Injury bug strikes with vengeance in Week 2

The rookie season of Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. might have ended after just two games.\nThe first-round draft pick is among several players who will be sidelined for a few weeks, or more, as a result of injuries in Sunday's games. Others include New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister and Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap, both of whom were knocked out of games with a sprained ankle.\nThe Browns said Winslow will miss at least two months with a broken right leg, and that they might keep him out for the rest of the season. Winslow was injured trying to recover an onside kick late in Sunday's 19-12 loss at Dallas.\nWinslow is scheduled for surgery Tuesday and might need screws and plates inserted in the leg, Browns trainer Mike Colello said Monday. The team expects Winslow to make a full recovery in eight to 10 weeks, but coach Butch Davis said the team has considered placing him on injured reserve.\nMcAllister, who had his foot in a heavy orthopedic boot Monday, said he thought he'd be able to play soon -- maybe even this coming weekend. But coach Jim Haslett said the Saints' top rusher is expected to be out four to five weeks.\nMcAllister was injured on his third carry in the Saints' 30-27 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive tackle Bryant Young grabbed McAllister's ankle and the pain was immediate, causing McAllister to drop the football.\n"I felt it pop," said McAllister, who set franchise records in 2003 for yards from scrimmage (2,157) and rushing yards (1,641). "That's why I dropped the ball."\nHeap, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, will miss two to four weeks with a sprained right ankle. Heap led the Ravens in receptions in each of the past two seasons and has a team-high 12 catches this year. The injury occurred late in the second quarter of the Ravens' 30-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.\n"It's huge," coach Brian Billick said Monday. "He's your No. 1 target, your No. 1 receiver."\nHeap was blocking downfield when his right ankle was rolled over by Pittsburgh linebacker James Farrior. Heap then stumbled back to the line of scrimmage and lined up for another play.\nQuarterback Kyle Boller motioned that was going to spike the ball, and did so as Steelers linebacker Joey Porter shoved Heap backward. Unable to lift himself from the turf, Heap was helped off the field and did not return.\n"You just deal with it," said Heap, who hasn't missed a game since his rookie season in 2001. "You have to make sure the other guys know what's going on and make sure they can step up."\nPittsburgh Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox will be out at least six weeks with a torn ligament and tendon damage in his right elbow, an injury that at least temporarily makes rookie Ben Roethlisberger the starter.\nMaddox was injured while being hit in the third quarter of the loss in Baltimore. Coach Bill Cowher initially thought Maddox might need season-ending reconstructive surgery, but team doctors said Monday an operation isn't necessary.\nChicago safety Mike Brown, who returned a fumble 95 yards for a touchdown to spark the Bears' 21-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, will miss the rest of the season after tearing his right Achilles' tendon. He was injured in the closing minutes of the game.\n"It's hard to replace a Mike Brown, he's a special guy," coach Lovie Smith said.\nAnd the agent for Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Larry Chester said a torn ligament in his right knee will force Chester to miss the rest of the season.\nPriest Holmes missed much of the last quarter of Kansas City's 28-17 loss to Carolina after spraining his left ankle, and the Chiefs aren't sure if he'll play against Houston this coming weekend.\nCoach Dick Vermeil said after the game that he had been assured Holmes was all right, but on Monday morning he was told about the ankle problem.\nA couple of other big names tried to shrug off injuries.\nEdgerrin James, the Indianapolis Colts' top running back, strained his hamstring in Sunday's victory against Tennessee. He was running through some light drills Monday and was optimistic he would play this week.\n"With me things always heal fast," he said. "I might be good to go or play split duty or whatever. I can run and do everything."\nDeion Sanders is nursing a strained hamstring, but hopes to play for the Ravens on Sunday against Cincinnati.\n"I'm feeling good. Look at me," the 37-year-old Sanders said Monday, walking out of the Baltimore locker room without a noticeable limp.