NFL Notes: Knocked out by Pats, Humphries doubtful

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

The concussion that knocked San Diego quarterback Stan Humphries out of a lopsided loss to New England is expected to keep him out of Sunday's crucial game at Pittsburgh.

The quarterback spent about 17 hours at Sharp Hospital after having his head banged into the turf in the third quarter of Sunday night's 45-7 loss to New England. He went home Monday.

"As of right now, it doesn't look like we're going to have him for this ballgame," coach Bobby Ross said late Monday night. "After that, it's week-to-week. If you have a concern about it, you've got to be very careful."

Earlier, team officials said they'd determine Humphries' status after getting test results either late Monday or early today.

"I'm not going to speculate on that until the doctors have put together all the information and collectively we make the decision," trainer Keoki Kamau said. "And part of the decision-making process is Stan. Whether he plays or not, that's the last thing on our mind right now. What's best for Stan is what we're trying to piece together."

Sean Salisbury would make his third start of the year if Humphries is unavailable. The Chargers went 1-1 with Salisbury when Humphries missed two starts with a dislocated left shoulder. Sunday's loss dropped the Chargers to 7-6 and into a three-way tie for the AFC's third and final wild-card playoff spot.

* RAIDERS DROP CAMARILLO: Rich Camarillo fell a few minutes short of punting in a record-tying 16th NFL season. Camarillo, signed a week earlier to replace the injured Jeff Gossett, was waived by the Oakland Raiders on Monday, a day after a groin pull sidelined him against the Dolphins. Camarillo held on kicks Sunday, but was not able to punt after injuring the groin in pregame warmups. Backup quarterback Billy Joe Hobert filled in as punter for the second straight week. Camarillo would have tied Jerrel Wilson's NFL record of punting in 16 seasons if he had punted for the Raiders.

* BENGALS LOSE TOVAR: The Cincinnati Bengals might have to look for another middle linebacker in the off-season because of uncertainty about Steve Tovar's future. Tovar tore ligaments in his left knee during a 30-27 defeat Sunday in Jacksonville. He was to be examined today by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Surgery is anticipated to repair the anterior cruciate ligament, which was torn completely. Tovar also tore the medial collateral ligament, but that injury is not as serious. Players usually take about a year to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, putting Tovar at risk of missing part of next season.

* JUSTIN TO START AGAIN: Paul Justin waited five years to win his first game as a starting quarterback in the NFL. He'll get the opportunity to get his second within a four-day period. Justin, a seventh-round draft pick of Chicago in 1991, started in place of an injured Jim Harbaugh on Sunday and helped the Indianapolis Colts upset Buffalo 13-10 in overtime. Harbaugh's injured ligament in his left knee is still healing, and coach Lindy Infante isn't expecting him to play Thursday night when the Colts play host to Philadelphia. "Unless something happens that I don't know about, Jimmy is pretty doubtful." Infante said Monday. "We'll probably try to have him in that (emergency) role that we had against Buffalo. He did a lot of work on it today, but it's still pretty sore."