PITTSFORD, N.Y. (Aug. 10, 2005) -- Guard Lawrence Smith, who started eight games for Buffalo last season, has a torn right quadriceps and will need up to three months to recover.
Smith's agent, Raoul Lee, also told The Associated Press that his client is scheduled to have surgery this week in Buffalo. Lee said doctors told him Smith's injury is likely season-ending because it will take 8-12 weeks before he can resume practicing.
Coach Mike Mularkey had already said the team plans to put Smith on injured reserve, effectively ending his season. But Mularkey had not discussed the extent of Smith's injury since the player was hurt during a practice against the Packers at Green Bay on Aug. 5.
Smith figured to back up Bennie Anderson, a free agent who signed last spring.
Smith was evaluated first by a team doctor then got a second opinion from a specialist in California, Lee said.
Lee said both doctors are confident that Smith will fully recover.
Smith was entering the final year of a two-year contract and is eligible to become a restricted free agent next March. He signed with Buffalo before last season after spending the previous two seasons on Baltimore's practice squad.
