The Miami Dolphins’ dreadful season might have gotten even worse.
Running back Ronnie Brown left in the third quarter of a 49-28 loss to New England on Sunday with a right knee injury. He’s scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Monday.
“I’m just hoping it’s not anything too serious,” Brown said.
Brown walked to the locker room after he was hurt chasing Randall Gay on an interception. He came in leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage, and finished with 76 yards rushing on 17 carries, and had five receptions for 33 yards.
Safeties Renaldo Hill (right knee) and Courtney Bryan (thigh) were also hurt as Miami fell to 0-7.
Houston and Atlanta might have to reassess their quarterback situations after the Texans’ Matt Schaub and the Falcons’ Byron Leftwich were sidelined by injuries.
Schaub left Houston’s game against Tennessee twice, the second time after a helmet-to-helmet hit by Albert Haynesworth.
The Texans trailed 19-7 with a minute left in the first half when Haynesworth delivered the blow on Schaub and was whistled for a personal foul.
Schaub, who also left in the opening quarter with a left ankle injury, lay on the field for several minutes before gingerly jogging off. Team officials said Schaub injured his right hip.
Sage Rosenfels replaced Schaub and tied an NFL record with four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter of the Texans’ 38-36 loss.
The Titans played without their starting quarterback, Vince Young, who was active but was replaced in the starting lineup by Kerry Collins. Young strained his right quadriceps in last week’s 13-10 loss at Tampa Bay and practiced for the first time this week Friday, but only worked with the scout team.
Titans fullback Ahmard Hall broke his arm and will have surgery.
In New Orleans, Leftwich made his first start for the Falcons since joining the club a month ago, but went down with an injured right ankle on his first series of the third quarter.
He gingerly walked off the field with help from trainers and he was replaced by Joey Harrington. Leftwich didn’t return and said he didn’t know how long he’d be out. Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said Leftwich had a high ankle sprain.
The Falcons also lost rookie starting left tackle Renardo Foster in the 22-16 loss. Foster, who became the starter after veteran Wayne Gandy blew out his knee a few weeks ago, was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury.
The Falcons were already without four-time Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler, who was held out of practice the past week with a sore left knee.
Saints starting center Jeff Faine left the game with a pectoral injury.
At Detroit, Tampa Bay return specialist Mark Jones left with a left knee injury after being tackled on a kickoff return late in the first quarter. He was later carted off the field.
Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia had his right hand wrapped after the 23-16 loss, but said it was fine. Wide receiver Michael Clayton (ankle) was also injured.
At Washington, Kurt Warner started at quarterback for Arizona and wore a bulky brace on his left elbow a week after tearing a ligament, but the Cardinals lost tackle Mike Gandy to a right calf injury in the 21-19 loss.
Washington running back Rock Cartwright (quad) and defensive backs Carlos Rogers (sprained knee) and Fred Smoot (hamstring) were also injured.
A number of stars were inactive Sunday, including: Baltimore quarterback Steve McNair (back and groin), cornerback Chris McAlister (knee) and tight end Todd Heap (ankle); Cincinnati running back Rudi Johnson (groin); Philadelphia safety Brian Dawkins (neck) and tight end L.J. Smith (groin); Chicago cornerback Nathan Vasher (groin) and defensive tackle Darwin Walker (knee); and Denver cornerback Champ Bailey (thigh).
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