Buccaneers lose Williams for season

Coach Jon Gruden cringed at the thought of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing the rest of the season without running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and tackle Luke Petitgout.

“You lose a lot of skill,” Gruden said Monday after revealing both players will undergo season-ending knee surgery this week.

Williams was carted from the field in the first quarter Sunday after injuring his right knee when he was tackled by Carolina safety Chris Harris at the end of an 18-yard run. Petitgout limped off in the second quarter after defensive tackle Kris Jenkins fell into his right leg at the line.

“We have some people who need to step up now,” Gruden said. The Buccaneers will use of a combination of Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham to replace Williams, Tampa Bay’s leading rusher the last two seasons.

Although Alex Smith probably will sit out more than one game after separating his right shoulder, the San Francisco quarterback is sticking with the best-case scenario until he hears something worse.

Smith won’t play in the 49ers’ next game, against Baltimore, after getting injured on the third play of their 23-3 loss to Seattle on Sunday. The 49ers have an open date next week, and Smith is cautiously optimistic he’ll be back after that.

With Smith out, the 49ers will turn over their struggling offense to veteran Trent Dilfer, who was 12 for 33 for 128 yards Sunday in his first game action since 2005.

Arizona Cardinals Coach Ken Whisenhunt knows starting quarterback Matt Leinart is unhappy splitting time with Kurt Warner.

Whisenhunt also knows his two-quarterback scheme has helped the Cardinals (2-2) match their best start in 20 mostly dismal seasons in Arizona. And that’s why he has no thoughts of changing the game plan.

“I think we have two guys that are unique in that we have two unselfish guys that have a very good relationship,” Whisenhunt said.

Many of the questions have arisen because Leinart has made no secret of his displeasure. “I’d be lying if I said I was happy with the way things are going,” Leinart said. “But at the same time, it’s pushing me to become a better football player.”

Suspended running back Ricky Williams applied for NFL reinstatement, his agent said.

“Ricky is extremely excited about the prospect of playing in the NFL again and hopeful for a positive response,” agent Leigh Steinberg said.

Williams’ current suspension began in April 2006 after he violated the league’s drug policy for the fourth time. Under the league’s substance-abuse program, the process could take up to 60 days from the day Williams applies to be reinstated. Williams remains under contract with Miami.

Keenan McCardell signed with the Washington Redskins. McCardell has 861 catches with Cleveland, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and San Diego. . . . The Chicago Bears terminated Obafemi Ayanbadejo’s contract, cutting ties with the fullback who had just completed a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.