On a day when nearly a dozen teams were hit with injuries to key players, Everett's was the worst, caused making a tackle on Denver kick returner Domenik Hixon.

"A best-case scenario is full recovery, but not likely," Dr. Andrew Cappuccino said, one day after performing a four-hour operation on the player. "I believe there will be some permanent neurological paralysis. ... A full neurological recovery was bleak, dismal."

The 25-year-old Everett underwent surgery last night. He is currently under forced sedation and breathing through a respirator as doctors wait for the swelling to lessen.

Everett's family members, including mother Patricia Dugas, were expected to arrive in Buffalo on Monday from their Houston home.

"We honor ourselves by our work, and we honor Kevin by moving forward and working while never forgetting Kevin and never getting him out of our thoughts and prayers," Bills coach Dick Jauron said. "We're going to wait and see what the outcome is here and we're really hoping and praying for the best."

The Bills also lost two starters: cornerback Jason Webster, who had surgery to repair a broken forearm, and free safety Ko Simpson, who also had surgery for a broken left ankle. Both could miss the rest of the season. And linebacker Coy Wire, starting in place of injured Keith Ellison, has a sprained knee and is out indefinitely.

Rams

Seven-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Pace tore the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder against Carolina and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. An MRI exam today revealed the damage to Pace, the first overall pick of the 1997 draft. Pace was injured on the first play after the two-minute warning while pass-blocking against the Panthers' Julius Peppers, minor jostling that didn't appear out of the ordinary.

The 31-year-old Pace has been injured in consecutive games. He was placed on injured reserve last November with a torn triceps, also sustained while pass blocking, that knocked him out for the last seven games. He also missed an early-season game in 2006 with a concussion.

Bears

Chicago might have lost defensive leader Mike Brown again. An MRI exam today revealed the safety suffered a serious left knee injury at San Diego. Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek also seriously hurt his left knee.

Coach Lovie Smith would not confirm a report on the NFL's official Web site saying they would miss the rest of the season. But he did say: "They both have serious knee injuries."

If Brown's injury is season-ending, it would be his third in four years. He was hurt when blocked by fullback Lorenzo Neal.

Eagles

Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard is expected to miss at least one game with a sprained knee ligament. Sheppard hurt his right knee in a three-way collision with teammate Sean Considine and Packers receiver Ruvell Martin in Philadelphia's 16-13 loss at Green Bay. An MRI exam today confirmed Sheppard has a sprained medial collateral ligament.

"I don't think he'll make it this week," coach Andy Reid said of the Monday night game against Washington.

Will James would replace Sheppard in the starting lineup.

Cowboys

Nose tackle Jason Ferguson is out for the season after tearing his right biceps against the Giants. Coach Wade Phillips confirmed today the injury would end the season for Ferguson, the team's most experienced defender in his 11th season. Ferguson is scheduled to have surgery Friday.

"That's certainly bad news for us," Phillips said.

The 6-foot-3, 312-pound Ferguson got hurt in the first quarter of the Cowboys' 45-35 victory.

Vikings

Running back Chester Taylor hurt his oblique, a muscle near the lower part of the rib cage, but coach Brad Childress sounded as though he expected him to play Sunday at Detroit.

"He's a pretty tough guy," Childress said. "There's nothing structurally wrong. It's just extremely uncomfortable right now."

Rookie Adrian Peterson, who was supposed to split the carries with Taylor, rushed for 103 yards on 19 attempts and turned a short catch into a 60-yard touchdown. But Childress said he would return to the original plan of sharing the load at that position when Taylor is healthy.

Also, fullback Tony Richardson has a bruised forearm. The 13-year veteran broke his forearm last season and missed the last seven games.

Dolphins

Safety Yeremiah Bell will miss the rest of the season with a torn left Achilles' tendon, a blow to an already thin secondary. Bell was hurt in the third quarter of yesterday's season-opening loss at Washington.

"He had done everything to have a great year," coach Cam Cameron said Monday. "This is the tough part of the business."

Bell likely be replaced by Travares Tillman, who started 17 games in 2005-06, and 2006 first-round draft pick Jason Allen may be moved from cornerback to provide depth at safety.

Buccaneers

Bruised ribs forced running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams to sit out part of the season-opening loss at Seattle. They could sideline him again when New Orleans visits Tampa on Sunday.

Williams, who was slowed much of last season by injuries, would be replaced by Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham.

"Unfortunately, we're good at one thing now, offensively, and that's contingency planning. We've had a number of guys in and out of our lineup the last few seasons," said Gruden. "We're going to count on Cadillac playing, optimistically. But realistically, we understand he does have sore ribs."

Cornerback Brian Kelly is questionable because of a groin strain.

Jaguars

Kicker Josh Scobee has a strained right quadriceps muscle and probably won't play Sunday against Atlanta. Tests showed no tearing, good news for the Jaguars, but Scobee said the team planned to bring in another kicker this week.

Scobee hurt his leg during warmups before the season opener against Tennessee.