Injury to Boselli's knee not as serious as feared

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Tony Boselli collapsed tothe turf Sunday with an injury to his surgically repaired right knee,but the early diagnosis showed no cartilage damage.

Coach Tom Coughlin said an MRI and a thorough doctor's examindicated nothing more than a bone bruise, a much better outcome thananyone anticipated after the scene at practice.

"It's a positive outlook right now," said Coughlin, who offered noestimate about how long Boselli would be out.

Boselli was blocking defensive lineman Renaldo Wynn on the playthat resulted in the injury, but he didn't collapse until well afterthe block. He fell, got up, then fell again and screamed. Trainersrushed out and helped him to a cart.

Quarterback Mark Brunell took a quick break and jogged over totalk with Boselli. Moments later, Boselli was wheeled off the field,the knee heavily wrapped, his hands held over his face in despair.

"When I saw Tony on the ground, I was kind of sickened by it,"linebacker Hardy Nickerson said. "I was like, 'Man, that's the end ofour day right there.' But we've got to keep moving."

Coughlin said if another exam today shows no cartilage damage,Boselli will begin an "aggressive rehab, then we'll have to see howhe tolerates it."

CHRISTY OUT: Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Jeff Christy likely willmiss three to five weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligamentin his left knee. He suffered the injury during the second quarter ofan exhibition game Saturday against the Cleveland Browns.

"The [regular-season] opener is not out of the question, but itcertainly is not guaranteed, either," Bucs coach Tony Dungy said.

GIVE IT A SZOTT: The Washington Redskins are close to signingguard Dave Szott, who played most of his career for Redskins coachMarty Schottenheimer with the Kansas City Chiefs. Szott missed mostof the 1998 and 2000 seasons with arm injuries.

RICE RETURNS: Receiver Jerry Rice caught one pass for 23 yards inhis return to 3Com Park, but the Oakland Raiders lost to the SanFrancisco 49ers 20-17 in an exhibition game. Rice played 16 seasonswith the 49ers before signing with the Raiders during the offseason.