DAVIE, Fla. — DOLPHINS Pennington out for while
Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington dislocated his right shoulder and might seek a second opinion to determine how long he'll be sidelined, a person familiar with his status said Monday.
The person insisted on anonymity because the Dolphins (0-3) have said little about the injury. Backup quarterback Chad Henne expected to make his first NFL start in Sunday's home game against Buffalo.
Other media outlets reported Pennington had a torn capsule and was likely to miss the rest of the season.
Pennington hurt his shoulder early in the third quarter Sunday in a 23-13 loss at San Diego, and he underwent tests Monday to determine the extent of the damage. An operation on the shoulder would be Pennington's third since 2005.
Pennington was hurt on a hit by linebacker Kevin Burnett as he threw a pass. The injury appeared to occur with the contact, which caught Pennington in an awkward position, rather than when he hit the ground, Coach Tony Sparano said.
Henne, a second-round draft choice in 2008, has been considered Pennington's heir apparent for more than a year.
Pennington had surgery on the same shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff twice in 2005. Sparano said he didn't know how long Pennington would be sidelined.
The score was 3-3 when Pennington was hurt. He missed the rest of the game, and Henne went 10 for 19 for 92 yards. He led the Dolphins to 10 points but threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
BUCCANEERS QB change made TAMPA, Fla. - The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers benched starting quarterback Byron Leftwich and replaced him with second-year pro Josh Johnson, who takes over after one of the worst offensive performances in team history.
Coach Raheem Morris made the change Monday, a day after the Bucs fell to 0-3 while gaining just 86 yards in a 24-0 loss to the New York Giants. Leftwich completed 7 of 16 passes for 22 yards and 1 interception.
The Bucs entered the game averaging 401.5 yards and 20.5 points per game.
Johnson, who was inactive for all 16 games as a rookie, played one fourth-quarter series Sunday and completed 4 of 10 passes for 36 yards while leading a drive that stalled on downs at New York's 5-yard line.
The 23-year-old also finished as Tampa Bay's leading rusher, scrambling for a 15-yard gain on his only attempt.
Morris said he was not blaming the loss on Leftwich, but felt Johnson earned a chance to start Sunday at Washington. The 2008 fifth-round draft pick out of San Diego entered training camp as the fourth-string quarterback.
BROWNS QB situation in air BEREA, Ohio - After taking the entire preseason to choose Brady Quinn as his starting quarterback over Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns Coach Eric Mangini said he will announce Wednesday who will start this week against Cincinnati (2-1).
Based on Sunday's 34-3 loss at Baltimore, that might be difficult to determine.
Quinn was yanked at halftime after throwing an interception, failing to generate any points and producing five first downs on Cleveland's five first-half possessions. By the time Anderson entered, the Browns (0-3) were in a 20-0 hole and forced to pass on nearly every play. Anderson threw three interceptions in the second half.
Quinn's passer rating of 62.9 ranks 29th among the league's 32 starting quarterbacks.
RAMS Bulger's rotator cuff hurt ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger has a bruised rotator cuff on his throwing shoulder sustained on a sack that caused a fumble in the first quarter in Sunday's 36-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Bulger was a "day to day," adding the team would have a better grasp on the injury when the Rams return to practice Wednesday.
Kyle Boller threw two touchdown passes to Daniel Fells in the second quarter, rallying the Rams from an early 16-0 deficit.
Boller was 8 for 13 for 100 yards in the first half, and 8 for 18 for 64 yards thereafter.
Sports, Pages 18 on 09/29/2009