The Washington Redskins will be without running back Clinton Portis, linebacker LaVar Arrington and cornerback Ade Jimoh for the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
Also, cornerback Fred Smoot is unlikely to play after spending Sunday night in a Dallas hospital with a mild kidney bruise.
Portis tore the right pectoral muscle in his upper chest in Sunday’s 14-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Trainer Bubba Tyer said Portis won’t need surgery, but that the injury would probably have sidelined the running back for several weeks if the season were not about to end.
The injury ends Portis’ hopes of becoming the first back in NFL history to run for 1,500 yards in each of his first three seasons. With 1,315 yards, Portis also falls short of Stephen Davis’ franchise record of 1,432.
Ladell Betts will start in Portis’ spot.
Jimoh severely sprained his right ankle against the Cowboys. Arrington played only a few plays Sunday in his second game back from knee surgery. Tyer said Arrington was limited after developing some tendinitis in the knee during his 11 games away.
“I don’t have any strength in my legs,” Arrington said.
Colts keeping record ball
The Indianapolis Colts will hold onto the football with which Peyton Manning threw his record-breaking 49th touchdown pass unless he tosses another one against Denver.
The Colts said that if Manning doesn’t throw another touchdown pass this season, the franchise will keep the ball and display it in the team’s Hall of Fame.
If Manning throws another one, the ball will be sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Colts will keep the final touchdown ball. The ball with which Manning threw his 48th touchdown pass will be sent to the Hall of Fame.
Extra points
Former Pro Bowl tight end Ben Coates was hired as football coach at Division II Livingstone, his alma mater, after an NFL career in which he won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2001. . . . Nick Saban inked a five-year contract after meeting again with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga and team president Eddie Jones. . . . Cowboys veteran safety Darren Woodson, a five-time Pro Bowler, hasn’t played a game this season and is expected to announce his retirement later this week. . . .
Broncos defensive tackle Trevor Pryce said he’ll be back for the season finale against Indianapolis after missing every game since having back surgery after the season opener. . . . Running back Chris Perry, a first-round draft pick who gained only 1 yard for the Bengals, will have surgery to repair a hernia. . . . The Chargers are talking to coach Marty Schottenheimer about a contract extension through 2007, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The coach has a year left on his four-year deal.
The last word
Defensive end John Abraham will probably miss the Jets’ must-win regular-season finale against St. Louis because of a sprained right knee.
Though coach Herman Edwards said Abraham might be listed as questionable for the week, Abraham said there would be no point in playing because he is not at full speed.
“We’re not playing chess or something where my health doesn’t matter,” Abraham said.
“I need to be 100 percent, or at least 85 or 90 percent. I don’t think me being out there right now really helps.”
