Donovan McNabb underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right knee and may be ready for the 2007 season-opening game, the team said. McNabb tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a Nov. 19 loss to Tennessee. He had reconstructive surgery on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama, and had a portion of the meniscus cartilage in his knee removed. Eagles head trainer Rick Burkholder said McNabb would stay in Alabama for the next week and then return to the team's training complex for an 8-to-12 month rehabilitation program. ``Eight months is a good, solid amount of time,'' Burkholder said at a news conference, according to the team's Web site. ``We're setting it up right now that he can be back in training camp or maybe the opening game.''

Jeff Garcia will replace Donovan McNabb as the Eagles' starting quarterback Sunday against the Colts. Eagles coach Andy Reid said he thinks Garcia, signed last March, was simply the best person for the job.

Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens was asked Tuesday whether or not he'd send any 'get-well' text messages to former teammate Donovan McNabb, following his torn ACL injury. Owens quickly replyed, "Absolutely not." Rumor has it that McNabb sent several 'get-well' messages to Owens following his 'accidential overdose' earlier this year. However, Owens claims he never received any such messages.

The Eagles placed Donovan McNabb on injured reserve Tuesday, ending the quarterback's season early for the third time in five years. McNabb tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Sunday's 31-13 loss to Tennessee, and is expected to have surgery within a month. He's expected to be sidelined for at least eight months.

With first-round pick Jay Cutler waiting in the wings and expected to take over as Denver's starter in 2007, JakePlummer is not expected to return to Denver. The Broncos will wind up trading or releasing him, and Philadelphia could be an ideal landing spot. Plummer is familiar with the West-Coast-type offense, as well as the NFC East division, having played in it during his time in Arizona. The market for Plummer is not expected to be active. But the Eagles could be a potential suitor.

Andre Waters, a defensive back who spent most of his 12 seasons in the NFL with the Eagles, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound early Monday. He was 44. His body was found at about 1:30 a.m. at his Tampa home, the medical examiner's office said. He had shot himself in the head. Toxicology reports were ordered, and results will be available in four to six weeks, the office said.

Donovan McNabb was carted off the field with a right knee injury early in the second quarter of Philadelphia's game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. McNabb was rolling to his right near the Tennessee sideline and was bumped out of bounds by Kyle Vanden Bosch after throwing an incomplete pass. He grabbed his leg and was immediately tended to by trainers. There was no immediate word on the extent of his injury, but the team said he wouldn't return. He was replaced in the lineup by Jeff Garcia.

Michael Lewis and the Eagles appear to have no future together beyond this season. Before the start of the 2005 season, the Eagles talked about a contract extension for Lewis with his agent/brother Rodney Williams. "We agreed to disagree," Williams said Friday when asked about the negotiations. "They didn't offer what we thought was fair, but they haven't come back with any final numbers in more than a year."

L.J. Smith, a player many expected to be signed before Monday's deadline with the money left over under the 2006 salary cap, still is waiting for his big payday. According to sources close to the negotiations, the two sides still are talking but are not close to a new deal. "This is the unfortunate business side of things," said Smith, who will take his 29 receptions for 384 yards and two touchdowns into today's NFC East battle with the Redskins (3-5) at Lincoln Financial Field. "Like I've said time and time again: I'd love to be here. I see how this city takes care of its own, and I would like to try and bring a Super Bowl to this team. I've just got to approach it like that. I've got to do what I can to help this team get into the playoffs this year and then we'll see what happens."

The Eagles are making a point of looking to the future. In their latest move to secure the long-term services of one of their young players, the Eagles agreed with WR Reggie Brown on a five-year contract extension. The club's official web site did not disclose financial terms. However, ESPN.com reported Brown's deal, which runs through 2014, can be worth as much as $27 million and includes $10 million in guarantees.