New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and Detroit Lions rookie Matthew Stafford were forced to leave their games in the fourth quarter with leg injuries.

Manning bruised his heel against Kansas City but didn't expect to miss any games. Stafford twisted his right knee as he was sacked for an 11-yard loss by Adewale Ogunleye against the Bears.

Baltimore left tackle Jared Gaither was taken off the field on a stretcher midway through the second quarter of the Ravens' 27-21 loss to the New England Patriots.

Gaither was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for tests on his neck and shoulder after a collision in the backfield. X-rays were negative.

``We knew it wasn't serious'' even before the tests, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. ``We'll see how long he'll be out.''

The 6-foot-9, 340-pound Gaither was dropping back as he blocked defensive end Jarvis Green. Meanwhile, defensive end Ty Warren rushed Joe Flacco from the other side and shoved the quarterback into Gaither's back after Flacco released a short incomplete pass.

Flacco and Gaither both went down, but Flacco quickly got up.

The 23-year-old Gaither remained on his back for about 10 minutes surrounded by medical personnel. He was strapped to a board, which was lifted onto a cart that took him off the field.

Manning's injury does not appear to be as serious.

``It was a non-contact. It just happened into the drop,'' said Manning, who threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns in the 27-16 win. ``It was the play before the touchdown, where I had Steve Smith deep and threw it a little short.''

Manning was replaced by David Carr, but said he expects to be ready for the next game.

``I always assume I'm going to play, that I'm going to be out there,'' he said. ``I've always been a pretty quick healer. I'll be doing everything I can possibly do this week to get healthy and prepared to play Oakland. We'll find out more tomorrow. I can walk around and move around, but there is some discomfort.''

Stafford got the knee wrapped on the sideline. He will undergo more tests in Detroit.

In addition to Stafford, Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson left the 48-24 loss late with a leg injury, although the nature of the problem wasn't clear. Linebacker Ernie Sims also aggravated a right shoulder injury and left the game late in the third quarter.

Bears receiver Devin Hester left after hurting a shoulder during the second quarter. Hester was apparently injured after catching a short pass on second down with about 12 minutes left. The Bears also lost running back and special teams player Adrian Peterson to a right knee injury in the early stages of the game.

Houston safety Eugene Wilson was inactive against the Oakland Raiders because of an illness, and two other Texans were available to play but were also ill.

Houston had the NFL's first confirmed case of swine flu earlier this week in tight end Anthony Hill. The other players got sick Saturday night and Sunday morning, but the team did not confirm any other cases of swine flu.

Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter was taken to the locker room late in the third quarter after injuring his left ankle. He hurt the ankle on a sweep play against Dallas.

Washington Redskins punter Hunter Smith left with a groin injury, forcing kicker Shaun Suisham into punting duties against Tampa Bay.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.