Second leg operation will end Winslow's year

By
<br>Associated Press
January 7, 2006, 5:24 AM ET
2 min read

— -- CLEVELAND -- Browns rookie tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. needs a second operation on his right leg and will miss theremainder of this season.

Winslow, who broke his fibula during a loss on Sept. 19 inDallas and had it operated on last week, will have surgeryWednesday to stabilize ligaments.

Winslow, the No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft, wasinitially expected to be out for at least eight to 10 weeks butwill now need longer to recover.

"Our No. 1 concern is Kellen's health and his long-termcontribution to the Cleveland Browns," coach Butch Davis said in astatement Tuesday. "We know he will approach his rehabilitationwith the same determination that he shows on the football field andlook forward to his return for the 2005 season."

Winslow fractured his fibula -- the outer bone in his lower leg --while scrambling to recover an onside kick in the final seconds ofthe Browns' 19-12 loss to the Cowboys.

Last week, the first-round draft pick had screws and platesinserted to stabilize the fracture that was clean through the bone.

Following the surgery, Davis reported that doctors found noligament damage and said there was a good chance Winslow would beback in November.

But after evaluating Winslow, team doctors decided he neededmore surgery.

"Kellen needs a stabilization of his syndesmosis [a sprain ofthe high ankle ligaments] in order to prevent further laxity,"head trainer Mike Colello said.

An injury such as Winslow's can sometimes require additionalsurgery.

Following a trauma to the lower leg or ankle, the joint canbecome unsteady and painful, requiring an invasive procedure toallow the ligaments to heal properly.

Not only will Winslow not play again for the Browns in 2004, buthe stands to lose a $5.3 million one-time bonus. As part of thesix-year, $40 million contract he signed in August, Winslow had toparticipate in 35 percent of Cleveland's plays this season to reachan incentive to trigger the bonus.

The announcement that Winslow needs more surgery is yet anotherblow to the battered Browns (1-2), who have lost eight starters toinjury in the season's first three weeks.

In addition to Winslow, defensive end Courtney Brown andlinebacker Ben Taylor are out for the year with injuries. Taylorwas placed on injured reserve Tuesday.