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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 3:51 p.m., Sunday, October 5, 2008

NFL: Bills' Edwards sustains concussion in loss

Associated Press

Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards went down with a concussion on the third play of the game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and the Bills' unbeaten record went with him.

Safety Adrian Wilson blitzed untouched and leveled the second-year quarterback, slamming him hard to the ground.

Edwards, who had directed Buffalo to a 4-0 start, lay there for several minutes before being helped to the sideline. He was carted off the field, and the Bills reported a short time later that he had a concussion.

Edwards completed a 13-yard pass to James Hardy just before he was hit by Wilson, who was a game-time decision because of a hamstring injury. Wilson called for help from the Buffalo sideline right after the play.

"I looked to see if the ball was completed, then he didn't get up," Wilson said. "I know the situation that happened with Anquan (Boldin) last week, so it was just a scary situation whenever you see a guy just laying there and not moving."

Former starter J.P. Losman took over, but the Bills' offense never got on track in a 41-17 loss to the Cardinals. Edwards' neck was being iced and would continue to be iced on the airplane ride home, coach Dick Jauron said.

"Trent was responding, but he was still a little groggy," Jauron said. "Hopefully, he'll be fine as time goes by here. It's a good time to have a bye."

Buffalo has next weekend off, then is home against San Diego on Oct. 19.

Wilson, rushing from the left side of the Arizona defense, hit Edwards hard just below the face mask, but Jauron said he hasn't seen enough replays to judge whether it was a fair shot.

"I don't think it was helmet-to-helmet but I've only seen one replay on the big board," Jauron said. "There are other things involved in any hit on a quarterback, so we'll see where that one goes."

In his return to Denver, Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese was knocked out of the game with a swollen right elbow and Denver rookie Eddie Royal sprained his ankle on separate plays in the third quarter.

Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud sprained his right knee in the fourth quarter.

Griese was just getting ready to throw the ball when Champ Bailey hit him on a blitz with 8 minutes, 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Griese was replaced by Jeff Garcia, whom he had supplanted as starter after the opener.

"It's going to be all right," said Griese, who couldn't grip the ball without pain after taking a direct helmet hit on his elbow. "The doctor doesn't seem to think that there's anything wrong structurally, so that's a good thing."

Griese was 13-of-19 for 88 yards before the injury, and the Broncos went on to win 16-13.

In Houston, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub did not start against the Indianapolis Colts after spending a night in the hospital with a virus that required intravenous fluids.

Sage Rosenfels started even though Schaub was out of the hospital and active for the game. Rosenfels committed three fourth-quarter turnovers that helped the Colts score 21 points in a span of 2:10, and Indianapolis won 31-27.

In his return to the Bay Area, Patriots running back LaMont Jordan was sidelined with a left leg injury in the second quarter of New England's 30-21 win over San Francisco.

Jordan, who had five carries for 16 yards, was injured on a tackle by Aubrayo Franklin. Jordan hobbled to the sideline, returning for the second half in street clothes.

The former Raiders starter has been just one part of New England's multiplayer running game this season. Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and Laurence Maroney all ran the ball at least four times in the first half against the 49ers.

The Packers played short-handed on defense, and it showed in a 27-24 loss to Atlanta.

Lineman Cullen Jenkins is out for the season and cornerback Al Harris is out indefinitely with a spleen injury. Safety Atari Bigby was inactive because of a hamstring injury, and cornerback Charles Woodson continues to play with a broken toe. Also, left tackle Chad Clifton left the game in the third quarter with his own hamstring injury.

Wide receiver Chris Chambers left the Chargers' 17-10 loss at Miami after hurting his lower left leg on a reception on the final play of the third quarter. X-rays were planned, but after the game coach Norv Turner said he had no update, and Chambers wasn't in the locker room.