Cowboys defensive linemen. The 10-year veteran began his career with the Jets as a seventh-round pick in the 1997 draft. He played eight seasons for the Jets before departing in free agency. Ferguson has 453 career tackles, 21? sacks and six forced fumbles, and the former University of Georgia star has appeared in 135 games. Meanwhile, while Ferguson is out, Phillips said the team was closer to getting cornerback Terence Newman and outside linebacker Greg Ellis back on the field. Both could practice this week. Knee injuries sideline Bears' Brown, Dvoracek By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com (Archive) Updated: September 10, 2007, 5:09 PM ET The defending NFC champion Chicago Bears have lost two defensive starters, free safety Mike Brown and nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek, to season-ending knee injuries sustained in the team's opening-day defeat at San Diego on Sunday afternoon. Follow-up MRI examinations on both players confirmed on Monday that both have suffered ligament damage to their left knees. Bears officials had feared as much on Sunday evening. Coach Lovie Smith would not confirm a report on the NFL's official Web site that they would miss the rest of the season. But he did say: "They both have serious knee injuries." "I'll give you some other information later on," Smith said. "Right now, in a situation like this, I'd like to talk to the players first. I'm sure you guys can understand that. Then, I'll let you know after that." The loss of Brown is particularly devastating since this will mark the fourth year in a row in which the star-crossed defensive back will miss significant playing time, and the third time in four seasons that his campaign ended prematurely with him on the injured reserve list. It will increase to 43 the number of games that Brown has missed in the past four years. Fearing the worst, Brown, 29, was emotionally distraught in the Chicago locker room on Sunday evening, after injuring his knee with 10 minutes remaining in the game. He called the injury "another sad day in the chapter of my football career." Said Brown, who is recognized as the emotional leader of the Chicago secondary, and a safety who specialized in big, game-altering plays early in his career: "It's a shame. It hurts my feelings really bad." Brown missed 14 games in 2004 with a ruptured Achilles tendon, four in 2005 because of a severely strained calf, and 10 last season with a Lisfranc foot sprain. The former Nebraska star never missed a game the first four seasons of his NFL tenure (2000-03), but has not played a full season since 2003. The former Pro Bowl performer (2005) moved from strong safety to free safety this spring to accommodate the Bears' acquisition of Adam Archuleta in a trade, and had a strong training camp. Before the injury on Sunday, he was authoring an excellent game, with four tackles, an interception that set up Chicago's only score, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery that rebuffed a San Diego scoring opportunity. For his career, Brown, a second-round choice in the 2000 draft, has 304 tackles, four sacks, 15 interceptions, 22 passes defensed, and four forced fumbles. Chicago coaches likely will choose between Danieal Manning and Brandon McGowan as his replacement at free safety. Manning started 14 games as a rookie in 2006. Dvoracek, 24, missed his entire 2006 rookie season when he was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury sustained in preseason. His starting assignment on Sunday represented the first appearance of his career, and he had two tackles before his injury. A third-round choice, the former Oklahoma standout won the starting job in training camp this summer, filling the void left by the Bears' release of suspended nose tackle Tank Johnson. Veteran tackle Darwin Walker, acquired last month in a trade with the Buffalo Bills, is the likely replacement for Dvoracek in the starting lineup. Eagles' Sheppard out at least one game with sprained MCL Associated Press Updated: September 10, 2007, 2:13 PM ET PHILADELPHIA -- Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard is expected to miss at least one game for the Eagles with a sprained knee ligament. Sheppard hurt his right knee in a three-way collision with teammate Sean Considine and Packers receiver Ruvell Martin late in the first half of Philadelphia's 16-13 loss at Green Bay on Sunday. An MRI exam Monday confirmed Sheppard has a sprained medial collateral ligament. The Eagles host the Washington Redskins next Monday night. "I don't think he'll make it this week," coach Andy Reid said. Will James would replace Sheppard in the starting lineup, and Joselio Hanson would fill the nickel spot. Sheppard has a knack for making big plays, but he's had trouble staying on the field. He missed six games in 2005 with a badly sprained ankle that required surgery, sat out three games early last season with another ankle injury and didn't play in the playoff loss to New Orleans after hurting his elbow. He earned his second trip to Hawaii last year, making two game-clinching interceptions in the final minutes of wins over Dallas and Carolina. Sheppard sealed Philadelphia's 38-24 victory over the Cowboys last October by picking off Drew Bledsoe's pass and running 102 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first player in NFL history to have two 100-yard interception returns for scores. His other one was 101 yards against Dallas in '04. In December, Sheppard intercepted Jake Delhomme's pass in the end zone to give the Eagles a 27-24 victory over the Panthers. He finished with a career-best six interceptions in 13 games. A first-round pick in 2002, Sheppard and Sheldon Brown replaced veteran cornerbacks Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor following the 2003 season. Sheppard was an All-Pro in '04, helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl. He has 15 career interceptions, including three returned for TDs.
Williams questionable vs. Saints with bruised ribs Updated: September 10, 2007, 4:49 PM ET Comment Email Print TAMPA, Fla. -- Coach Jon Gruden tried his best to put a positive spin on a sore subject for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- the health of running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. Williams Bruised ribs forced the third-year pro to sit out part of the Bucs' season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks. They could sideline him again Sunday when New Orleans (0-1) visits Raymond James Stadium for Tampa Bay's home opener. Williams, who was slowed much of last season by injuries, will be listed as questionable for this week's game. If he can't play, Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham will share the workload against the Saints. "Unfortunately, we're good at one thing now, offensively, and that's contingency planning. We've had a number of guys in and out of our lineup the last few seasons," said Gruden, who has used eight different starting quarterbacks since arriving in Tampa Bay in 2002. "We're going to count on Cadillac playing, optimistically. But realistically, we understand he does have sore ribs. We'll plan for the other guys to have a bigger role in the ball game." Williams' importance to the offense is underscored by the fact that the Bucs are 9-0 in games in which he carries the ball at least 21 times. He had 12 carries for 60 yards before leaving Sunday's 20-6 loss after being hit simultaneously by two Seahawks in the third quarter. Gruden said initial X-rays did not reveal any broken ribs. Quarterback Jeff Garcia was helped off the field during the same drive, but returned to the game. "Bruised ribs are no fun for a running back in the opening game of the season. I think he had the same thing happen to him last year," said Gruden, who also may have to make a roster move if Williams can't play against New Orleans. The Bucs played the season opener with only four running backs, a byproduct of the coach's decision to keep four quarterbacks at a time when most teams carry three and some only have two. Williams rushed for 1,178 yards to run away with the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2005, but was bothered by injuries much of last season when he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and finished with 798 yards and one touchdown. "I don't know a lot of backs who I've been around who ever feel good after the opening game of the season. They've got sore elbows, they've got sore ribs, they've got sore backs, they've got sore legs," Gruden said. "It's a violent profession. Those guys get hit. ... If he can go, and the trainers feel like he can go, he's going to go. We hope that he can." Williams was not available for comment. Meanwhile, Gruden said cornerback Brian Kelly is questionable for the New Orleans game because of a groin strain. Receiver David Boston injured a foot during pregame warmups at Seattle and is probable. Defensive end Patrick Chukwurah missed the opener with a sore knee that will also keep him out against the Saints.
Rams lose offensive line anchor Pace for season Associated Press Updated: September 10, 2007, 5:25 PM ET Comment Email Print ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace tore the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder in the season opener Sunday and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. An MRI exam Monday revealed the damage to Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowl player who was the first overall pick of the 1997 draft. Pace was injured on the first play after the two-minute warning while pass-blocking against the Panthers' Julius Peppers, minor jostling that didn't appear out of the ordinary. "I feel very bad, obviously, for Orlando," coach Scott Linehan said. "He had a real unfortunate injury and we'll have to pick up the pieces. "Come Sunday, we'll have our best five out there." The 31-year-old Pace has been injured in consecutive games. He was placed on injured reserve last November with a torn triceps, also sustained while pass blocking, that knocked him out for the last seven games. He also missed an early-season game in 2006 with a concussion. Before last season, Pace had been to seven straight Pro Bowls. And until last season he had been durable, missing six games in 2002 with calf and hamstring injuries, but starting every game in the other six seasons. Adam Goldberg, who made two starts in 2006, replaced Pace in Sunday's 27-13 loss to Carolina. The Rams allowed one sack, but the offense struggled without the anchor of a young line, managing 16 first downs and 238 yards total offense.
Dolphins' Bell out for season Click-2-Listen By EDGAR THOMPSON http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphi.../10/0911Bell.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=46 Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Monday, September 10, 2007 DAVIE — Dolphins starting strong safety Yeremiah Bell suffered an Achilles' tendon injury Sunday that will sideline him for the season, the team said this afternoon. The tendon was torn in the game in Washington. The degree of the tear was uncertain. Coach Cam Cameron did not name a replacement, but Travares Tillman, who came off the bench Sunday, is a candidate. Tillman, who is in his third season with Miami, played 14 games last year and 16 in 2005. He made seven starts last season. Bell, 29, emerged last season as one of the Dolphins' top playmakers in the secondary.
