NFL notes

— TEXANS Cushing out for season

HOUSTON - Linebacker Brian Cushing is out for the season with a torn left knee ligament, leaving the unbeaten Houston Texans without their top tackler and one of their emotional leaders.

Cushing was hurt in the second quarter of the Texans’ 23-17 victory over the New York Jets on a low block by guard Matt Slauson. Cushing walked off the field on his own, but didn’t return.

Coach Gary Kubiak said Tuesday that Cushing has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will need surgery in two to three weeks, after the swelling subsides. Cushing was leading Houston in tackles (38) before Monday night’s game.

“A big blow for our team,” Kubiak said. “We have to have guys pick it up around him and we’ve got to find a way to move forward.

We’reall just disappointed for him. It’s a tough day for him.”

The Texans (5-0) play Green Bay (2-3) in Houston on Sunday night.

Tim Dobbins moved into Cushing’s spot in the lineup against the Jets, and finished with four tackles and a pass deflection. Kubiak saidDobbins is “option No. 1” to replace Cushing in the lineup.

Dobbins played his first four NFL seasons with San Diego, including one season under Wade Phillips, now the Texans’ defensive coordinator. He was traded to Miami during the 2010 draft, released after one season and signed by the Texans in August 2011. He played in 15 games last season and four this year, mostly on special teams.

“He’s a veteran player, he’s played with Wade before,” Kubiak said. “It’s a lot to ask, but that’s why he’s here. It’s an opportunity for him as a player and we’ll have to rally around him and like I said, make up for Cush’s loss as a group.” SAINTS Hall gets Brees’ football

CANTON, Ohio - The Pro Football Hall of Fame has received the football Drew Brees threw to eclipse Hall of Fame quarterback JohnnyUnitas’ record of 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass.

Brees broke the record with a 40-yard pass to Devery Henderson during a 31-24 victory over San Diego on Sunday night, marking Brees’ 48th consecutive game with a scoring pass, a streak that began Oct. 18, 2009, in a victory over the New York Giants.

Before Brees began closing in on the mark late last season, no quarterback had come within 10 games of it. New England’s Tom Brady has the third-longest streak, which also is active and reached 37 Sunday.

Hall of Fame President Steve Perry said the hall appreciates the chance to preserve Brees’ accomplishment.

REDSKINS

Cundiff out, Forbath in

ASHBURN, Va. - The Washington Redskins released struggling kicker Billy Cundiff on Tuesday and replaced him with free agent Kai Forbath.

Forbath emerged as the winner in a tryout at Redskins Park. He won the Lou Groza Award with UCLA in 2009 as the top kicker in college football, but he has yet to play in the NFL.

Cundiff was signed late in preseason after he was waived by the Baltimore Ravens. He has been the worst kicker in the league this year, making only 7 of 12 field goal attempts. Two of his misses havebeen from inside 40 yards, including a 31-yard misfire in Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Forbath was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys last year and spent the entire season on the nonfootball injured reserve list. He spent this year’s training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and made all five field goal attempts in preseason games before being released Aug. 31.

PATRIOTS Faulk retires

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Kevin Faulk has made it official. After two injury-plagued seasons, the running back is retiring after 13 years with the New England Patriots.

The team’s career leader in allpurpose yards formally announced his retirement Tuesday at the team’s Hall of Fame.

Drafted out of LSU in the second round in 1999, Faulk spent his entire career with the Patriots, primarily as a third-down back and kick returner. He was part of all three New England championship teams but was not active for last season’s 21-17 Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.

His 12,349 all-purpose yards, 5,041 return yards and 4,098 kick return yards are team records. He also rushed for 3,607 yards and16 touchdowns and caught 431 passes for 3,701 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Sports, Pages 23 on 10/10/2012

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