Redskins’ Johnson Has Sprained Knee

Washington Redskin quarterback Brad Johnson sprained a ligament in his left knee when hit on a pass play during the final touchdown drive in Monday night’s 27-21 loss to Tennessee.

Trainer Bubba Tyer said Tuesday that Johnson won’t practice today, and the quarterback is questionable for Sunday’s game at Arizona.

“I’m concerned to some degree,” Tyer said.

Johnson was hurt on a pass play to Stephen Davis. He stayed in the game, and trainers applied ice to the knee after the game.

Jeff George is the backup quarterback. Signed to a four-year, $18.25-million contract in April, George has yet to play.

Also during Monday’s game, Titan running back Eddie George slightly twisted his ankle and also has a sore toe on his right foot, Coach Jeff Fisher said.

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NFL owners approved a new scheduling format for the 32-team league during meetings at Atlanta, and agreed to help finance the renovation of Chicago’s historic Soldier Field.

The major decision was unanimous approval of a new scheduling formula when the Houston Texans join the league in 2002, which will lead to realignment with eight four-team divisions.

Each team will play six games within its division (home-and-away against the other three teams), four games against another division within its conference, four games against a division in the opposite conference and two games within the conference based on the previous year’s standings.

Those final two games were the main sticking point, with some owners wanting to preserve those for traditional rivalries. Instead, a first-place team would play the other two first-place teams from its conference that are not already on the schedule, a second-place team would play the other two second-place teams, etc.

The other non-division games would rotate annually, meaning a team would play everybody in the league at least once every four years.

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Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Philadelphia after aggravating his injured back in last week’s 23-17 overtime loss to Jacksonville.

“He’s still sore and stiff and came in and got some treatment,” Cowboy Coach Dave Campo said.

“We’re going to look at him [today] and Thursday and we’ll see where it goes from there.”

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Nielsen ratings for “Monday Night Football” are 9% lower than they were a year ago through nine games.

ABC’s program is averaging a 12.7 national rating and 21 share, compared to 13.9/23 to this point in 1999.

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Tight end Wesley Walls was put on injured reserve by the Carolina Panthers, who used his roster spot to sign tight end Jason Gavadza. Walls, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, tore ligaments in a knee during Sunday’s loss to Atlanta. . . . Cam Cleeland, the New Orleans Saints’ tight end, tore the left Achilles’ tendon he first injured July 29. Cleeland has had surgery to repair the injury and will have to start his six-month rehabilitation over. General Manager Randy Mueller said Cleeland should be ready for the 2001 season. . . . Running back De’Mond Parker was taken off the Green Bay Packers’ physically unable to perform list and put on their 53-man roster. Parker, a second-year pro, fills the roster vacancy created when rookie running back Herbert Goodman was waived Friday. . . . Todd Rucci, the New England Patriots’ starting right guard for most of the last six seasons, was released by the team. . . . Defensive end Uhuru Hamiter signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. . . . The New York Jets signed defensive tackle Shane Burton to a five-year contract extension, the team announced. Financial terms were not disclosed. . . . Negotiations to sell the name of the Broncos’ new football stadium to a corporate sponsor were suspended because of opposition to dumping the name “Mile High Stadium.” AT&T; Broadband and Invesco Funds Group withdrew their offers.