Bills lose another tight end as rookie tears knee ligament

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills rookie tight end Kevin Everett has a torn left knee ligament and could miss the start of the season.

Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold said Monday that the team's third-round pick will have surgery. There is no timetable for Everett's return.

It generally takes players four to six months to recuperate from such an injury. That means Everett would miss most if not all of training camp, which is scheduled to open in late July. The Bills then must decide whether to keep him on their roster or put him on injured reserve, ending his season.

Everett was hurt during minicamp Friday when he made a catch and his foot appeared to stick in the turf when he planted to turn up field. He needed help getting up before being driven away in a cart.

The 6-foot-4, 241-pound Everett spent two years at Miami as a junior college transfer. Last season, he had 23 receptions for 310 yards, but missed the Peach Bowl with a separated left shoulder.

The Bills' tight end corps is already banged up. Starter Mark Campbell and backup Tim Euhus are recovering from knee injuries, and were held out of last weekend's practices.