ST. LOUIS - Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace tore the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder in the season opener Sunday and will be sidelined for the rest of the season.

An MRI exam yesterday revealed the damage to Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowl player who was the first overall pick of the 1997 draft. Pace was injured on the first play after the two-minute warning while pass-blocking against the Panthers' Julius Peppers, minor jostling that didn't appear out of the ordinary.

"I feel very bad, obviously, for Orlando," coach Scott Linehan said. "He had a real unfortunate injury and we'll have to pick up the pieces.

BEARS: Chicago might have lost defensive leader Mike Brown again. An MRI exam revealed the safety suffered a serious left knee injury. Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek also seriously hurt his left knee in Sunday's loss in San Diego.

If Brown's injury is season-ending, it would be his third in four years.

COWBOYS: Dallas nose tackle Jason Ferguson is out for the season after tearing his right biceps in the opening game against the Giants.

Coach Wade Phillips confirmed that the injury would end the season for the former Jet, the team's most experienced defender in his 11th season. Ferguson is scheduled to have surgery Friday.

DOLPHINS: Miami safety Yeremiah Bell will miss the rest of the season with a torn left Achilles' tendon, a blow to an already thin secondary. Bell was hurt in the third quarter of Sunday's season-opening loss at Washington.

EAGLES: Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard is expected to miss at least one game with a sprained knee ligament.

JAGUARS: Kicker Josh Scobee has a strained right quadriceps muscle and probably won't play Sunday against Atlanta.

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