PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Bengals’ Brown Has Neck Injury

Wide receiver Eddie Brown of the Cincinnati Bengals has a neck injury that could keep him sidelined for much of the 1992 season.

Brown, 29, suffered a ruptured cervical disk in the neck and will undergo surgery next week in Cincinnati. It is not known what caused the injury.

The Bengals are also concerned about the availability of linebacker Alfred Williams, No. 1 draft pick in 1991. Williams, 23, underwent a second surgery in an effort to correct a hereditary irregular heartbeat that has kept him out of workouts.

Quarterback Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers returned to the practice field but did not throw any passes and made only a few handoffs.

Montana, 36, who has thrown only once in the past six days, missed all of last season because of a torn right elbow tendon.

Since the New York Jets have virtually handed their starting quarterback spot to Browning Nagle, the team is playing hardball with holdout Ken O’Brien.

O’Brien is seeking $2 million, commensurate with the average rate for NFL starting quarterbacks, but the Jets haven’t budged off $1.5 million.

Wide receiver Vance Johnson of the Broncos will be sidelined about three months after surgery for a tear in his right shoulder. Johnson tore the pectoral muscle during practice Monday. Derek Russell will move into the starting lineup.