Pennington, Spikes out for season

New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington will spend the rest of the season in the trainer’s room, as will Buffalo linebacker Takeo Spikes. Down, but not necessarily out, are Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner and Denver cornerback Champ Bailey.

All told, it was an ugly week for injuries in the NFL — with New England safety Rodney Harrison, Philadelphia kicker David Akers and Cincinnati offensive tackle Willie Anderson also topping the list.

Pennington tore his right rotator cuff Sunday in the Jets’ 26-20 overtime loss to Jacksonville, the same shoulder injury he had last year.

A person with knowledge of Pennington’s injury, who declined to be identified because the team had not made an official announcement, told The Associated Press on Monday that an MRI revealed the tear. Backup Jay Fiedler also damaged his shoulder, leaving third-stringer Brooks Bollinger to start against Baltimore this weekend.

“It’s frustrating and demoralizing,” said Pennington, who had surgery on the shoulder during the offseason. “I worked really hard to get back to playing, putting in all the extra hours in over time, and trying to come back to be out there on the field. When something like that happens, it really tests you. It tests your willpower, your mind and your confidence.”

Warner was hurt while scrambling in the second quarter at Seattle, and will miss Arizona’s next game — against San Francisco in Mexico City — with a right groin strain. Warner was optimistic he could return soon, but coach Dennis Green warned that backup Josh McCown might see extended playing time.

Arizona also lost right tackle Oliver Ross (hand) and defensive tackle Russell Davis (left biceps tendon). Ross might need metal plates in his hand, and Davis could opt to play in a few weeks or have season-ending surgery.

On Monday night in Denver, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey injured his left hamstring during a tackle against Kansas City and did not return. He was limping, grabbing his leg and yelping in pain as he was helped to the sideline.

Broncos receiver Rod Smith didn’t return after getting hit in the head early in the fourth quarter and leaving with a concussion.

Spikes, a leader of Buffalo’s defense, will miss the rest of the season with a torn right Achilles’ tendon. He was visibly frustrated after being hurt in the second quarter while pressuring Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick, slamming his helmet to the ground and shedding tears as he was carted away.

“It’s devastating,” safety Troy Vincent said. “But we can’t lose the swagger. … We’re just going to have to pick up the pieces and keep rolling.”

The Eagles may have to go into Kansas City next week without Akers, who tore his hamstring Sunday while kicking Philadelphia’s winning field goal in a 23-20 victory over Oakland.

But Akers could be the least of the Eagles’ offensive worries: Philadelphia hasn’t ruled out the possibility that aching quarterback Donovan McNabb has a sports hernia. While such an injury could require surgery, McNabb — who threw a career-high 52 passes Sunday while playing with a sore chest, strained lower abdomen and a shin contusion — said he is willing to play through pain.

“It would be great to not have any injuries and just go out and play football and have fun,” he said. “But in life, there are adversities.”

In New England, Bill Belichick stayed mum on the status of Harrison, the Patriots’ star strong safety. But his teammates made it pretty clear that he is done for the season with a knee injury.

“I went in at halftime and you could just tell that he was hurting,” free safety Eugene Wilson said. “He had tears in his eyes because he loves the game so much and to go down and know that you might not be able to play, it hurts.”

Tackle Matt Light left the field with a cast on his right leg, but Belichick didn’t announce his status, either.

Minnesota safety Willie Offord will miss the rest of the season; his left knee got caught in the Metrodome’s artificial turf while covering a kickoff against New Orleans. Offord, who started at strong safety, re-entered the game and aggravated the injury.

Anderson, Cincinnati’s Pro Bowl tackle, is scheduled for an MRI on his strained back Tuesday.

The Dolphins were awaiting results of an MRI exam on Junior Seau’s calf injury; the linebacker said Sunday he didn’t think the injury was serious. Coach Nick Saban also said he was optimistic running back Ronnie Brown (hamstring) and safety Tebucky Jones (hamstring) would be able to play in the next game Oct. 9 at Buffalo.