PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : Former Trojans Salisbury, Affholter Start Off Well

Third-string quarterback Sean Salisbury’s performance was a bright spot for the Minnesota Vikings in their 18-3 exhibition loss to the New Orleans Saints Saturday night at New Orleans.

Salisbury, who took over with 15 seconds left in the third quarter, completed 11 of 15 passes for 107 yards. On one Salisbury-led drive, the Vikings went from their own 12-yard line to the Saints’ eight, but Salisbury fumbled a center snap and John Thornton recovered for the Saints.

“I thought Salisbury did a good job,” Coach Jerry Burns said of the former USC quarterback. “He was pretty poised out there. He moved the ball pretty good out there.”

Wade Wilson started for the Vikings and completed six of 10 passes for 46 yards, and Rich Gannon completed two of 10 for 28 yards.

Another former USC performer, receiver Erik Affholter, played well Saturday night. After two seasons on injured reserve, Affholter caught four passes for 42 yards, including one for a touchdown that covered 17 yards, in the Packers’ 28-7 victory over New England at Green Bay.

“I felt good out there. It was really just like another game, like I’d been playing the last two years,” said Affholter, out with an ankle injury in 1989 and a hamstring problem in 1990. “I wasn’t nervous or overly excited, just focused on what I had to do. I was fortunate to get some balls thrown my way.”

Safety Steve Atwater ended his 23-day holdout and reported to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos reportedly agreed to rework the incentives in his contract. Atwater was fined $1,500 a day for his holdout, for a total tab of $34,500, but it was unclear if Atwater will have to pay the fine.

Atwater made the need for additional insurance coverage a big issue since he suffered a sprained knee while working out in May.

It is not known if the Broncos will renegotiate other terms of Atwater’s contract. The team insisted on waiting until after the season. The Broncos have a policy of not renegotiating a contract with more than two years left before it expires.

Linebacker Billy Ray Smith of the San Diego Chargers is expected to miss three to six weeks because of a sprained right knee sustained during Saturday’s 31-29 exhibition victory over the Houston Oilers.

Smith said the injury occurred when he was hit in the knee by a helmet.

Team doctors were encouraged by the results of X-rays taken Sunday morning, Smith said.

“I had really good range of motion,” he said. “It was not nearly as stiff as anticipated, so they were very optimistic about the recovery period.”