Pennington May Be Out 12 Weeks

Quarterback Chad Pennington of the New York Jets is expected to be sidelined 12 weeks because of a broken and dislocated left wrist.

Coach Herman Edwards said Sunday that the injury is not career-threatening, but would not rule out the possibility that Pennington could sit out the season.

“[Twelve weeks is] the best estimation at this point,” Edwards said. “[The doctors are] optimistic that he will have the ability to come back. You’re talking about surgery, so you never know. No one can guarantee on that.”

Edwards said that in addition to the dislocation, Pennington broke four bones that connect the knuckles to the wrist and also has ligament damage.

He said Pennington had seven pins inserted in his wrist and will wear a splint for the next week. Pennington then will wear a cast for three to four weeks. He was still at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York on Sunday afternoon, a day after surgery.

Vinny Testaverde, a 17-year veteran, becomes the Jets’ starter.

Pennington was injured during Saturday night’s exhibition game against the New York Giants. As Brandon Short blitzed, Pennington rolled to his right and threw the ball away. But Short tackled him from behind, and Pennington used his wrist to cushion his fall to the turf.

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After having a day to think about it, the San Francisco 49ers aren’t sure Eric Johnson’s collarbone was broken by a clean hit after all.

The 49ers have asked the NFL to review New Orleans cornerback Dale Carter’s hit on Johnson on the first play from scrimmage Saturday night.

Johnson, the 49ers’ starting tight end, broke his collarbone and got a concussion when Carter leveled him with an apparent helmet-first hit after he caught a one-yard pass from Jeff Garcia. Johnson will be out 10 to 12 weeks and could be put on injured reserve, which would sideline him for the season.

After the game, General Manager Terry Donahue and other players said they thought the hit was legal. On Sunday night, Coach Dennis Erickson wasn’t so sure.

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Cornerback Chris Cash of the Detroit Lions probably will be out for the season after injuring the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee during Saturday night’s exhibition game against Cleveland.

Detroit was counting on Cash to be a starter, opposite Dre’ Bly, after his solid rookie season.

Cash, a sixth-round pick out of USC, started 12 of the final 14 games last season and had one interception. He was second on the team with 117 tackles.

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Backup quarterback Brian Griese of the Miami Dolphins does not have torn ligaments in his left big toe, but he still might not be available for the season opener Sept. 7 against Houston. The ligaments are damaged, and there is no timetable for his return.

Griese was injured in Friday night’s exhibition game against the Atlanta Falcons. There is swelling in the toe, and he is wearing a protective boot.

The injury happened three plays after Griese entered the game to start the second half, when he stubbed his toe before completing a pass.

In Griese’s absence, Sage Rosenfels will be the backup to Jay Fiedler.

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Running back Duce Staley returned to the Philadelphia Eagles, choosing to end his 26-day holdout without the contract extension he was seeking.

“I’m not afraid to say that I was stubborn,” Staley said on his first day of practice. “It’s behind us. It’s over. It’s squashed. It’s time to move on and bring something new to the city -- hopefully that’s a ring.”

Staley, in the final year of a contract that will pay him $2.2 million this season, held out to try to pressure the Eagles to give him an extension.