Injury Leaves Staley’s Status Uncertain

Duce Staley’s status might not be known until next week.

The star running back, who sprained his right foot in the fourth quarter of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 38-10 victory over Atlanta last week, saw an orthopedic surgeon in Columbia, S.C., on Friday.

“They’re going to give him a stress test next week,” said Staley’s agent, Brantley Evans. “If the ligaments are stable, he won’t require surgery.”

If Staley needs surgery, he’ll sit out the rest of the season.

Earlier Friday, Eagle Coach Andy Reid wasn’t too optimistic.

“We’re not sure what it is,” Reid said, adding that the foot is not broken.

Former Redskin Brian Mitchell, who had an 85-yard touchdown run against the Falcons to go along with an 89-yard touchdown on a kickoff return, will replace Staley against Washington on Sunday.

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Deion Sanders returned to practice after experiencing back problems, and will start for Washington against Philadelphia.

Sanders suffered lower back spasms during the Redskins’ 20-17 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday and missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He was treated with cortisone injections and returned Friday.

“He looked good, he looked real good,” Coach Norv Turner said at Redskins Park. “Looked like Deion.”

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Mike Ditka wasn’t surprised when he was fired by the New Orleans Saints in January. He was surprised when the paychecks stopped rolling in this summer.

Saints’ owner Tom Benson apparently stopped paying Ditka the balance of his $7.5-million contract, claiming the former coach violated its terms.

Ditka said he last received a check from Benson in mid-August, meaning Benson has withheld $312,000 in payments that were due Aug. 30, Sept. 15 and Sept. 30.

“Mike is currently in violation of the terms of his contract by not furnishing us certain material required to be given us,” Benson’s attorney, Stanley Rosenberg, told the Times-Picayune of New Orleans. “And no further payments will be made until he complies with his contract.”