Jets-Giants a snoozer
But Umenyiora suffers knee injury
The New York Giants hope they didn't lose more than just an exhibition game to the New York Jets.
Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora was carted off the field with a knee injury in the second quarter of the Giants' 10-7 loss last night. The injury overshadowed a first-half quarterback duel between Brett Favre and Eli Manning that ended up being a penalty-filled snoozer.
The Giants said Umenyiora's left knee "locked up" with 10:48 left in the half on an incomplete pass by Favre on third down. X-rays were negative, but an MRI is planned for today.
Umenyiora had a team-high 13 sacks in earning his second Pro Bowl appearance while leading the Giants' defense in New York's run to the Super Bowl.
Brett Ratliff threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Paul Raymond with 6:08 remaining to put the Jets (2-1) ahead. Drew Coleman's interception of Andre' Woodson with 1:06 left sealed the victory.
Favre, in his second start since being acquired from Green Bay, finished 9 of 12 for 96 yards and had a pretty touchdown pass negated by a penalty.
Manning was 10 of 17 for 113 yards, but had a scoring drive late in the second half short-circuited when he took a big sack on third down.
Cash carted off
Tampa Bay linebacker Antoine Cash was carted off the field against visiting Jacksonville but had movement in his extremities. Cash dived and collided with a teammate making a tackle during the fourth quarter. "We don't know the exact severity, but he is moving around," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said after the game, won by the Jaguars, 23-17. "The signs are good, but it's a scary thing. We're praying for him, obviously, but we do have good news from the standpoint that he is moving around." . . . Washington Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor left the game against host Carolina with a sprained right knee. Taylor's leg bent awkwardly after he ended up in the middle of the pile following DeAngelo Williams's 5-yard run. Initial X-rays were negative. Carolina cruised to a 47-3 win . . . Ted Ginn had a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown in Miami and caught three passes to lead the Dolphins over the Kansas City Chiefs, 24-0 . . . In Cincinnati, New Orleans sacked Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer three times in the first half, knocking him out of the game with a bloody nose and a cut lip during the Saints' 13-0 victory . . . The Rams' first-string offense ended its long slump with two touchdowns in host St. Louis's 24-10 victory over Baltimore. Ravens quarterback Troy Smith missed his scheduled start because of a viral illness . . . In Minneapolis, the Vikings kept the pressure on Ben Roethlisberger, surrounded Willie Parker, and held Pittsburgh's starting offense to 3 points before the Steelers rallied after halftime, 12-10 . . . Kevin Smith overcame a sluggish start with a 35-yard touchdown run and backup kicker Dave Rayner improved his job chances with four field goals, lifting the host Detroit Lions over Cleveland, 26-6 . . . Matt Leinart threw three interceptions in less than two quarters before the Arizona Cardinals opened up in the second half to beat the Raiders, 24-0 in Oakland, Calif.
Surgery for Williams
Injured Houston Texans receiver Harry Williams will have surgery today to repair a neck vertebra he fractured in Friday's game. Williams, 26, was hurt early in the Texans' 23-22 loss to the Cowboys when he collided with teammate Nick Ferguson while covering a kick return.
Williams was taken off the field on a stretcher, and an ambulance took him to a hospital in Dallas. Team doctor Walter Lowe said Williams had regained feeling in his extremities and most of his normal neurological function.
"He's in good spirits," Houston coach Gary Kubiak said.
Merriman in limbo
San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman told the team he has two torn ligaments in his sore left knee, according to the North County (Calif.) Times and ESPN.com. Merriman, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, said doctors in New York and Alabama, where he sought second and third opinions on the injury, told him he could suffer a severe and possibly career-ending injury if he plays without undergoing surgery. 