McNair Expected to Go Home Today

Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair has no serious injuries, but the NFL’s co-most valuable player for 2003 was to spend Monday night in a hospital with a bruised sternum.

McNair was scheduled to be released today.

“He’s just very sore,” Coach Jeff Fisher said Monday after McNair underwent medical tests.

McNair’s status is a huge concern for a team that went 12-4 last season but has suffered two straight losses at home.

The Titans (1-2) won’t have safety Lance Schulters (foot), tight end Erron Kinney (calf) and defensive end Juqua Thomas (ankle), who will be listed as out for Sunday’s visit to San Diego (1-2). McNair will be listed as questionable.

After losing to Jacksonville on Sunday, McNair spent the night in the hospital because he was unable to take deep breaths without pain. McNair was hurt when Jaguar defensive tackle Marcus Stroud landed on his back.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneer running back Charlie Garner will miss the rest of the season after tearing the right patella tendon in his right knee in Sunday’s loss to Oakland.

Michael Pittman, who sat out Tampa Bay’s first three games after being suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, will replace Garner.

Tampa Bay also lost tight end Rickey Dudley because of a broken right thumb that will require surgery. Coach Jon Gruden said he will be out “a long period of time.”

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Chicago Bear quarterback Rex Grossman will miss the rest of the season after rupturing a ligament in his right knee in Sunday’s loss to Minnesota. Grossman will undergo surgery and faces seven to 10 months of rehabilitation. Jonathan Quinn will replace him.

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Philadelphia Eagle fullback Jon Ritchie will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Sunday’s victory over Detroit.

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Cleveland Brown linebacker Ben Taylor was lost for the season after tearing a tendon in his chest during Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants.... Cincinnati Bengal linebacker Nate Webster will be sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair the patella tendon in his right knee, torn during Sunday’s loss to Baltimore.... Miami Dolphin running back Lamar Gordon is unlikely to play Sunday against the New York Jets because of a shoulder injury. The injury forced the Dolphins to turn to Leonard Henry, their fourth running back since Ricky Williams retired in July.... The Minnesota Vikings will probably be without starting linebackers E.J. Henderson (knee) and Chris Claiborne (calf) and center Matt Birk (ankle) for their next game Oct. 10 at Houston.... Indianapolis Colt safety Idrees Bashir’s injured groin could keep him out of this week’s game at Jacksonville.... Detroit Lion running back Kevin Jones is expected to miss two to four weeks after sustaining a high right ankle sprain in the loss to Philadelphia.