Saints’ McAllister is lost for the season

Pro Bowl running back Deuce McAllister will miss the rest of the New Orleans Saints’ season after tearing a knee ligament.

McAllister, 28, tore his left anterior cruciate ligament and injured his medial meniscus Monday night while attempting to catch a pass in the second quarter of the team’s 31-14 loss to the Tennessee Titans. McAllister, who earned Pro Bowl selections after the 2002 and 2003 seasons, missed 11 of 16 games in 2005 with a torn ACL in his right knee. He gained 1,057 rushing yards in 2006.

In addition, Saints starting cornerback Jason David will miss four to six weeks because of a broken left forearm.

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward has a sprained right knee and is doubtful for Sunday’s game at Arizona.

Ward has missed only three games because of injury in 10 NFL seasons, and Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said he hasn’t ruled Ward out for Sunday.

“I have learned not to count a guy like Hines Ward out,” Tomlin said. “That’s why I’m saying it’s being characterized as doubtful. We’ll take it day to day and see where he is.”

Ward, injured during a 37-16 victory over San Francisco on Sunday, walked without a limp while reporting to a team meeting Monday but was on crutches later in the day.

Driving while impaired and reckless driving charges against Miami Dolphins receiver Chris Chambers will be dismissed after a plea deal was reached with prosecutors in Charlotte, N.C.

Attorney George Laughrun said that under terms of the deal he would enter a guilty plea for speeding on Chambers’ behalf in a hearing today. Chambers will not have to appear in court, meaning he will be available to practice with the Dolphins as scheduled.

Chambers was arrested July 14 after being pulled over several miles south of downtown Charlotte. Chambers was charged with DWI despite a blood-alcohol level of .06%, below the legal limit of .08%. The police report said Chambers failed field sobriety tests. Laughrun claimed Chambers misunderstood the officer’s instructions on what number to stop on when counting backward.

The San Francisco 49ers changed punt returners, cutting Brandon Williams and signing Michael Lewis, the former beer truck driver who rose to fame with New Orleans but was cut by the team in June.

The Houston Texans put center Steve McKinney and defensive tackle Cedric Killings on injured reserve, ending their seasons. Killings remains hospitalized as he recovers from a fractured vertebra from a headfirst collision Sunday with Indianapolis receiver Roy Hall. McKinney tore his left anterior cruciate ligament against the Colts.

The Dallas Cowboys released kicker Martin Gramatica from their injured reserve list. Rookie Nick Folk remains the team’s kicker.