Report Says James Will Miss Season

Indianapolis Colt running back Edgerrin James will miss the rest of the season because of a left knee injury that will require surgery, ESPN.com reported Thursday.

ESPN.com, citing unidentified sources, said James sought a second opinion from orthopedic surgeon John Uribe, who determined surgery is necessary to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Uribe is the team doctor for the University of Miami, where James starred before joining the Colts in 1999.

The Colts have said only that James will miss the next two to three weeks.

“Consistent with previous statements, club officials and medical staff have not yet met with Edgerrin James and there’s nothing to report,” team spokesman Craig Kelley said.

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The NFL fined Miami Dolphin defensive end Lorenzo Bromell $15,500 for his hit that broke Indianapolis Colt quarterback Peyton Manning’s jaw Sunday.

Bromell said he plans to appeal.

Bromell said, as he walked off the practice field, that he didn’t want to talk about the fine, noting, “If I say what I want to say, I’ll be fined again.”

“It wasn’t a late hit,” Coach Dave Wannstedt said. “They have to determine if it was intentional or not. I didn’t think it was. I thought he was making a great effort to get to the quarterback.”

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Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair watched practice with ice wrapped around his sore and swollen thumb.

McNair injured the thumb on his throwing hand during the first half of Monday night’s 16-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He couldn’t grip a ball Wednesday.

“There’s a chance he may throw the ball a little bit [today],” Coach Jeff Fisher said.

A splint that had been on his hand Wednesday was gone, replaced by tape on the thumb and index finger.

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The Carolina Panthers were unsure if rookie quarterback Chris Weinke will play this weekend because of a sore throwing shoulder.

Weinke and Matt Lytle split time with the first team for the second consecutive day. Coach George Seifert was unsure about Weinke’s status for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.

“He was all right, but to be quite frank, I don’t know if Chris will start,” Seifert said. “I don’t know if it’s the best thing for him right now.”

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Glyn Milburn, cut by the Chicago Bears a few days after botching two kickoff returns, was signed by the San Diego Chargers to replace a punt returner who had similar problems.

Milburn was signed two days after the Chargers cut Reggie Jones, who muffed two punts and had just five yards on three returns in a 26-16 loss at Denver on Sunday.

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The New England Patriots claimed linebacker Kole Ayi off waivers from the New York Giants. Ayi, 23, originally signed by the St. Louis Rams as a free agent after the 2001 draft.