Sports briefs 9/18/04

Football

The Carolina Panthers have not had a very good week: Running back Stephen Davis was lost Friday with a knee injury, just days after star receiver Steve Smith broke his leg.

Davis and Smith are the defending NFC champions' top two offensive threats.

Davis, who ran for a career-best 1,444 yards last season, began having problems with his knee after practice Thursday, and an MRI showed "a small cartilage problem," coach John Fox said Friday.

He had arthroscopic surgery Friday, and will miss Sunday's game at Kansas City. The Panthers said he would be out two to five weeks.Golf

LPGA Tour rookie Brandi Jackson shot a 6-under 66 and held a one-stroke lead in the rain-delayed opening round of the Safeway Classic.

Cracks of thunder announced the arrival of a heavy downpour in the late afternoon and play was suspended for 1 hour, 28 minutes. Play was called for the day about 7 p.m. with 32 players still on the course.

Her round at Columbia Edgewater Country Club put her a stroke up on Jenna Daniels, Jennifer Rosales and Janice Moodie.

Dean Wilson shot a 5-under 65 on Friday and led first-round leader Ted Purdy by a stroke halfway through the Texas Open. Wilson was at 11-under 129 after 36 holes at the La Cantera Golf Club course in the rocky hills just north of San Antonio.

David Peoples (64), Ryan Palmer (65), John Senden (65) and J.J. Henry (67) were all at 131, one shot ahead of Scott Simpson (67) and Aaron Barber (63). Barber's round was the lowest of the day. Two-time champions Duffy Waldorf (67) and Justin Leonard (68) were in a group of four at 133.

-- From wire reports