Oiler Rookie Hospitalized

Tennessee Oiler rookie cornerback Samari Rolle had “numbness” after suffering a neck injury in a collision with receiver Derrick Mason during the team’s afternoon practice at Nashville.

“Samari sustained an injury to his neck and originally had numbness on his left side,” Oiler General Manager Floyd Reese said. “He is getting feeling back in his arms and legs, but right now he’s going though more tests and will be reevaluated later.”

Rolle, a second-round draft pick from Florida State, was down for about 20 minutes before he was taken from the field by stretcher and transported to a hospital. He did not lose consciousness. Mason was was on the ground for 10 minutes before sitting up and leaving the field with an ice bag on his left knee.

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The Minnesota Vikings, in their first home game with Red McCombs as owner, will have their first exhibition sellout in more than 10 years when they play the Kansas City Chiefs tonight.

McCombs made a priority of selling out the game immediately after his purchase got NFL approval last month.

The Vikings also needed two 24-hour extensions from the NFL avoid a local TV blackout, but got it the sellout Friday when a local grocery chain bought the remaining 4,000 tickets.

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Vinny Testaverde will make his first start for the New York Jets today at the Meadowlands against the team that dropped him earlier this year, the Baltimore Ravens.

Testaverde was released by Baltimore and signed as a free agent with the Jets, ostensibly as a backup to Glenn Foley. Testaverde has been so impressive in practice, however, that Jets Coach Bill Parcells wants to see what he can do with the first team.