PRO FOOTBALL: DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Nagle Meets Smith and Pays a Price

Browning Nagle has been introduced to Bruce Smith, and Nagle has a temporary cast on his left foot to show for it.

Nagle, the Jets’ quarterback, was injured in the first quarter of Monday night’s 24-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with Miami because of an arch problem.

Although Nagle played into the fourth quarter, he was hurt when Smith hit him after Nagle released a pass early in the game.

Wide receiver Louis Lipps, 30, was waived by the New Orleans Saints, 4 1/2 weeks after they signed him. Lipps played in two games for the Saints, catching one pass for a yard and returning five punts for a 4.4-yard average before pulling his right hamstring and was placed on injured reserve.

A nine-year veteran and twice an All-Pro, Lipps was waived early in the season by Pittsburgh.

Six weeks ago, Vinny Testaverde was the No. 3-rated passer in the NFL and the leader of an unbeaten team. Now he’s a backup for 38-year-old Steve DeBerg.

Testaverde, 28, was demoted when Coach Sam Wyche decided that DeBerg will start for Tampa Bay this week and try to help the struggling Buccaneers break a three-game losing streak when they take on the Saints. Wyche, seven games into his first season with Tampa Bay, said the switch is for the good of the team as well as Testaverde, who helped the Buccaneers (3-4) to a 3-1 start before reverting to his form of the last five years.

Eight-year veteran defensive end Ron Holmes, 29, was waived by the Denver Broncos. His roster spot was not immediately filled, although wide receiver Michael Young, the team’s leading pass catcher a year ago, is eligible to be activated off injured reserve after recuperating from off-season back surgery. . . . Seattle linebacker Terry Wooden had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to remove a piece of cartilage and was placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss a minimum of four games.