Monday, Sept. 20, 2004 | 1:57 a.m.
Saints running back Deuce McAllister lasted just a handful of plays before spraining his right ankle against San Francisco, one of several prominent players who got hurt Sunday.
On his third carry, McAllister was tackled by Bryant Young and fumbled. He spent the rest of the day on the sideline in an orthopedic boot. McAllister will have an MRI exam Monday. San Francisco running back Kevan Barlow also got hurt in the game, leaving in the fourth quarter with bruised ribs.
In Baltimore, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox left the game against the Ravens with an elbow injury, while cornerback Deion Sanders strained a hamstring muscle in the second quarter and tight end Todd Heap sprained his right ankle.
Maddox was hit in the pocket by cornerback Gary Baxter during the Steelers' first offensive series in the second half and fumbled. After the play, he gripped his right elbow while in obvious pain. Rookie Ben Roethlisberger, their first-round pick, took over and threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes.
Sanders, who was playing in his second game since ending a three-year retirement, apparently hurt himself covering Plaxico Burress on the final play before the 2-minute warning.
In East Rutherford, N.J., Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell injured his left hamstring against the New York Giants in the third quarter.
Brunell appeared to get hurt on a rollout on a pass to tight end Walter Rasby. On the next play, he handed off to Clinton Portis and fell to the ground. He walked off the field and was replaced by Patrick Ramsey.
Coach Joe Gibbs said Brunell's status is day to day.
The Browns also had a rash of injuries against Dallas. Rookie tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. sustained an apparent ankle injury at the end of the Browns' 19-12 loss to Dallas.
Winslow was hurt when the Browns recovered an onside kick. He was caught in the pileup for the ball and didn't immediately get up at the end of the play. Coach Butch Davis said Winslow was taken for preliminary X-rays for a foot or ankle injury. He wouldn't elaborate or speculate on the extent of the injury.
Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren, the left side of Cleveland's starting defensive line, both left the game.
Brown, the No. 1 overall pick in 2000 who missed the end of the last two seasons before of injuries, sprained his left foot in the first quarter. Warren aggravated the pectoral muscle that knocked him out of the season opener. Running back Lee Suggs was inactive because of a neck stinger.
Jets Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae broke his right hand against the San Diego Chargers. Coach Herman Edwards said he didn't know how long Mawae will be out. Mawae, who's started in five straight Pro Bowls, broke the fourth metacarpal late in the third quarter. Jonathan Goodwin finished at center for the Jets.
Chargers quarterback Drew Brees sustained a concussion late in the third quarter against the Jets on a hit by safety Jon McGraw, who was called for roughing the passer.
Brees stayed in for nearly another quarter, but was pulled for 41-year-old Doug Flutie with less than four minutes to go and the Chargers trailing 34-21.
In Green Bay, Chicago safety Mike Brown was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter with a right Achilles' tendon injury. Coach Lovie Smith said Brown was scheduled for more medical tests Monday.
"It's a tough break for Mike," Smith said. "Mike is our captain. He's a big part of what we'll do around here. He's got to hope for the best right now."
Also in the game, Bears OL Mike Gandy (hamstring) and DT Alfonso Boone (knee) were hurt.
In other injuries, Panthers star DT Kris Jenkins bruised his shoulder and was in and out of the game against the Chiefs in the second half. Chiefs WR Eddie Kennison also pulled his hamstring.
Falcons running back Warrick Dunn sprained his left knee against St. Louis; Jacksonville defensive end Paul Spicer broke his right leg near the end of the third quarter against the Denver Broncos and is likely out for the season; Redskins DE William Daniels left in first quarter against the Giants with a groin injury; Patriots receiver Deion Branch was knocked out with a knee injury on the final play of the first half against Arizona and was held out for the remainder of the game as precaution; and Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson jammed his right big toe.
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