LITTLE ROCK — PATRIOTS Gronkowski has surgery
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - A person familiar with the process said Monday the New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski expects to be sidelined for four to six weeks after having surgery for a broken left forearm. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.
Patriots Coach Bill Belichick gave no update on the high-scoring, free spirited tight end, who appeared to be hurt while blocking on an extra point late in the Patriots’ 59-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Asked during an early afternoon conference call if Gronkowski had undergone surgery, Belichick said, “I really haven’t met with our doctors and trainers yet today. I do that at the end of the day. I don’t have any updates.
“Whatever the injury information is, we’ll release it in a timely fashion, when we’re required by the league, just like we always do.”
The Patriots gave no estimate of how long Gronkowski, who hasn’t missed a game in his three NFL seasons, might be sidelined. But they have to make a quick adjustment with only three days to prepare for Thursday night’s game at the New York Jets.
The Patriots (7-3) lead the other three AFC East teams, including the Jets, by three games.
Gronkowski caught 7 passes for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Colts, becoming the first tight end in NFL history with at least 10 touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. He has 53 catches for 748 yards this season.
RAVENS Reed suspended
NEW YORK - Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed was suspended for one game by the NFL on Monday for repeated hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players.
The 11-year veteran will miss Sunday’s game against San Diego, which will cost him one game check of more than $400,000.
Reed is suspended for three violations of the player safety rules in the past three seasons. The latest came in Sunday night’s 13-10 victory over Pittsburgh when he was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter for a hit to the head of receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
Reed also was penalized Sept. 23 against the New England Patriots for unnecessary roughness and fined $21,000 for striking Deion Branch when the receiver was defenseless.
Before that, Reed hit Saints quarterback Drew Brees on Dec. 19, 2010, and was fined $10,000.
STEELERS QB Leftwich out
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Steelers are running out of quarterbacks with healthy ribs.
A person familiar with the injury told The Associated Press quarterback Byron Leftwich injured his ribs in the first quarter of Sunday night’s 13-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and will not start next week in Cleveland. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not officially commented on Leftwich’s status.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the decision.
Leftwich is the second Pittsburgh quarterback in as many weeks to go down. Starter Ben Roethlisberger is out indefinitely after spraining his right shoulder and dislocating his first rib in a 16-13 overtime victory against the Kansas City Chiefs last Monday.
The Steelers (6-4) will likely turn to 37-year-old backup Charlie Batch against the Browns (2-8). Batch is 5-2 as a substitute starter over the past decade, including a 27-0 victory over St. Louis last December.
Making his first start in three years, Leftwich completed 18 of 39 passes for 201 yards and threw an interception. He also ran for a 31-yard touchdown in the first quarter, a play that ended with Leftwich clutching his chest.
LIONS
WR Young benched
ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Detroit Lions are benching wide receiver Titus Young for Thursday’s game against Houston following what Coach Jim Schwartz called “unacceptable” behavior during Sunday’s loss to Green Bay.
Schwartz does not characterize the move as a suspension, but says Young was sent home from the team’s practice facility Monday and will be inactive against the Texans. The coach did not say what Young specifically did wrong, but said there’s no room for selfish behavior in a team sport.
Young, a second-year receiver from Boise State, has 33 catches for 383 yards and 4 touchdowns this season.
BRONCOS McGahee injured
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee tore a ligament in his right knee and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
A magnetic resonance imaging scan conducted Monday showed a “nonsurgical” tear, Coach John Fox said. He said there was no immediate plan to put the 10-year veteran on injured reserve.
Backups Ronnie Hillman and Lance Ball are expected to share McGahee’s spot.
Sports, Pages 21 on 11/20/2012