The Cleveland Browns said Wednesday that surgery on punter Steve Cox to remove a blockage between his brain and his spinal cord was successful.
A Browns' spokesman said Dr. Joseph Hahn inserted a shunt, or tube, at the Cleveland Clinic to cure the condition, which is technically known as hydrocephalus.
'Everything went well ... the prognosis for Steve is that he can work out in two weeks. We expect him back for the Oct. 2, the fifth game of the season, against the Seahawks,' Browns' spokesman Kevin Byrne said.
Cox experienced headaches and blurred vision and the condition worsened during Cleveland's exhibition game against the Los Angeles Raiders Friday night.
The Browns signed punter Jeff Gossett to replace Cox during his recovery period. Gossett, 26, ranked as the fourth-best punter in the AFC last year with a 41.4-yard average. He was picked up on waivers from Kansas City. He joined the Chiefs in mid-1981 when their regular punter, Bob Grupp, was hurt.
Cox handled both the punting and kickoff duties with the Browns, but Gossett is strictly a punter. During the absence of Cox, field goal kicker Matt Bahr will do the kicking off.
Elsewhere in the NFL Wednesday:
-- At Seattle, the Seahawks acquired veteran defensive end Darrell Irvin on waivers from the Buffalo Bills. Irvin, entering his fourth pro season, played in all nine games last year for the Bills as a reserve defensive end and special teams performer. The Seahawks placed rookie defensive end Junior Poles of Boston College on waivers.
-- The Philadelphia Eagles cut center Les Studdard, acquired from Kansas City on Monday for an undisclosed 1984 draft choice, and re-signed center Mark Slater, a five-year veteran cut Monday.
-- At Redwood City, Calif., the San Francisco 49ers waived wide receiver Merv Lopes, a free agent from the University of Hawaii. Lopes was taken off the injured reserve list and the squad stands at 49.
-- At Pontiac, Mich., the Detroit Lions picked up veteran tight end Reese McCall on waivers and released Gary Shirk. McCall was Baltimore's No. 1 draft choice out of Auburn in 1978 and played with the Colts for five seasons before being traded to Tampa Bay in the off season.
-- At Chicago, the Bears placed wide receiver Rickey Watts on injured reserve and re-signed tackle Andy Frederick. Watts suffered a broken foot. Frederick, who was traded from the Cleveland Browns, was waived Tuesday by the Bears. He cleared waivers and was re-signed.
-- At Cincinnati, defensive back John Simmons was re-claimed after being cut by the Bengals Monday. Simmons, a third-year cornerback from Southern Methodist, will take the roster spot of safety Bryan Hicks, who was placed on injured reserve due to a bruised shoulder. Hicks will be off the roster for at least the next four weeks.
