Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 13, 1993 TAG: 9309130095
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
That's when Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination on his right knee. The medial collateral ligament was sprained on the fourth play of the second quarter, when 295-pound tackle Eric Swann landed on the leg as he and Rypien fell to the turf.
Dr. Charles Jackson said that under the best-case scenario, Rypien would return to the lineup Oct. 4 against Miami. The worst-case scenario has Rypien undergoing surgery and missing the rest of the season.
"I didn't think it was that tough a hit," coach Richie Petitbon said. "But sometimes, that's when these things happen."
Cary Conklin replaced Rypien and led the Redskins to their only touchdown, a 9-yard pass to Ricky Sanders with four minutes left in the third quarter.
While Conklin completed 16 of 29 passes for 169 yards, he also threw what turned out to be a crucial interception in the end zone on the first series of the third quarter. That went a long way toward both teams finishing the day with 1-1 records.
"I had chances to put us in situations to win the game," Conklin said. "I didn't do it and, obviously, I'm disappointed we didn't win."
The Redskins exhibited little of the fire present in their opening-night victory over the Dallas Cowboys. They were outplayed from the opening kickoff, when the Cardinals' Johnny Bailey fumbled the ball but scooped it up in the end zone and rumbled nearly untouched 46 yards.
Phoenix, led by rookie running back Garrison Hearst - 22 carries for 76 yards - and former Redskins star receiver Gary Clark - six catches for 93 yards - marched to the Washington 1-yard line. However, the Redskins kept the Cards scoreless by stopping them on three plays.
But when the Redskins couldn't generate a first down, new acquisition Reggie Roby was left to punt from deep in his own end zone. He banged the ball 57 yards on a line, but Bailey took the kick and went through a gaping hole in the left side for 58 yards and the Cardinals' first punt-return touchdown in seven years.
By the time Rypien went down, the Cardinals led 10-0 after kicker Greg Davis added the longest field goal in Cardinals history, a 53-yarder.
The Redskins meanwhile, had made one first down. On third-and-four, Rypien rolled from the pocket, couldn't find anyone open and started lumbering down the field. He made the first-down marker about the moment Swann hit him. They tumbled over together, then Rypien bounced off the field and onto the Redskins' bench, holding his right knee.
Conklin, who didn't run a single play of the Redskins' offense during practice leading up to the game, produced one first down the rest of the half. He also took his share of abuse, fumbling after a heavy blind-side hit from linebacker Ken Harvey.
Clark, meanwhile, led the Cardinals on another touchdown march, contributing a 36-yard reception to a 75-yard drive that ended with rookie Ron Moore's bruising 18-yard touchdown run.
The only thing that kept the score remotely close was an interception by rookie Tom Carter. Just before halftime, Carter stepped in front of Clark at the Redskins' 6, nabbed Steve Beuerlein's pass and returned it 29 yards.
"That kept us in the football game," Petitbon said.
The emotional lift appeared to carry over into the third quarter. Conklin led a smart march to the Cardinals 20. But Harvey, who finished with three sacks, blitzed, jumped over Brian Mitchell, brushed past tackle Moe Elewonibi and creamed Conklin as he aimed a pass into the end zone for Art Monk. Phoenix safety John Booty stepped in front of the wobbly toss and easily intercepted it.
"That's the one I'd really like to have back," Conklin said. "I threw it right into coverage."
Conklin guided the offense on a five-play, 53-yard touchdown drive and to a 23-yard field goal by Chip Lohmiller on the next two possessions. Meanwhile, a Cardinals offense that gobbled up 203 yards in the first half, gained just 100 yards after halftime.
"We tried to regroup in the second half, tried to get back into it, but we didn't make it all the way," Petitbon said. "Give Phoenix a lot of the credit. They made the plays they needed to and held on to win."
by CNB