NFL suffers big injury hits

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The injury list from this weekend's NFL preseason games reads like a who's who.

The biggest injury was suffered by New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, who underwent surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and will be sidelined indefinitely.

He was injured late in the first half of the game against the New York Giants when he landed awkwardly after being tackled from behind by linebacker Brandon Short.

"It's really unfortunate because we, as players, don't want to see anyone get hurt," said Giants defensive end Michael Strahan. "For him to get hurt in a preseason game is a shame."

Other key injuries included St. Louis defensive back Kim Herring (fractured left forearm), Philadelphia wide receiver James Thrash (neck, back) and defensive end Jamaal Green (fractured right ankle), San Francisco tight end Eric Johnson (broken collarbone, concussion), and Green Bay guard Marco Rivera (sprained knee ligament) and defensive back Darren Sharper (groin strain).

The Jets announced Sunday that Pennington would miss 12 weeks while the 49ers are pondering whether to put Johnson, who also will miss 12 weeks, on injured reserve, which would end his season.

There is no definitive word on the others.