Knee Injury Ends Anderson’s Season

For the second time in three years, the Atlanta Falcons will have to play most of the season without Jamal Anderson.

Anderson, an All-Pro in 1998 when the Falcons reached the Super Bowl, learned Monday that he tore a ligament in his left knee against the Arizona Cardinals.

He will require season-ending surgery, dealing a major blow to a Falcon team that collapsed to 5-11 in 1999 when Anderson went out with the same injury to his right knee.

Falcon players were stunned by the news as they arrived for a meeting at the team’s training complex.

“Here we go again,� said cornerback Ray Buchanan, who didn’t have time to savor Sunday’s 34-14 victory over the Cardinals. “We’ve got to find a way to move on. I don’t want to go through what I did two years ago.�

Both times, Anderson tore the anterior cruciate ligament on plays where he wasn’t even touched by an opposing player.

In 1998, Anderson set an NFL record with 410 carries and a franchise mark with 1,846 yards rushing as the Falcons captured their first NFC title.

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Oakland defensive end Trace Armstrong, 35, will have surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles’ tendon and will sit out the rest of the season.

Armstrong was injured in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 38-14 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

Armstrong, a 13-year veteran, signed with the Raiders as a free agent in the off-season.

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The unbeaten Green Bay Packers’ first big loss of the season came Monday, when defensive back Antuan Edwards was told he needs surgery to reconstruct his left knee.

Edwards is out for the season after tearing two knee ligaments in Green Bay’s 28-7 victory at Carolina on Sunday.

The loss of Edwards is costly for the Packers (3-0) because he plays extensively in nickel and dime packages.

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Jacksonville Jaguar quarterback Mark Brunell said Cleveland rookie Gerard Warren crossed the line with the helmet-to-helmet hit that knocked Brunell out of Sunday’s 23-14 loss to the Browns.

“I think it was a cheap shot,� Brunell said. “After seeing it, there’s no question.�

Brown defensive lineman Orpheus Roye intercepted Brunell’s pass on Jacksonville’s first offensive play. As the scramble near the line of scrimmage ended, Warren took a 10-yard running start at Brunell, then rammed his helmet into the side of Brunell’s.

Brunell landed on his face, stayed there for several seconds and was woozy as he walked off. He returned for a few series, but left before halftime, diagnosed with a concussion.

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Miami Dolphin linebacker Zach Thomas suffered a slight ligament tear in his left knee during Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Rams, but hopes to play against New England on Sunday.

Thomas was injured on the first series in the 42-10 loss.