McNair Sidelined Six Weeks; Titans Turn to O’Donnell

Tennessee Titan starting quarterback Steve McNair will have back surgery today to repair a ruptured disk and will be out of the lineup for six weeks.

Veteran Neil O’Donnell, signed as a free agent just before training camp, will start today for Tennessee (1-0) against the visiting Cleveland Browns (0-1).

McNair flew Saturday to Los Angeles, where Dr. Robert Watkins will perform the procedure.

“Steve’s message to his teammates was that he’s sorry,” Coach Jeff Fisher said. “That shows exactly what Steve’s about, he feels like he let them down.”

McNair missed two weeks of practice during training camp and two exhibitions because of spasms and stiffness in his back, and the team treated him with injections and exercises.

He rebounded to throw for a career-high 341 yards in the Titans’ season-opening victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. He tied his career high with three touchdown passes and rallied Tennessee for a 36-35 victory with 10 points in the final minutes.

McNair sat out Thursday’s practice when he woke up with more spasms and stiffness. He returned to practice Friday, when the injury apparently occurred. A battery of tests that evening revealed the damage.

McNair had played through a variety of injuries as Tennessee’s starter the last two seasons, but his streak of 34 consecutive starts--the fourth-longest current streak among NFL quarterbacks--will end.

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Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is not expected to become involved in talks to get Barry Sanders to end his retirement now that his dispute with the Detroit Lions is headed for arbitration, the running back’s agent said.

David Ware said he had spoken to Tagliabue before the Lions filed papers to have a portion of Sanders’ signing bonus returned.

“The commissioner was very understanding and empathetic but indicated that he would not get involved in terms of a dispute between the Lions and Barry, but he would welcome the opportunity to welcome Barry to return,” Ware said.

Lamont Smith, Sanders’ other agent, asked Tagliabue in a letter last week to help settle the Lions’ grievance against Sanders, aimed at recouping $5.6 million of the signing bonus the Lions contend Sanders owes them.