Brunell Might Be Back in October

Mark Brunell will avoid surgery and probably return to the Jacksonville Jaguars in October, the team’s doctor said Thursday after examining the quarterback’s injured right knee.

A 45-minute arthroscopic examination showed that Brunell had partial tears of the posterior cruciate ligament and the anterior cruciate ligament. The medial collateral ligament was torn off the lower bone, Dr. Stephen Lucie said.

Brunell will have to undergo eight weeks of rehabilitation involving muscle strengthening and wearing a brace.

“I’m looking forward to getting back and competing and continuing the season with the team,” Brunell said in a statement. “This is great news and it is truly a blessing.”

Brunell, who two weeks ago signed a five-year, $31.5-million contract, led the NFL in passing yards last year and guided the Jaguars to the AFC championship game, where they lost to New England.

Replacing Brunell will be Rob Johnson, the Jaguars’ fourth-round draft pick in 1995 from USC. Because of Brunell’s durability last year, Johnson was the only backup in the league who didn’t take a single snap. In his two years, he has played in only one game and thrown only seven passes.

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The Denver Broncos broke training camp, faced with the question of when quarterback John Elway will return. Elway ruptured a right biceps tendon in Denver’s second exhibition against Miami, but began throwing Monday and has progressed enough to warrant speculation he’ll play in Sunday’s game at New England. . . . Cornerback Butler By’not’e, who was out of the NFL last year after spending his first two seasons with Denver and Carolina, signed with New England. . . . The Indianapolis Colts cut six players, including former Indiana running back Alex Smith.