Green Out For Season With Injury

Miami Dolphins receiver Yatil Green has suffered a season-ending right knee injury in a non-contact preseason practice drill for the second consecutive year.

Green, a first-round pick in 1997, ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament graft in his right knee Wednesday during a non-contact pass route in practice. He had missed the 1997 season after he tore his right ACL on the first day of training camp.

Green suffered an unrelated injury to the knee Aug. 1 and had arthroscopic surgery the following day to repair a torn portion of cartilage, but was expected to be back early in the regular season. He had been cleared for a return to practice by the Miami medical staff after a positive rehabilitation stint.

On Wednesday, he was running a pass route when the graft gave way. He will be scheduled for surgery and again will miss a chance at playing his first NFL regular-season game.

"I am disappointed in this setback for Yatil," said Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson. "He had worked for the past year to put himself in position to be a significant contributor to our 1998 season. This is an unfortunate injury, but I am sure Yatil will work hard once again to overcome this new obstacle."

Ironically, the Dolphins lost another rookie receiver to a torn ACL in training camp. Larry Shannon, one of Miami's two third-round picks in the 1998 draft, tore his right ACL in his first practice with the team.

Green was the 15th overall selection in the 1997 draft after he left the University of Miami with one year of eligibility remaining. He caught 42 passes for 669 yards and three touchdowns in his junior year, finishing his career with 82 eceptions for 1,397 yards and nine touchdowns.

But Green, expected to be the deep threat that the Dolphins have lacked for several years, suffered the torn ACL on the first day of training camp last season.

Without Green, the Dolphins will shop for a receiver to complement O.J. McDuffie, who led the team with 76 catches for 943 yards. Last year, the Dolphins shuffled Lamar Thomas, Charles Jordan and Fred Barnett at the other wide receiver slot before signing Brett Perriman during the season. However, Perriman had just 19 catches for 309 yards and one touchdown in eight games for Miami.

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