EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey, 25 August 2003 — Chad Pennington, the National Football League’s leader in passer rating last season, suffered a broken left wrist in the second quarter of the New York Jets’ preseason game against the New York Giants.
Pennington dislocated and fractured his left wrist and is out indefinitely. He was tackled from behind by Brandon Short after throwing away a pass with just under two minutes remaining in the first half and landed awkwardly on his wrist.
Pennington had X-rays at Giants Stadium, which revealed the fracture-dislocation, and was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York for immediate surgery. Vinny Testaverde, who turns 40 in November, entered the game in place of Pennington. Kerry Collins was 13-of-23 for 198 yards for the Giants (0-3). Ike Hilliard caught an 88-yard TD pass and finished with seven receptions for 150 yards. The Jets (2-2) took the lead in the fourth quarter on Chad Brinker’s 2-yard run.
Bills 28, Rams 24
In Orchard Park, New York, Marshall Faulk ran for 43 yards and a touchdown and caught seven passes for 70 yards and another TD in his first exhibition game of the season for St. Louis (1-2). Faulk’s first-half performance overshadowed an encouraging outing by Buffalo’s Drew Bledsoe-led offense.
Titans 23, Bengals 15
In Cincinnati, Steve McNair led Tennessee (3-0) to scores on all three first-half possessions, completing 13 of 17 passes for 167 yards and a 13-7 lead. Joe Nedney kicked field goals of 48 and 31 yards, and McNair tossed a 1-yard pass to uncovered tight end Shad Meier with 20 seconds in the half. The Bengals dropped to 1-2.
Lions 38, Browns 17
In Detroit, Joey Harrington was 15-of-20 for 184 yards and a touchdown, and Scotty Anderson caught two scoring passes to help the Lions improve to 2-1 in exhibition play. New Cleveland starter Kelly Holcomb was 14-of-21 for 130 yards and a TD. Tim Couch fumbled his first snap and finished 2-of-6 for 25 yards and a TD for the Browns (0-3).
Redskins 24, Ravens 3
In Landrover, Maryland, Laveranues Coles caught a flea-flicker touchdown pass, Patrick Ramsey was 8-of-13 for 100 yards and one touchdown for the Redskins (1-2). First-round pick Kyle Boller, competing with Chris Redman for Baltimore’s starting quarterback job, played the first half and went 14-for-20 for 101 yards.
Panthers 20, Packers 7
In Green Bay, Wisconsin, Green Bay nose tackle Gilbert Brown helped stuff Stephen Davis four times on a goal-line stand in his first test to see if he can play with a ruptured right biceps. Carolina (3-0) got outstanding performances from backups Chris Weinke and Walter Young.
Buccaneers 10, Jaguars 6
In Tampa, Florida, Thomas Jones scored on a 4-yard touchdown run and Martin Gramatica returned from a two-week layoff to kick a 24-yard field goal for Tampa Bay (3-1). Tampa Bay’s defense rebounded from a sub-par effort against St. Louis on Monday night to limit the Jaguars (2-1) to 193 yards and a pair of field goals.
49ers 27, Saints 12
In San Francisco, Jeff Garcia passed for 44 yards in his return to San Francisco’s lineup, but tight end Eric Johnson broke his collarbone on the first play from scrimmage. Garcia, the 49ers’ Pro Bowl quarterback, played the first three series, going 6-for-7.
Chargers 19, Texans 17
In Houston, Cleo Lemon drove San Diego drove 32 yards to set up Mackenzie Hoambrecker’s 36-yard field goal with 20 seconds left as San Diego (1-2) beat Houston (0-3).
Seahawks 42, Chiefs 31
In Seattle, Trent Dilfer played for the first time since tearing an Achilles’ tendon last year, completing 12 of 14 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown for the Seahawks (2-1). Rookie Larry Johnson had a big night for the Chiefs (2-2), running 12 times for 77 yards.
