THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 10, 1995 TAG: 9505100592
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Reggie Brooks' plan to re-establish himself as the Washington Redskins' top running back has hit a snag, as the third-year runner will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday to repair a pinched meniscus suffered on the final day of the team's minicamp two weeks ago.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gordon Avery will perform the surgery at Arlington Hospital Brooks could return home Thursday night.
The early diagnosis is that Brooks will need two to six weeks to recuperate, depending on the severity of the damage found.
Brooks, the Redskins' second-round pick in 1993, finished his rookie season as the NFC's sixth-leading rusher with 1,063 yards and had the NFL's two longest runs from scrimmage. Last season, a hamstring injury suffered in a made-for-TV offseason competition limited the amount of work he did at training camp.
A two-fumble performance against Dallas on Oct. 2 caused coach Norv Turner to bench Brooks for several games. He returned in a reserve capacity, but finished the season with just 297 yards rushing.
Relying, in part, on Brooks' return to his rookie form, the Redskins passed on an opportunity to trade up with the Carolina Panthers for the right to select Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter with the No. 1 pick in the draft. Instead, they held on to their choice, the fourth, selecting Colorado receiver Michael Westbrook.
In other news, quarterbacks coach Cam Cameron apparently has emerged as one of the top candidates to replace Gary Moeller as Michigan coach. Cameron, 34, was an assistant under Moeller, in charge of receivers, before joining the Redskins' staff last season.
Several Michigan media outlets are reporting that Cameron and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Tony Dungy are the leading candidates to become the Wolverines' new head coach. by CNB