NFL briefs
Rams lose Williams for season ST. LOUIS (AP) – Rams cornerback Aeneas Williams will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to stabilize torn ligaments in his badly sprained left ankle.
Williams also broke his left shin with 1:46 to play in St. Louis’ game Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks when teammate Adam Archuleta rolled over him.
The recovery period typically is four-to-six months, team physician Dr. Matt Matava said Monday. Matava said Williams should regain mobility in about two months.
The Rams don’t believe the injury threatens the career of the 34-year-old Williams, a seven-time Pro Bowl choice.
“It’s obviously a season-ender, but not typically a career-ender,” Matava said.
During the 20-minute operation Sunday night, a screw was inserted into Williams’ ankle to compress bones that separated and to promote healing in the ligaments. The broken bone in his leg will heal on its own, Matava said.
Bucs
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson has a fractured left rib and is doubtful for this week’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
Johnson was hurt during the opening quarter of Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles but didn’t leave the game until midway through the fourth quarter.
If he is not ready to play against Carolina on Sunday, he will be replaced by backup Rob Johnson, the former Buffalo Bills starter.
“I don’t want to say he’s out, but it does look like he’s doubtful for this game,” Bucs coach Jon Gruden said Monday.
“It could be anywhere from one-to-two weeks. It’s going to be a pain threshold-type thing. How much can he take – and he can take a lot. So I’m not going to paint a real bleak picture until I see Brad Johnson on the practice field Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.”
Johnson has started every game since signing with the Bucs as a free agent before last season. In addition to being sacked five times Sunday, he was knocked down 10 times and hit on nine other occasions before throwing a fourth-quarter interception that led to the Eagles’ clinching touchdown.
Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin is thinking of getting rid of his kicker after gambling his way through a tough loss to Baltimore.
Second-guessed for his unorthodox decision to avoid most field-goal attempts in a 17-10 loss to the Ravens, Coughlin said Monday he’s on the lookout for a replacement for shaky rookie Hayden Epstein.
“We’re looking at who’s available, who’s out there,” Coughlin said. “It may be about time for us to do some work with that area anyway.”
After Epstein missed a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter, Coughlin passed on attempts of 53, 48 and 42 yards. Coughlin said he didn’t feel he could trust Epstein on any kick longer than 40 yards.
“I don’t know what I’ll do yet,” Coughlin said. “But you’d like to think points will come when you get the ball in decent field position.”
Epstein wasn’t available for comment Monday.
Lions
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) – Lions linebacker Richard Jordan had an MRI on his sprained his left knee Monday and is listed as doubtful for the Buffalo game this Sunday. Tight end John Owens also sprained his left shoulder and is questionable.
Wide receiver Germane Crowell, who played for the first time in 364 days, came out of the game with only minor swelling in his surgically repaired knee and is expected to play against Buffalo. Coach Marty Mornhinweg also hopes to have TE Mikhael Ricks (groin) and WR Bill Schroeder (hamstring) back for the Bills game.
Packers
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – Brett Favre won’t need surgery on his sprained left knee, and the Green Bay Packers are optimistic he won’t miss any games.
An MRI on Monday confirmed the team’s original diagnosis of a sprained lateral collateral ligament and showed no structural damage to the star quarterback’s knee.
“Ice and rehab will be what’s going on with him this week as he prepares for the Monday night Miami game,” coach Mike Sherman said Monday.
The Packers are idle this week. Their next game is Nov. 4 against Miami.
Favre, a three-time NFL MVP, was injured Sunday during the third quarter of the Packers’ 30-9 victory over Washington.