Texans’ Williams will undergo surgery

Injured Houston Texans wide receiver Harry Williams will undergo surgery today to repair a neck vertebra he fractured during Friday night’s exhibition game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The 26-year-old Williams was hurt early during the Texans’ 23-22 loss when he collided with teammate Nick Ferguson while covering a kick return.

Williams was face down on the field when the play ended. Medical personnel immediately called for a stretcher, and the game was delayed for about 10 minutes while they tended to him.

Williams was taken off the field on a stretcher, and an ambulance took him to Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. Team doctor Walter Lowe said Saturday morning that Williams had regained feeling in his extremities and most of his normal neurological function.

Later in the day, Houston Coach Gary Kubiak said Williams’ condition hadn’t changed and family members had joined him in Dallas and the Texans would update Williams’ condition today.

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Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers said he has two torn ligaments in his left knee and has been told by doctors that he could suffer a possible career-ending injury if he attempts to play without having surgery.

Merriman said he has tears in the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments. He said doctors agree that he needs surgery to repair the damage.

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Matt Leinart had three passes intercepted in less than two quarters before the Cardinals’ offense opened things up in the second half for a 24-0 win over the Raiders at Oakand.

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Brady Quinn was lackluster in his first NFL start and the Cleveland Browns were roughed up for the second time in a week. Kevin Smith had a 35-yard touchdown run and Dave Rayner kicked four field goals to help the Detroit Lions win, 26-6, at Detroit.

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Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora was carted off the field because of a knee injury in the second quarter of the New York Giants’ 10-7 loss to the New York Jets at East Rutherford, N.J. Quarterback Brett Favre was nine for 12 for 96 yards for the Jets.

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Tampa Bay’s Jeff Garcia had two passes intercepted but threw a second-quarter touchdown pass before departing in the Buccaneers’ 23-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa, Fla.

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Running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined to rush for 201 yards and two touchdowns, and Jake Delhomme threw for two scores to lead the Carolina Panthers to a 47-3 win over the Washington Redskins, who lost linebacker Jason Taylor to a worrisome knee injury at Charlotte, N.C.

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Ted Ginn Jr. had a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown and caught three passes for the Dolphins in a 24-0 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Miami.

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The New Orleans Saints sacked Carson Palmer three times in the first half, knocking him out of the game with a bloody nose and a cut lip in a 13-0 win over the Bengals at Cincinnati.

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Marc Bulger’s four-yard pass to rookie Keenan Burton with six minutes to go in the second quarter gave the Rams’ starters their first score in three exhibition games, leading to a 24-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens at St. Louis.

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Jeff Reed kicked four field goals, the last a 37-yarder with four seconds left to lift the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 12-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings at Minneapolis.