Knee injury sidelines Jason Taylor

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Washington Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor will miss as much as two weeks as the regular season approaches because of a right knee sprain.

The 12-year veteran, obtained in a trade with the Miami Dolphins this month, suffered the injury in the second quarter of Saturday night's 47-3 pre-season loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Team officials said Sunday the 6-foot-5, 244-pounder is out at least 10-14 days and his availability for the regular season opener Sept. 4 against the New York Giants is questionable.

"I'm not ruling him out of the opener," an optimistic Coach Jim Zorn said. "It'll be based on how he improves, but we'll be cautious."

The former Akron University star is one of the NFL's elite pass rushers with 117 career sacks and his 130 consecutive starts ranks seventh among active players.