Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie suffered a fractured right kneecap yesterday, forcing him to contemplate another long rehabilitation less than one year after having reconstructive surgery on the same knee.

McKenzie was carted off the field after suffering the injury while defending a third-down pass to Michael Jenkins.

"I hope I get credit for that [tackle]," McKenzie said, forcing a smile while leaning on crutches after the game.

McKenzie said he would return to Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., after the swelling goes down in his knee. Andrews performed the surgery to repair the torn right anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus after McKenzie was hurt in the Saints' 15th game against Philadelphia.

McKenzie, a 10-year veteran, said he was told this rehab could take three to six months.

Cornerback Charles Gordon was carted off the field in the second quarter against Green Bay after a gruesome ankle injury that happened when he was tackled on a punt return. Gordon needed to have a pin inserted into his leg and he's lost for the rest of the season. Gordon fielded the punt inside the 10, headed upfield and was immediately met by two Packers. As he planted his left leg to change direction, one of the defenders rolled up on the leg.

NFL sack leader and former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter added a half sack to increase his career-high total to 12.

Wide receiver Wes Welker set an NFL record with at least six catches in each of the first nine games of the season, breaking a tie with former Jaguar player Jimmy Smith.

Wide receiver Matt Jones injured his thigh against the Lions and left the game in the third quarter. Jones had five receptions for 62 yards when he was hurt after helping the Jaguars take a 24-point lead.

Kicker John Kasay had a streak of 21 consecutive field goals snapped when he missed a 54-yard attempt against the Raiders.

Center Jake Grove left in the first half against the Panthers with a leg injury and was replaced by Chris Morris. Meanwhile, punter Shane Lechler averaged 50.5 yards on his 11 punts. His 556 yards punting were the third most since the merger in 1970, trailing Leo Araguz's record of 709 for Oakland in 1998 and Rick Tuten's 559 in 1993 for Seattle.

Despite cracking cartilage in his ribs last week at Green Bay, linebacker Keith Bulluck played in his 106th consecutive game.

Wide receiver Derrick Mason dislocated his left shoulder in the first quarter but returned after halftime.

In his debut with Detroit, quarterback Duante Culpepper was 5 of 10 passing for 104 yards with one interception. He was briefly replaced by Drew Stanton who threw for a touchdown on his first career attempt.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson passed O.J. Simpson and Corey Dillon for 15th place on the all-time rushing list at 11,279 yards. He gained 78 yards on 22 carries against the Chiefs.