PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : 49ers Lose Dent for Most of Season

San Francisco 49er Coach George Seifert said defensive end Richard Dent, one of the team’s most important off-season acquisitions, suffered a knee injury during a fourth-quarter pileup in Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Dent was expected to undergo surgery as early as today and might sit out most of the season. Seifert said the team hoped Dent could return late in the season but that determination couldn’t be made until six weeks into his rehabilitation.

Left guard Jesse Sapolu suffered a pulled right hamstring while blocking on a field-goal try Sunday and will sit out Sunday’s game against the Rams.

The 49ers (1-1) have lost four starters to injury in the first two games, including three members of the offensive line. Sapolu joins tackle Harris Barton and guard Ralph Tamm on the sidelines. Sapolu and Barton each went to the Pro Bowl last year.

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New Orleans Saint running back Mario Bates, a second-round draft pick this year, will be sidelined about six weeks after having his jaw broken by teammate Lorenzo Neal.

Bates and Neal went out after the Saints’ 38-24 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, ending up at Club 57, a lounge owned by former Saint linebacker Rickey Jackson.

“Neither one of them are quite sure as to exactly what happened,” Coach Jim Mora said. “Things got out of hand and we’ve got a player with a broken jaw.”

Bates was hospitalized Monday to have the jaw surgically repaired. Mora said the extent of the injury is not known.

“There’s nothing further that’s going to occur from a standpoint of hard feelings,” Mora said.

The incident happened after midnight inside the club, Mora said. He said he did not think the players were drunk, but said they did not know what prompted Neal to hit Bates.

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A broken collarbone probably will sideline Detroit Lion wide receiver Anthony Carter for at least six weeks. Carter, a key veteran addition to a promising wide receiving corps, suffered a broken collarbone and scapula during Sunday’s 10-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Former USC receiver Johnnie Morton, the Lions’ first-round draft choice out, was not active for Sunday’s game. With Carter out, Morton could be in uniform for Monday’s game against the Cowboys at Dallas.

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New York Giant running back Rodney Hampton could be sidelined two to three weeks after suffering kidney and back injuries during Sunday’s 20-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

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The San Diego Chargers put defensive tackle Blaise Winter and punter John Kidd on injured reserve, meaning they’re sidelined for the season. The Charger replaced Winter by agreeing to terms with John Parrella, a second-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1993. The Chargers haven’t replaced Kidd, but have been speaking with seven-year veteran Bryan Wagner. . . . Cardinal Coach Buddy Ryan said he will announce Wednesday whether Jim McMahon, Steve Beuerlein or Jay Schroeder will start at quarterback. McMahon replaced Beuerlein during a 20-17 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday. . . . Miami Dolphin rookie running back Irving Spikes, who came off the bench to gain 70 yards in 13 carries at Green Bay, might sit out the Jets’ game this week because of a strained right medial collateral ligament suffered Sunday.