Frerotte to Be Sidelined Rest of Season

Washington Redskin quarterback Gus Frerotte is out for the season because of a broken hip, giving Jeff Hostetler a chance to rescue another team before the playoffs.

Frerotte, whose inconsistent season showed in completing an NFL-low 50.7% of his passes, was injured when he was tackled by St. Louis’ Leslie O’Neal on a scramble near the goal line on the first play of the fourth quarter in Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Rams.

The Redskins (6-6-1), winless in three games and playing horribly on offense, find themselves in a position not too dissimilar to that of the 1990 New York Giants. The Giants had lost three of four and their offense was sputtering after Phil Simms was sidelined because of a foot injury in Week 14. Hostetler started and won the last two regular-season games, then took New York to the Super Bowl title.

Washington also lost leading rusher Terry Allen for at least one game because of an ankle injury while receiver Alvin Harper, who had only two catches, was released.

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Defensive tackle Leon Lett returned to practice for the Dallas Cowboys from a yearlong suspension for drug use, and is expected to play Monday night against Carolina.

The Cowboys (6-7) desperately need the 6-foot-6, 290-pound Lett to tighten their run defense--which slipped to 22nd in the NFL during his absence--to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Lett, 29, forfeited more than $1.5 million in salary during his absence, which was caused by a third strike against the NFL substance abuse program. Should he falter again, he could be banned from the NFL.

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San Francisco 49er star receiver Jerry Rice, sidelined since the season opener because of a knee injury, has been cleared for limited practice beginning Wednesday, but there is no guarantee he’ll be able to meet his unofficial Dec. 15 target date to return to action. Coach Steve Mariucci remains cautious, saying, “This would be a minor miracle, but that’s what Jerry is shooting for.”

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Defensive end Alonzo Spellman rejoined the Chicago Bears for practice, insisting he was right to refuse exploratory surgery on his left shoulder--a move that prompted the team to suspend him for three games. Spellman also acknowledged that the NFL has separately suspended him for failing to take a random steroids test. He called it a “total misunderstanding,” and said he has since taken the test and is appealing the suspension.