Buccaneers lose Kelly for season

By Wire Services, 10/22/2003

Tampa Bay's struggling defense suffered a major blow yesterday when cornerback Brian Kelly was placed on injured reserve with a torn chest muscle that will require season-ending surgery.

Hank Poteat, released by the Steelers Aug. 31, was signed to replace him.

Kelly, who tied for the NFL lead with a career-high eight interceptions in 2002, injured his left pectoral muscle during the Buccaneers' 38-35 loss to Indianapolis Oct. 6.

He sat out the following week's game at Washington, then started Sunday's game at San Francisco but didn't finish.

With Kelly sidelined, Indianapolis exploited young backup Tim Wansley in overcoming a three-touchdown deficit in the last four minutes of regulation before beating the Bucs in overtime.

Tampa Bay yielded 458 yards in Sunday's 24-7 loss to the 49ers, the most yards the Bucs have allowed in a game since 1991.

Poteat, who spent the last three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (mostly on special teams), signed a two-year contract.

Gannon awaits MRI

Rich Gannon was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam on his ailing shoulder, and Oakland Raiders coach Bill Callahan would not guarantee the quarterback's starting job until the results were known.

Gannon, last season's league MVP, was pounded by the Kansas City defense throughout the first half of the Raiders' 17-10 loss to the Chiefs Monday night. He was held out of the second half with a bruised right shoulder.

Callahan praised Gannon and backup Marques Tuiasosopo yesterday, but said he is not sure who would be the first-string quarterback when the Raiders return from their bye week.

"I'm not going to make any determination on the quarterback's play until I know about his health situation," Callahan said of Gannon. "This is the league's MVP. I have great respect for him and everything he has done for the team."

After he was sacked by linebacker Shawn Barber on the final play of the first half, Gannon went to the sideline holding his arm. Gannon, 10 of 19 for 58 yards and an interception, received treatment on the sideline while Tuiasosopo played the second half.

Tuiasosopo, a seldom-used backup who had just 69 yards passing in his career, rallied the Raiders to three lengthy drives and 10 points in the fourth quarter. But the comeback attempt ended when two Chiefs tackled Tim Brown at the Kansas City 1 as time expired.

Beuerlein is done

Broncos quarterback Steve Beuerlein will miss the rest of the season after breaking the little finger on his throwing hand in Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Broncos placed Beuerlein on the season-ending injured reserve list, two days after coach Mike Shanahan said Beuerlein would probably miss 4-5 weeks. Beuerlein's injury leaves third-stringer Danny Kanell as the starter for the next two weeks, against Baltimore and New England. Starting quarterback Jake Plummer has a broken bone in his left foot that probably will keep him out until Nov. 16 against San Diego . . . Jerome Bettis will make his first start of the season Sunday against St. Louis as the Pittsburgh Steelers try to jump-start their struggling running game and end a three-game losing streak . . . The New York Jets reached an injury settlement with cornerback former Patriot Leonard Myers and waived running back Johnathan Reese from the practice squad . . . The Chicago Bears waived tight end John Davis after he failed a physical. Davis was placed on the physically unable to perform list Aug. 24 after having back surgery . . . Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair's case on drunken driving and weapons charges will go to a grand jury, but there was no word on when the grand jury would convene . . . Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him with the team into 2009 . . . Former Redskins assistant Joe Bugel, who coached the Redskins' Super Bowl offensive live known as "The Hogs" to greatness, rejoined the team as an offensive consultant.