Steeler Tackle Strzelczyk Out for Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Kansas City Chiefs Monday night, but lost starting offensive tackle Justin Strzelczyk for the season, the club said Tuesday.

The 6-foot-6, 309-pound Strzelczyk suffered a torn right leg muscle in the 20-13 victory and will undergo season-ending surgery today.

Jamain Stephens, Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in 1996, will take over at right tackle.

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Offensive left tackle Pat Harlow, who was put on the injured reserve list by the Oakland Raiders last weekend because of continuing back problems, said he is likely to retire. He’ll try to rehabilitate the back again, but said he doesn’t expect to return to the field.

“I’m going to see if I feel better [before next season]. And then the Raiders are going to have to decide if they want to take the risk,” he said. “I’m not going to say it’s real realistic.”

The only team Harlow, a former USC player, would consider playing for is the Raiders.

“These guys have treated me so well. My career probably should have been over two years ago when I came here,” he said. “I’ve given everything I can to these guys, and they don’t want to see me jeopardize myself beyond what I’ve already done.”

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The state agency that polices building contractors is investigating whether Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville was properly constructed and inspected.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has subpoenaed records from a firm that inspected the stadium while it was being built in 1994 and 1995. The city-owned stadium is the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The stadium has had problems with leaking ceilings. The 73,000-seat stadium was built in 19 months, which set a record for shortest construction time for a modern NFL facility.

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Seattle quarterback Warren Moon is still slowed because of two cracked ribs and might miss Sunday’s game against Oakland. . . . A Dec. 8 trial date was set for New England tight end Ben Coates in connection with an alleged assault on the mother of one of his children. Coates had asked a judge to postpone the trial until after the season. . . . The New York Jets signed linebacker Rob Holmberg to replace Craig Powell, who was put on injured reserve. . . . Former Miami guard Randy Wheeler, paralyzed in a car crash in July, will be transferred today to a hospital near his hometown in South Carolina.

NFC / Bears’ Kramer Has Surgery on Knee

Chicago Bear quarterback Erik Kramer will miss practice this week after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, the team said.

Kramer also could be sidelined for the Bears’ next game, at home Nov. 8 against the St. Louis Rams, but a decision won’t be made until next week.

Kramer, 33, has played every offensive down for the Bears (3-5).

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New Orleans Saint starting tackle William Roaf, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, will miss at least two weeks after undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.

The injury apparently happened during the Saints’ victory against Tampa Bay. Roaf noticed some swelling in the knee on Monday. An MRI discovered partial cartilage tear.

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Defensive tackle Eric Swann will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today and will be out for an indefinite period.

Swann had decided to play in pain rather than have surgery on the knee, which hurt so much the two-time Pro Bowl selection rarely practiced over the past three weeks.

In seven games, Swann had 33 tackles and was tied for the team lead in quarterback sacks with four.

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Atlanta cornerback Ronnie Bradford and receiver Tim Dwight will be out at least four weeks because of strained medial collateral knee ligaments suffered in the loss to the New York Jets.

Linebacker Jessie Tuggle severely sprained his right ankle, making him questionable for Sunday’s game against St. Louis, but quarterback Chris Chandler might return. His status will be evaluated after today’s practice.