Bengals’ Scott Likely Lost for the Season

Darnay Scott, the Cincinnati Bengals’ leading receiver and most explosive downfield threat, broke two bones in his left leg during practice at Georgetown, Ky., on Tuesday and could be lost for the season.

Scott left the field in an ambulance after players and coaches heard a snap and saw him fall to the turf. He was blocking cornerback Robert Bean when another player was blocked into him.

Scott, 28, was expected to carry much of the offensive load after the release of Carl Pickens, the team’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns. Pickens signed with the Tennessee Titans last week.

The team’s top four remaining receivers, rookies Peter Warrick and Ron Dugans and second-year players Craig Yeast and Damon Griffin, have a total of 15 NFL catches between them.

Trainer Paul Sparling said Scott was taken to Georgetown Community Hospital before being transported to Cincinnati for surgery.

Doctors planned to insert a rod and several anchor nails into the tibia, the larger weight-bearing bone, during a procedure at Deaconess Hospital in Cincinnati.

“It’s safe to say his season is over,” Sparling said. “It’s going to be a very big challenge for him to come back and perform at the level he needs to.”

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San Diego Charger quarterback Ryan Leaf suffered a setback with his surgically repaired throwing shoulder and is questionable to play in Saturday’s exhibition opener at San Francisco.

Leaf, who said the shoulder was sore when he woke up in the morning, briefly threw during Tuesday’s practice, but spent much of the session with an ice bag draped around the shoulder.

Leaf hasn’t played in a competitive NFL game in 19 months. He tore the labrum in the shoulder a year ago.

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The Cleveland Browns have not ruled out the possibility of Orlando Brown returning from an eye injury and playing this season.

“The next time we have to consider it is the end of August,” team spokesman Todd Stewart said.

He added that the offensive tackle can stay on the physically unable to perform list until that time.

He was hurt Dec. 19 when a referee tossed a weighted penalty flag that accidentally struck Brown’s right eye.

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The Baltimore Ravens and receiver Travis Taylor agreed in principle to a five-year, $10.5-million contract. The deal includes a $5-million signing bonus for the first-round draft pick out of Florida. . . . Veteran punter Louie Aguiar signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Rams. He’s taking the place--for the moment--of Rick Tuten, who strained a leg muscle in practice last week. . . . Buffalo Bill running back Shawn Bryson is listed as day-to-day after straining his left knee in practice.