DAVIE, Fla. — Chad Pennington may not be available to give his winless team a much-needed lift.

The Miami Dolphins quarterback dislocated his right shoulder and may seek a second opinion to determine how long he'll be sidelined, a person familiar with his status said yesterday.

The person insisted on anonymity because the Dolphins (0-3) have said little about the injury. Teammates braced for a new quarterback, with backup Chad Henne expected to make his first NFL start in Sunday's home game against Buffalo.

Other media outlets reported Pennington had a torn capsule and was likely to miss the rest of the season.

"We don't have a comment, because the evaluation process is still ongoing," team spokesman Harvey Greene said.

Pennington hurt his shoulder Sunday in a 23-13 loss at San Diego, and he underwent tests yesterday to determine the extent of the damage. An operation on the shoulder would be Pennington's third since 2005.

49ERS

RB GORE TO MISS 3 WEEKS

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore is expected to miss three weeks because of a right ankle strain.

The 49ers said last night that the strain was revealed during an MRI.

Gore injured the ankle on his only carry during Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He left the game after a four-yard gain and did not return.

The 49ers also said tackle Joe Staley is day to day with a bruised right thigh and safety Reggie Smith has a strained right groin that will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

BROWNS

MANGINI MULLING QB

After taking the entire preseason to choose a starting quarterback, Eric Mangini says he needs a few days to decide who starts this Sunday for the winless Browns.

Starter Brady Quinn was yanked at halftime of Sunday's 34-3 loss to Baltimore. Derek Anderson didn't fare any better in the second half.

Mangini says he'll announce tomorrow who will start this week against Cincinnati (2-1).

The Browns are 0-3 and have scored one offensive touchdown — in the final minute of a blowout loss to Minnesota in the opener.

Quinn's quarterback rating of 62.9 ranks 29th among the league's 32 starting quarterbacks.

BUCCANEERS

QB LEFTWICH BENCHED

The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers have benched starting quarterback Byron Leftwich and replaced him with second-year pro Josh Johnson.

Coach Raheem Morris announced the move yesterday, a day after the Bucs fell to 0-3 while gaining just 86 yards total offense in a 24-0 loss to the New York Giants. Leftwich completed 7 of 16 passes for 22 yards and one interception.

Johnson played one fourth-quarter series, completing 4 of 10 passes for 36 yards and leading a drive that stalled on downs at New York's 5-yard line. He also finished as Tampa Bay's leading rusher, scrambling for a 15-yard gain on his only attempt.

ELSEWHERE

Colts: Indianapolis won't say how serious Dwight Freeney's injury is or whether he'll miss this week's game against Seattle.

Freeney, a defensive end, was injured Sunday night at Arizona. After the game, he said he "felt something pop" in his right quadriceps.

Jim Caldwell said Freeney had an MRI yesterday morning but the team would not have those results until later.

Rams: St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger has a bruised rotator cuff on his right throwing arm but has not been ruled out for this week's game at San Francisco.

Whether Bulger or backup Kyle Boller starts, winless St. Louis will be without wide receiver Laurent Robinson, who leads the Rams with 13 catches. He will miss the remainder of the year with a high right ankle sprain and a fractured fibula.

Bulger, Robinson and safety James Butler were all hurt in Sunday's 36-17 loss to the Packers. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Butler will miss at least two weeks with a sprained left knee.

Bills: Buffalo's secondary is minus two starters with cornerback Leodis McKelvin out indefinitely with a broken bone in his leg and safety Donte Whitner requiring surgery to repair an injured thumb.

Coach Dick Jauron said yesterday he isn't sure when McKelvin will return after he was hurt in a 27-7 loss to New Orleans on Sunday. Jauron said Whitner's status will be monitored on a weekly basis.

Seahawks: Coach Jim Mora has recanted his blistering criticism of Olindo Mare. He now says the Seahawks will not have a new kicker this weekend at Indianapolis.

Mora said yesterday that he spoke with too much knee-jerk emotion less than 24 hours earlier, after Mare missed two field goals in a 25-19 loss to Chicago.

Bears: Chicago hopes middle linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer will be able to play this week after suffering a rib injury in Sunday's win at Seattle. If he can't, Nick Roach figures to fill in against Detroit.

Jets: New York Jets coach Rex Ryan benched David Clowney against Tennessee Sunday after the wide receiver player tweeted about a lack of playing time. After the Jets beat New England 16-9 last Sunday, Clowney wrote on Twitter: "1 play in the 1st Half, 4 plays in the 2nd half ... A bit disappointed about my playing time but very happy and satisfied about the win."