Knee Injury to Keep Darius Out for Season

Jacksonville Jaguar safety Donovin Darius will sit out the rest of the season after tearing a knee ligament against the Indianapolis Colts.

Darius tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Sunday during a punt return, and the team said Tuesday he will have season-ending surgery.

The hard-hitting safety was an integral part of the Jaguar defense, which has given up 24 points in two games this season. Four-year veteran Deke Cooper, who started 10 games for the Jaguars in 2003, will replace Darius.

A first-round pick by the Jaguars in 1998, Darius has started 103 games and averaged 80 tackles over seven seasons.

He had a career-high 87 tackles and five interceptions last year and holds franchise records with 798 tackles and 19 takeaways.

*

New York Jet running back Curtis Martin should be able to play this weekend against Jacksonville after an MRI exam on his strained right knee was negative.

The team was encouraged by the test result. Coach Herman Edwards will address the injury today.

Martin, 32, was injured in a 17-7 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The 11-year veteran, who won the NFL rushing title last season, hasn’t sat out a game since 1998.

*

Baltimore Raven quarterback Kyle Boller probably is out until the end of October because of the right toe he injured in the season opener against the Colts.

Raven officials said Boller, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2003, will not require surgery on the toe but will need at least another three weeks to heal. The earliest he could return is Oct. 16 against the Cleveland Browns.

Boller, who was on crutches and wearing a cast at the team’s training complex, got a second opinion Monday from the North Carolina foot specialist who treated linebacker Peter Boulware’s turf toe last season.

*

Philadelphia signed kicker Todd France to the practice squad, two days after linebacker Mark Simoneau kicked an extra point in the Eagles’ 42-3 victory over San Francisco. France will back up David Akers, who is bothered by a hamstring injury.... Denver signed running back Quentin Griffin, bringing back last season’s opening-day starter who was released before this season began.... Seattle put receiver Alex Bannister on injured reserve because of a cracked collarbone he suffered against Atlanta on Sunday. He is expected to be sidelined at least eight weeks.

*

ABC Sports and ESPN, joining forces with the NFL, generated pledges of about $5 million in 6 1/2 hours Monday night with their Hurricane Relief Telethon, ESPN officials said.

The fundraising event took place during a doubleheader featuring the New Orleans Saints against the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins against the Dallas Cowboys.