Irregular Heartbeat Sidelines Harrington

Detroit Lion rookie quarterback Joey Harrington will sit out the rest of the season because of an irregular heartbeat.

Harrington, the No. 3 overall draft pick out of Oregon, left Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay because of the heart problem and was taken to the hospital for tests and observation.

He was expected to stay in the hospital until Monday evening.

Doctors said Harrington’s heartbeat returned to a normal rhythm before he was hospitalized. Lion Coach Marty Mornhinweg said the ailment is not career-threatening. Detroit (3-11) has two games left this season.

“If this were Week 5, we would expect him to return, but there is no way that he will be back within two weeks,” Mornhinweg said.

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NFL rushing leader Priest Holmes has a right hip injury and probably will not play against San Diego this Sunday.

Holmes was injured in the third quarter of the Chiefs’ 31-24 loss at Denver on Sunday. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Monday, and the results will not be known until today.

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Running back Stephen Davis’ season might be over -- along with his career with the Washington Redskins.

Davis separated his right shoulder Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles and had the injury re-examined Monday. He is out for this Sunday’s game against Houston and might not play in the season finale against Dallas.

If the Redskins release Davis in the off-season to save salary-cap space, as expected, the 15-yard run in which he was injured will stand as Davis’ last carry in Washington.

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Cleveland defensive end Courtney Brown will have knee surgery Thursday and might be out for the season. Coach Butch Davis said that Brown appears to have cartilage damage in his left knee and will undergo surgery to determine the extent of the damage.... The Philadelphia Eagles signed 41-year-old punter Lee Johnson to replace Jason Baker, who averaged 33.4 yards on seven punts against the Redskins last Sunday.