Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brian Griese is believed to have torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and likely will miss the remainder of the season.
Coach Jon Gruden said the Buccaneers might not receive a final diagnosis for a couple of more days, but admitted the injury to Griese in Sunday’s 27-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins could be season-ending.
“It is right now a twisted knee, a sprained knee. Whether it’s more serious than that, we’ll find out,” Gruden said. “It could be a few weeks, it could be the end of the season. We don’t know for sure. I’ll just sit here and wait until I’m told the extent of this injury.”
The Buccaneers will use the bye week to begin preparing Chris Simms as the starter at San Francisco on Oct. 30. The team also will explore signing a veteran quarterback and plans to conduct workouts for several today. The list of available quarterbacks the Bucs might have an interest in includes Doug Johnson, Jesse Palmer, Shaun King, Jeff George, Chad Hutchinson and Tim Couch.
Seahawks: Safety Ken Hamlin was in serious but stable condition with a fractured skull and other head injuries following a fight outside a downtown Seattle nightclub.
Hamlin’s injuries included a small blood clot and bruising of the brain tissue. He was to remain in intensive care for the next day or two, team physician Stan Herring said.
“Right now, Ken is awake intermittently and talking to us,” Herring said. “There is no evidence of brain damage, in that regard. We are going to need more time to see if there is residual problems from bruising of his brain.”
Herring said the most pressing concern is whether the blood clot grows.
Hamlin was involved in an altercation with two men who were not in custody, police said.
Cardinals: Defensive end Calvin Pace is out for the season after cutting his arm while falling through a window Saturday at his Atlanta home.
“As they say, a lot of accidents happen around the house so you have to be careful,” coach Dennis Green said. “He just kind of slipped and went to brace himself and went through the window.”
Raiders: The status of receiver Randy Moss, who missed most of Sunday’s 27-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers after he suffered bruised ribs, a strained groin and a bruised pelvic area in a hard fall while trying to make a catch, is uncertain. Coach Norv Turner wouldn’t speculate whether Moss would be able to play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
Patriots: Linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who suffered a mild stroke eight months ago, said he will practice with the team Wednesday after receiving medical clearance.
“I came to the point where they tell me I can play. I feel like I can play. Shoot, I know I can play,” Bruschi said. “So let’s just play.”
Bruschi remains on the physically unable to perform list. From the day he starts practicing, the Patriots have 21 days to activate him or put him on injured reserve, which would keep him out for the season.
Cowboys: Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams is out for the season with a torn knee ligament, and receiver Patrick Crayton is out at least a month with an ankle injury.
Jets: Center Kevin Mawae, who has started every game the past 10 seasons, is out for the season after tearing his left triceps during Sunday’s loss to the Bills.
The six-time Pro Bowl selection had started 177 consecutive games, third among active players behind Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (210) and Kansas City Chiefs guard Will Shields (196).
“The injury’s not the hard part to deal with,” Mawae said, his eyes welling up. “The hard part is not being able to play the game.”
Packers: Former University of Colorado running back Bobby Purify was released from the practice squad and replaced by Sam Gado, a rookie from Liberty.
Titans: Drew Bennett had surgery to place a pin in his dislocated left thumb, and coach Jeff Fisher said the receiver will be out at least two weeks.
Dolphins: Defensive end Jason Taylor was on crutches because of a foot injury, leaving his status for Sunday’s game against Kansas City uncertain.
Eagles: Defensive end Jerome McDougle had emergency surgery for a hernia, a setback to his recovery from a gunshot wound in July. McDougle, who had been working out to make a return to the Eagles, needed surgery for an internal hernia because of adhesions and scar tissue from his previous operation after the shooting.
Browns: Safety Michael Jameson had his contract terminated one week after finishing his four-game NFL suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
Texans: Linebacker Kailee Wong is out for the season after tearing the patella tendon in his right knee in Sunday’s 42-10 loss to Seattle.
