Green Named Redskin Starter

Washington Redskin quarterback Trent Green will make his first NFL start at home on Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers.

After starter Gus Frerotte self-destructed with consecutive interceptions in the season opener Sunday that essentially gave the New York Giants a 31-24 victory, Redskin Coach Norv Turner announced the quarterback switch Monday. He said it was a decision he would have made regardless of the health of Frerotte, who left the game with a sprained left shoulder and is expected to be in uniform against the 49ers.

Green, a fifth-year player from Indiana who had previously played only one down, completed 15 of his first 16 passes and brought the Redskins within seven points twice with touchdown passes. He finished 17 of 25 for 208 yards.

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Kansas City Chief quarterback Elvis Grbac may have a mild shoulder separation, Pro Bowl left guard Dave Szott injured his left arm in a 28-8 victory over Oakland, and both are probably out for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville. Coach Marty Schottenheimer said both were evaluated Monday, but the Labor Day holiday prevented team doctors from getting a second opinion. Grbac, who missed six games last year with a broken collarbone, was hurt on the last play of the first half when he was blindsided by Oakland’s Darrell Russell. . . . Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair, who was sidelined the second half of the Oilers’ 23-14 victory in Cincinnati after banging his right elbow on the artificial turf and losing some feeling in his lower arm, is expected to play Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. McNair had some swelling Monday and won’t throw until at least Wednesday. . . . Baltimore quarterback Jim Harbaugh, who suffered an injury to a finger on his throwing hand in a 20-13 loss to Pittsburgh, is expected to play Sunday against the New York Jets. The injury, which occurred in the second quarter and sidelined Harbaugh the rest of the game, was initially diagnosed as an acute fracture. But a CT scan later revealed only ligament damage--which is considered less severe. Harbaugh said he will practice this week when he can grip a football.

Cincinnati placed injury-plagued running back Ki-Jana Carter on the injured reserve after he suffered a fractured left wrist in Bengals’ loss to Tennessee. Carter, the No. 1 overall draft pick three years ago, missed all of the 1995 season after tearing a ligament in his left knee in an exhibition game, and lost his starting job to Corey Dillon last season after tearing his rotator cuff. . . . Buffalo Bill defensive end Bruce Smith said he didn’t play in a 16-14 loss in San Diego because a slow recovery from knee surgery in February, not because he is unhappy that he’s the team’s third-highest paid player to tackle Ted Washington and quarterback Rob Johnson. . . . Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Bert Emanuel, who signed a $16.4-million contract as a free agent this summer, will be out four to six weeks with a sprained ankle suffered in a 31-7 loss to Minnesota. Quarterback Trent Dilfer suffered a slight shoulder separation and deep thigh bruise in the fourth quarter against the Vikings, but is expected to play Sunday against Green Bay.

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NFL owners will decide today in Chicago the owner of the new Cleveland Browns and the amount to be paid for the franchise. The cost of the franchise is expected to be more than $500 million. The owner finalists are Cleveland-area lawyer Larry Dolan, businessman Al Lerner, New York real estate magnate Howard Milstein and Cleveland native Bart Wolstein, who became a millionaire in real estate.