Bears Win Game, Lose Receiver Conway

Curtis Conway, the Bears’ leading receiver and long-ball threat, broke his left collarbone in Sunday’s night 22-10 exhibition victory over the Arizona Cardinals (0-3) at Chicago. The Bears are 2-2.

Bear Coach Dave Wannstedt said Conway would be out six to eight weeks.

“It’s a real shame,” he said. “It’s part of the game. He dove for the ball and the guy ended up on top of him.”

Last season, Conway became the first receiver in Bear history to put together consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

As he was reaching for a long pass early in the second quarter, Conway landed on his left shoulder as he hit the ground with Arizona defensive back Ty Howard falling on top of him. Conway left the field and was taken for X-rays.

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New England linebacker Chris Slade sacked John Elway’s replacement, Jeff Lewis, three times as the Patriots, behind Drew Bledsoe’s two touchdown passes, beat the Denver Broncos, 31-21, in an exhibition matchup of top AFC teams at Foxboro, Mass.

“We weren’t prepared,” said Elway, who was held out as a precaution even though his ruptured biceps tendon has healed enough for him to play. “When you have a back trying to block [Slade], then there’s problems.”

No one blocked Slade in the second quarter when he raced in untouched from the right side, leveled Lewis and forced a fumble that he pounced on in the end zone for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

“I did all the work,” Slade said. “I at least should get the touchdown.”

The Patriots (2-1) sacked Lewis four times and showed Denver they’re better than the New England teams the Broncos beat, 37-3, and, 34-8, the past two seasons. Denver is 2-2.

Elway plans to play Saturday against San Francisco.

Bronco middle linebacker Allen Aldridge left the game twice in the first half after bruising his left knee and taking a blow to the head. Tight end Shannon Sharpe didn’t return after twisting his ankle in the first half. And cornerback Selwyn Jones suffered an apparent knee injury covering Terry Glenn on a long completion.

None of the injuries were considered serious.

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Kordell Stewart threw a touchdown pass before being lifted for precautionary reasons after suffering a sprained knee and the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-0) remained unbeaten in the exhibition season, beating the Detroit Lions, 28-20, at Pittsburgh. The Lions are 1-2.

Stewart was injured as Lion nose tackle Shane Dronett hit him below the knees just after he released a pass. Dronett drew a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty.

Steeler fullback Tim Lester also left after fracturing his left hand during the first quarter, but it was not known how long he would be out.

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Former USC quarterback Rob Johnson will start for the Jacksonville Jaguars tonight when they play the San Francisco 49ers at San Francisco. “We’ve got a real good nucleus here so hopefully I’ll just be part of that,” said Johnson, thrust into the starting role after Mark Brunell suffered a knee injury.

Johnson was the only backup in the NFL last season not to take a snap. Johnson, backed up by Todd Philcox, came on for the injured Brunell last week, completing five of seven passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns in Jacksonville’s victory over the New York Giants.