Bears lose Benson for rest of season

Running back Cedric Benson of the Chicago Bears needs surgery after injuring his left ankle Sunday.

Benson was injured after a 21-yard run in the second quarter in Chicago’s 37-34 overtime victory over Denver.

“It’s tough when you lose your starting tailback,� Coach Lovie Smith said Monday. “He went out on a good run. He had put together two good weeks. . . . We’ll miss him.�

Veteran Adrian Peterson will replace Benson, with rookie Garrett Wolfe as the backup.

Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson is on track to return to the field Sunday, against Detroit.

Peterson tore a knee ligament three weeks ago against Green Bay. He sat out Minnesota’s last two games, victories over Oakland and the New York Giants, but he had an MRI exam Monday that “shows excellent healing,� Coach Brad Childress said.

Carolina Panthers Coach John Fox said that 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde, if healthy, would start against San Francisco ahead of David Carr and rookie Matt Moore.

Testaverde was supposed to start against New Orleans on Sunday but was a late scratch because of a sore back.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who use multiple tight ends in nearly every formation, lost two of their three tight ends for the season.

George Wrighster tore a knee ligament during the team’s 36-14 win over Buffalo on Sunday, and Greg Estandia injured a shoulder. Both were put on injured reserve and will have surgery.

St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa could be sidelined for the rest of the season because of a torn knee ligament, and quarterback Marc Bulger’s status for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons is in doubt because of a concussion.

Tinoisamoa injured his left knee early in the third quarter of the Rams’ 24-19 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The injury will not require surgery, but a month is a typical recovery time.

Bulger was injured on a blindside hit by blitzing linebacker Leroy Hill in the first quarter and fumbled. He stayed in the game for four more plays before being taken out and was hospitalized Sunday.

Coach Scott Linehan said a CT scan was negative and Bulger also was examined by a neurosurgeon.

Coach Dick Jauron wasted little time in announcing that rookie quarterback Trent Edwards had reclaimed the No. 1 job ahead of J.P. Losman, and will make his fifth start -- and first in five weeks -- Sunday when the Buffalo Bills play at Washington.

Jauron’s decision came a day after the Bills’ offense showed little spark as a whole and Losman struggled, committing three turnovers, including two interceptions, in the team’s 36-14 loss at Jacksonville.