Cowboys’ Rogers Is Out for Season

Former USC All-American tackle Jacob Rogers, a second-round draft pick of Dallas in 2004, had his season come to an end Friday. And now there are questions about his future with the Cowboys.

After hardly playing as a rookie, then spending most of training camp on the sideline with what were thought to be minor injuries, Rogers is headed to injured reserve because of a right knee problem that will require surgery.

“He’s done for the year,” Coach Bill Parcells said at Oxnard, site of the team’s training camp.

“We are going to try to operate on it to fix whatever it is.”

Parcells’ tone fits the team’s exasperation with Rogers. The club hoped he’d earn the starting job at right tackle this summer; now, that competition is between rookie Rob Petitti and deposed starter Torrin Tucker.

Rogers was moved to the right side as a rookie but couldn’t grasp the change. He played only two games, strictly on special teams. He was active but didn’t play in six games and was inactive the other eight.

He had shoulder surgery this off-season, then entered training camp -- coincidentally in his hometown -- as the front-runner to start at right tackle.

He was doing well until he went out of the lineup with another shoulder problem, returned, then went down again with a knee injury after only two plays in the exhibition opener last Saturday at Arizona.

He has been out since and is scheduled for surgery on Friday in Dallas.

The procedure is similar to what center Al Johnson had during training camp in 2003; he made a full recovery in time for last season.

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New England quarterback Doug Flutie appears to have secured the backup job behind Tom Brady after his play Thursday in the Patriots’ 37-27 exhibition loss to New Orleans.

In all, Flutie was in for only nine plays over three series that resulted in two touchdowns and a field goal. He went three for four for 52 yards and a touchdown.

With Flutie backing up Brady, the No. 3 quarterback job is up for grabs between rookie Matt Cassel from USC and fourth-year Rohan Davey. Davey did not play, and Cassel was seven of 11 for 69 yards; he also was sacked three times.

“Those were good learning experiences for him. I don’t know how much more [playing time] we’re going to be able to give him,” Coach Bill Belichick said. “He needs to take advantage of the time that he gets.”

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Philadelphia Coach Andy Reid said receiver Terrell Owens would not play tonight when the Eagles play the Ravens in Baltimore.

Reid said Owens would miss a second consecutive exhibition game after aggravating a groin injury Thursday. The receiver initially tweaked his groin before being dismissed from camp last week.

Raven running back Jamal Lewis, who reported to camp last week after a stint in a halfway house in Atlanta, does not expect to play.

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In exhibition games: Shane Boyd threw a late touchdown pass to fellow rookie O.J. Small that gave Tennessee a 24-21 victory over host Atlanta. Rookie DeAndra Cobb scored on a 101-yard kickoff return and T.J. Duckett had a 72-yard touchdown run for the Falcons.

At East Rutherford, N.J., Chad Pennington looked sharp coming off shoulder surgery, completing nine of 10 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown to lead the New York Jets past Minnesota, 28-21. Daunte Culpepper completed 11 of 13 passes for 146 yards for the Vikings.

At Landover, Md., Carson Palmer overcame a sluggish start and completed 12 of 24 passes for 152 yards as Cincinnati held off Washington, 24-17.