sports

Seattle offensive tackle Walter Jones, a nine-time Pro Bowl player, will be placed on injured reserve because of pain in his surgically repaired left knee.

"We're going to shut him down," Seahawks coach Jim Mora said Wednesday. "We're going to let him heal up, have whatever procedures our medical staff feels is necessary and then reevaluate early next year."

Jones, 35, has two years remaining on his contract. He had microfracture surgery on his left knee in December.

Meanwhile, Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu met with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., to determine if his torn pectoral muscle will require season-ending surgery.

• The 0-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers said they will start rookie Josh Freeman, the No. 17 overall draft pick, at quarterback for the Nov. 8 game against Green Bay, replacing second-year pro Josh Johnson. The Bucs have a bye this week.

• The Washington Redskins said tight end Chris Cooley could return to action in a month, after surgery Wednesday on his broken right ankle.

• Return man Allen Rossum will be out two to four weeks because of a hamstring injury suffered on his first return for Dallas.

• With Brian Westbrook recovering from a concussion, the Philadelphia Eagles signed P.J. Hill, a three-time 1,000-yard rusher from Wisconsin, off the Saints' practice squad. The Eagles cleared a roster spot by placing linebacker Omar Gaither (foot injury) on injured reserve.

• Kansas City suspended running back Larry Johnson until Nov. 9 -- he will miss one game -- for conduct detrimental to the team. Representatives for Johnson said they will appeal.

TENNIS

Dinara Safina pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, Qatar, because of a serious back injury, handing the year-end No. 1 ranking to Serena Williams.

Safina was serving at 1-1 against Jelena Jankovic on Wednesday when she stopped play, walked over to her chair and covered her face with a towel. She then told the chair umpire she could not go on.

She was replaced in the Safina said a disk in her lower back was "starting to fracture" and the injury has been bothering her for months. She said doctors told her she will be sidelined for at least six weeks, and that she may not be fit in time for January's Australian Open.

Serena Williams won her first match Tuesday and beat sister Venus 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on Wednesday.

GOLF

Michael Whan was chosen as the LPGA's new commissioner. The 44-year-old Whan previously worked for TaylorMade Golf and Wilson Sporting Goods and most recently was president of Mission-Itech Hockey.

He replaces Carolyn Bivens, who was forced out by players in July as the tour kept losing sponsors. Bivens had a strong business background but little experience in sports when she was hired in 2005.

AROUND THE HORN

Horse racing: Prized filly Zenyatta has been entered in the Nov. 6-7 in the Breeders' Cup, most likely against the boys in the $5 million Classic. Zenyatta was entered in both the Classic, along with Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Belmont and Travers winner Summer Bird.

College football: Witnesses identified the man charged with fatally stabbing a University of Connecticut football player as the killer, prosecutors said. John William Lomax III, 21, is charged with murder while his friend and co-worker, 20-year-old Hakim Muhammad, is charged with conspiracy to commit assault. ... Michigan State reserve running backs Caulton Ray and Andre Anderson have been removed from the team's active roster, coach Mark Dantonio said. Ray is a redshirt freshman who has rushed 40 times for 156 yards and a touchdown this season. Anderson, a sophomore, had two carries for four yards.

FROM NEWS SERVICES