Kearse's season is over

Jevon Kearse's season is over because of a severe knee injury the Eagles' star defensive end sustained in Philadelphia's overtime loss to the Giants Sunday.

Kearse, who had 2 1/2 sacks in the game, badly sprained multiple ligaments in his left knee when his leg knocked against Mike Patterson while the two brought down Eli Manning on New York's first possession of the extra period. Kearse reached for his knee immediately after the play, was helped off the field, and carted to the locker room.

The injury includes sprains of the medial collateral ligament, the lateral collateral ligament, and the posterior cruciate ligament. Treatment options have yet to be determined, though surgery is likely.

Kearse's injury should give former first-round pick Jerome McDougle an opportunity after he was inactive the first two games.

Terrell Owens had a plate screwed into his broken right ring finger last night, and if all goes well there is an outside chance he will not miss a game. The Cowboys are off Sunday, then play at Tennessee before what would be Owens's much-anticipated return to Philadelphia Oct. 8. His estimated recovery time is 2-4 weeks . . . Vikings defensive end Erasmus James will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. James got hurt on a running play late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 16-13 overtime win over Carolina . . . Bengals linebacker David Pollack was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury, but the team expects him to be fully recovered for next season. Pollack was taken off the field on a neck board after making a tackle in the first quarter of a 34-17 victory over the Browns. Coach Marvin Lewis said Pollack's spinal cord wasn't damaged, and doctors are hopeful that a protective halo brace -- which immobilizes the neck -- will allow the injury to heal without surgery . . . Texans left tackle Charles Spencer had surgery to repair a broken leg after injuring it the previous day against Indianapolis and will miss the rest of the season.

The Colts will have to wait and see about the health of two of their big-name players: defensive anchor Dwight Freeney and kicker Adam Vinatieri. ``It's some muscle in the leg, but I don't know if it's a hip flexor or a hamstring or what it is," Dungy said of Freeney. ``I really don't know if Dwight will be out any length of time." Vinatieri hurt his groin and did not kick the extra point or kickoff after Indianapolis's final scoring drive. Both are awaiting MRI results . . . Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks will be sidelined 2-4 weeks with a strained pectoral muscle, giving the starting job to second-year player Andrew Walter. Brooks hurt himself Sunday after fumbling his second straight snap from center in the first quarter of a 28-6 loss to Baltimore. Originally, the Raiders thought it was a rotator cuff injury. The winless Raiders have a much-needed bye this week . . . A day after Cedric Cobbs nearly fumbled away the overtime kickoff against Kansas City, the Broncos signed former Pittsburgh receiver/returner Quincy Morgan. Denver plays the Patriots Sunday night at Foxborough.