Broncos’ Davis Lost to More Knee Surgery

Oft-injured Denver Bronco running back Terrell Davis underwent arthroscopic surgery on Thursday to relieve swelling in his right knee, a procedure that could sideline him for up to six weeks.

Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan said doctors removed some debris and repaired a small cartilage tear.

“It will take two to three weeks for him to recover and four to six weeks before he’s able to play,” Shanahan said in Denver.

“You always hate to lose a great player. Common sense says every time you go in there and have to do surgery, the chances are a little less likely you can come back as you were. Hopefully, Terrell will be able to come back and help this football team before the season is over.”

It is the same knee in which Davis tore his anterior cruciate ligament in 1999. That injury, coupled with a stress reaction in his lower left leg the following year, caused Davis to miss 24 of 33 games during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Davis started the regular-season opener against the New York Giants, rushing for 101 yards in 21 carries. But he had to have his knee drained twice in the past two weeks.

Mike Anderson will replace Davis.

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Washington Redskin quarterback Jeff George talked to reporters for the first time since he got benched in the season opener, explaining his silence as he walked off the field after practice.

George refused to discuss any details of the 30-3 loss to the San Diego Chargers, including his four turnovers, his animated sideline discussion with Coach Marty Schottenheimer or the coach’s decision to replace George with Tony Banks in the third quarter.

“I didn’t want to talk about what happened last week,” George said in Ashburn, Va. “I thought it was best for the team. And to be honest, I thought it was best for me. I didn’t want to deal with it. And I’m not going to deal with it. So in my mind what’s in the past is in the past. This is obviously just something I want to put behind me and move forward.

“The best thing to do is not bring it up.”

George was eight for 18 with two interceptions and two fumbled snaps and a quarterback rating of 14.8 when he was replaced in the Chargers’ game. His contentious sideline dialogue with Schottenheimer evoked memories of his all-out argument with coach June Jones in Atlanta five years ago.

Afterward, Schottenheimer waited three days before talking with George and telling him he would remain the starter.

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Less than a month before Minnesota Viking tackle Korey Stringer collapsed and died of heatstroke, the head of the NFL Players Assn. asked Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to provide trauma specialists at all practices.

But union President Trace Armstrong, a defensive end for the Oakland Raiders, said he isn’t sure it would have made a difference in Stringer’s death on Aug. 1 and doesn’t blame Tagliabue for not taking immediate action.

Armstrong, union attorney Richard Berthelsen and several player representatives met with Tagliabue and other NFL officials in early July. They also sought minimum medical facilities and equipment, a grievance process for players dissatisfied with their team’s medical care, and required second opinions on injuries.