DATE: Thursday, October 2, 1997             TAG: 9710020729

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA 

LENGTH: 93 lines

REDSKIN REPORT

Kenard Lang to

miss two games

after ear surgery

ASHBURN, Va. - Defensive end Kenard Lang's rookie season with the Washington Redskins took an ugly turn for the worse Tuesday night when he underwent eight hours of surgery on his severely infected left middle ear.

Redskin trainer Bubba Tyer said doctors discovered a benign cyst behind Lang's ear drum. The surgery was performed to clean out as much of the infection as possible, though there is little doubt that Lang will need additional surgery after the season.

Lang, who missed last Sunday's win over Jacksonville, is expected to miss the next two games as well - NFC East confrontations at Philadelphia Sunday and a home Monday night game with the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 13.

Doctors speculate that Lang's cyst - a condition known as Cholesteatoma - developed as a result of repeated ear infections, including two this year. Lang's parents told Tyer that their son had a recurring problem with ear infections as a child. Lang is expected to make a full recovery from the infection, though he may suffer a small loss of hearing in his left ear.

Jamal Duff, who had one tackle - for a loss - against Jacksonville, will start again in Lang's spot.

Cris Dishman named

defensive player of week

It didn't take long for the NFC to notice cornerback Cris Dishman.

The Redskins' free-agent signee has been named NFC defensive player of the week for a nine-tackle performance that helped hold the Jacksonville Jaguars, the league's highest-scoring offense, to just 134 net yards passing and 12 points.

Dishman also knocked down two passes and batted one in the air that defensive tackle Marc Boutte intercepted.

``I wish I could put 10 other names on this award,'' Dishman said. ``It was a total defensive effort and a great performance. Sunday was one of the best performances I've had in a long time, but I had two weeks to get ready for them, they had four days to get ready for us. We need to keep our head and feet on the ground. It's still early in the season.''

Dishman drew praise from Philadelphia coach Ray Rhodes Wednesday as a primary reason Washington's defense is much improved from a year ago - even if he couldn't remember his name at first.

``That young man from the Tennessee Oilers was quite an addition,'' Rhodes said. ``He's one of the better cover men in the league. He can be mentioned with the two men down in Dallas. You have to make sure you're on time with the football. You can't have any bad throws.''

Gus Frerotte is

shining on third down

Gus Frerotte leads the NFC, and is second in the league, in passing on third downs. He has completed 25-of-38 throws for 376 yards and three touchdowns on third down, a 113.5 rating that is second only to New England's Drew Bledsoe.

``We're calling some good plays on third down, Norv is doing some things to give me a little more protection on third down and the guys are catching the football,'' Frerotte said.

Here's the significance of that stat: The top-five quarterbacks in the category have a combined record of 20-3.

``It's what wins games,'' Frerotte said. ``We've put an extra emphasis on it this year and it's working out.''

Overall, the Redskins lead the league in third-down conversions, 31-of-60, or 51.7 percent. Of the other three top teams in that category - Denver, New England and Tampa Bay - only the Redskins have a loss.

Quick hits

The Redskins' early injury report for Sunday's game: G Joe Patton, DT Chris Mims (abdominal strain), WR Leslie Shepherd (shoulder) and P Matt Turk (thigh) are probable. Joining Lang as out for the game is starting right guard Bob Dahl, resting his sore knee for the second consecutive week. ... The Miami Dolphins waived Andre Johnson. He was Washington's No. 1 pick in 1996, waived at the end of camp and claimed by the Dolphins at the start of the regular season. ... Washington's red-zone defense is second in the NFL behind only New England. In eight trips inside the Redskins' 20, opponents have scored just two touchdowns. The Patriots have allowed but one TD in nine possessions inside their 20. ... Rhodes said Wednesday that he's not going to change quarterbacks Sunday, meaning Ty Detmer will start and Rodney Peete will be the No. 1 backup. Rhodes called reports that he was contemplating a change ``sheer speculation.'' ... General manager Charley Casserly told the Washington Post that he doesn't expect to make a trade before next week's deadline, despite stories that the Redskins were trying to swing a deal for Oakland's Chester McGlockton. Casserly added that he has received no offers for holdout defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, who seeks a five-year, $5 million-a-year deal.

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