Broken Vertebrae Will Sideline Elam for at Least Three Weeks

Denver kicker Jason Elam is expected to miss at least three weeks after breaking parts of two vertebrae in his lower back while trying to make a tackle in Sunday’s victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Elam spent the night at Swedish Medical Center, and tests revealed fractures to the transverse process of the L-2 and L-3 vertebrae in his lower back. The transverse process is the winglike projection that extends laterally from both sides of each vertebra.

Elam was released from the hospital Monday while the Broncos sought his replacement.

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Tests show Steve McNair only has a bruised sternum, but the Tennessee Titans took the precaution of keeping the quarterback in the hospital a second night. . . . Cincinnati Bengal middle linebacker Brian Simmons will miss at least 10 weeks after tearing cartilage in his right knee during Sunday’s 24-7 loss to Cleveland. . . . The Baltimore Ravens will be without wide receiver Quadry Ismail for at least a week after he sprained his left medial-collateral ligament while returning a first-quarter kickoff in Sunday’s victory over Jacksonville.

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Hall of Fame coach Sid Gillman, 89, remains hospitalized at Scripps Hospital in Encinitas nearly six weeks after undergoing surgery for an aortic aneurysm, but his wife, Esther, said he’s making excellent progress.