NFL notebook: Texans' LB Cushing out for the season
BY Associated Press
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
10/10/12 at 3:40 AM
Linebacker Brian Cushing is out for the season with a torn left knee ligament, leaving the unbeaten Houston Texans without their top tackler and one of their emotional leaders.
Cushing was hurt in the second quarter of the Texans' 23-17 win over the New York Jets on a low block by guard Matt Slauson. Cushing walked off the field on his own, but didn't return.
Coach Gary Kubiak said Tuesday that Cushing has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will need surgery in two to three weeks, after the swelling subsides.
Ryan says "no question" Sanchez still Jets starter: Coach Rex Ryan says there is "no question" that Mark Sanchez is the New York Jets' starting quarterback despite struggling at times against the Houston Texans. Sanchez has completed less than 50 percent of his passes in four straight games and many fans and media have suggested that backup Tim Tebow should take over as the starter.
Ryan thought Sanchez "played pretty good" in the Jets' 23-17 loss to Houston on Monday night. He cited three dropped passes and four tips as skewing Sanchez's final stats: 14-of-31 for 230 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
Lions looking healthier after open date: Louis Delmas and Cliff Avril were on the practice field Tuesday for the Detroit Lions, who come out of their open date looking like a pretty healthy team.
Jahvid Best still can't play, but he's eligible to come off the reserve-physically unable to perform list next week. Corey Williams, who is coming off knee surgery, stood off the to the side at the start of practice Tuesday, and former Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew wasn't on the field at all during the portion open to reporters.
Hall of Fame gets Brees' record-setting football: The Pro Football Hall of Fame has received the football Drew Brees threw to eclipsed Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas' record of 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
Brees broke the record with a 40-yard pass to Devery Henderson during a 31-24 victory over San Diego on Sunday night, marking Brees' 48th straight game with a scoring pass.
Redskins cut struggling K Cundiff, sign Forbath: The Washington Redskins released struggling kicker Billy Cundiff on Tuesday and replaced him with free agent Kai Forbath.
Cundiff was signed late in preseason after he was waived by the Baltimore Ravens. He has been the worst kicker in the league this year, making only seven of 12 field goal attempts.
Alex Karras with wife, kids after kidney failure: Alex Karras was recently released from a California hospital after having kidney failure so he could spend his final days with family.
"He may be dying of kidney failure because now his body is catching up to the deterioration of his mind," Craig Mitnick, Karras' attorney in a lawsuit against the NFL, told The Associated Press on Tuesday afternoon.
In his day, Karras was one of the NFL's best defensive tackles. Karras became an analyst alongside Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford on "Monday Night Football." He had a well-known appearance as Mongo in the 1974 movie "Blazing Saddles" and was a star in the 1980s sitcom "Webster."
