Bengals Lose Fisher For Year
Rookie cornerback Charles Fisher tore three ligaments in his left knee during the Cincinnati Bengals' season-opening loss at Tennessee and is out for the season.
His career also could be in jeopardy.
The second-round draft pick from West Virginia completely tore three ligaments when he twisted while trying to stay with a receiver only 14:55 into his first NFL game Sunday.
A magnetic resonance imaging test Monday found the severity of the injury. He'll get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday before having reconstructive surgery.
"Given his position as a cornerback, it's a major obstacle to overcome," trainer Paul Sparling said. "To call it career-threatening is not exaggerating. He's got a long road ahead of him."
Fisher was elevated to starter when the Bengals released veteran Corey Sawyer six days before the opener. The Titans went after Fisher he was called for interference against Yancey Thigpen on the game's first play.
He hurt the knee while trying to cover Kevin Dyson on what turned out to be a 13-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter of the Titans' 36-35 victory. Fisher twisted, felt the knee give and fell to the ground, leaving Dyson uncovered.
It was a huge blow to the Bengals defense, which was repeatedly burned by the Titans. Steve McNair completed 21 of 32 for 341 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bengals already were thin at the position. Starter Artrell Hawkins is only in his second season. First-year cornerback Rodney Heath, who played Arena Football in 1997-98, takes over for Fisher on the other side.
"That really takes our depth at cornerback down," Hawkins said. "Charles had been here for all of training camp and knew the defense. We just have to pull together. We don't have any Pro Bowl guys."
Coach Bruce Coslet wanted more experience at cornerback heading into the season, but the front office decided to get rid of Sawyer after the veteran had a tough preseason. Now Coslet has to try to get by with a defensive secondary that's going to be learning as it goes along.
"There's a whole bunch of things like that," Coslet said Monday. "That's the way it is and you do the best you can with how it s."
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