Warner Out 8-10 Weeks Because of Finger Injury

Kurt Warner will be sidelined eight to 10 weeks because of a broken pinkie on his throwing hand, the latest blow for the winless St. Louis Rams.

The two-time most valuable player was injured in the first quarter of Sunday’s 13-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, which dropped the defending NFC champions to 0-4, their worst start since 1963. Warner will have surgery today.

“He’s very upset, but he understands,” Coach Mike Martz said. “There’s nothing you can do about it.”

Two years ago, Warner had surgery on the same finger on his right hand and missed five games.

It will take longer for him to heal this time because it’s a compound fracture. Martz described the injury as a “T-shaped break at the base of the finger.”

Warner will have pins inserted into his pinkie and should begin moving the finger in about a month.

The pins will come out after five weeks and X-rays will monitor the healing process during rehab.

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Vinny Testaverde has been benched, and the New York Jets will turn to Chad Pennington to spark the team’s mistake-riddled offense.

Pennington, who played most of Sunday’s 28-3 loss at Jacksonville that dropped the Jets to 1-3, will make his first NFL start next weekend against Kansas City. Pennington, a first-round draft pick in 2000, replaced Testaverde early in the loss to the Jaguars after the 38-year-old Testaverde bruised his shoulder.

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Offensive lineman Richmond Webb tore a muscle in his chest and is expected to miss the rest of the season, leaving the Cincinnati Bengals with yet another major problem.

The Bengals (0-4) will give top draft pick Levi Jones his first NFL start Sunday in Indianapolis.

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Chicago Bear linebacker Warrick Holdman will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Holdman, the Bears’ second-leading tackler last season, was hurt in the first quarter of Sunday’s overtime loss in Buffalo. He will need three months to recover, Coach Dick Jauron said.

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Seattle Seahawk starting guard Steve Hutchinson will be out at least eight weeks because of a broken right leg and tight end Jerramy Stevens, the team’s top draft choice this year, will be sidelined for a minimum of three weeks because of a sprained left ankle.

The injuries came in Sunday’s 48-23 victory over Minnesota.

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Miami Dolphin kick returner Albert Johnson probably will miss the rest of the season after tearing a knee ligament.

Johnson, who missed last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, tore the same ligament in the left knee in Sunday’s 48-30 loss to Kansas City.

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The Tennessee Titans probably will be without leading receiver Derrick Mason and starting cornerback Samari Rolle for at least three to four weeks. Mason separated his left shoulder and Rolle strained his right hamstring during Tennessee’s 52-25 loss at Oakland on Sunday.

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Washington Redskin Coach Steve Spurrier said that Kevin Lockett will start at wide receiver against Tennessee and either Danny Wuerffel or rookie Patrick Ramsey will get the nod at quarterback.

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New Orleans Saint first-round draft pick Donte Stallworth is expected to miss next week’s game against Pittsburgh because of an injured left hamstring.