PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : 5 Breaks in Ankle, Sewell Out for Year

Running back Steve Sewell, third-down specialist for the Denver Broncos, broke his ankle in five places Saturday and is out for the season.

Originally, doctors expected Sewell to return by midseason, but discovered the multiple breaks during surgery Monday.

Deron Cherry, a six-time all-pro safety who came to the pros as a free-agent punter, retired after 11 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cherry, 33, one of 26 players in NFL history with 50 or more interceptions, said a severe knee injury two years ago helped him make his decision.

Despite a weary arm, quarterback Joe Montana is scheduled to start for the San Francisco 49ers in their exhibition opener against the Broncos next week, Coach George Seifert said.

Montana, after two days of rest, limited his Monday morning passing drills to 30 throws, and afterward said the arm felt just about the same.

“It still feels tired,” said Montana, who missed last season after right elbow surgery. “It felt pretty good the early part, then it just got a little tired.”

Quarterback John Friesz of the San Diego Chargers signed a two-year contract reportedly worth $1.55 million. The deal reportedly will pay Friesz $700,000 in base salary this season and $850,000 in 1993, with incentives that could push his second-year pay to more than $1 million.

Earlier, running back Rod Bernstine signed a one-year contract.