ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Lions backup quarterback Jeff Garcia
will miss at least six weeks after breaking his left leg in
Detroit's 21-7 preseason victory against Buffalo on Friday.
Coach Steve Mariucci said X-rays revealed Garcia broke his
fibula, but he also fears the player might have severely hurt his
ankle. Mariucci said the team will know more after Garcia has
further tests Saturday.
"We'll just keep our fingers crossed," Mariucci said.
He added that the tests will determine whether the Lions need to
consider signing another veteran backup behind starter Joey Harrington.
"We have to talk about it," Lions president Matt Millen said.
Without Garcia, Detroit has two untested quarterbacks, rookie
fifth-round pick Dan Orlovsky and rookie undrafted free agent Todd
Mortensen.
Garcia was hurt on the final play of the first quarter. It
happened at the end of a 23-yard run when he caught his left foot
on the turf as he was hit across the neck by cornerback Terrence McGee. Garcia, who scampered into a wide-open hole, was just
beginning to slide when he was hit.
He lay on the field in pain for several minutes, but able to
move his ankle as trainers attended to him. Garcia, however, was
unable to put any weight on his left foot as he was helped onto a
cart and driven to the team's locker room.
Garcia, a seven-year veteran who signed with Detroit as a free
agent in March, started the game in place of Harrington, held out
because of a groin injury.
Garcia is confident he'll return soon.
"It is frustrating and disappointing, but I will be back," he
said. "I'm going to be positive and try to get myself healthy so I
can help this team."
It's the second time in consecutive seasons Garcia was hurt at
Buffalo.
A backup with Cleveland, he sustained a season-ending knee
injury in the Browns' 37-7 loss to the Bills last December.
"I'm 2-for-2 here in Buffalo being carted off. It's not a good
feeling," he said.
Harrington, expected to return to practice on Monday, was shaken
by Garcia's injury.
"I feel terrible for the guy. I'm frustrated as a teammate and
a friend," Harrington said. "I just hope he's feeling better
soon."
Garcia was four of eight for 33 yards passing and had two rushes for 29
yards before he was hurt.