I was standing a few yards away from rookie GREG CHILDS when he hurt himself Saturday night in the scrimmage from 'FANkato. He went up for a pass in single coverage front left of the end zone, landed, screamed, then grabbed his right knee. Then he went to massaging his left knee.

As he was being carted off the mood darkened because people were guessing something dramatically had gone amiss with the fourth-rounder from Arkansas who at one point was one of the best wideouts in the country's best college conference. While there are no official reports yet on his status given his past performances indicate significant knee trouble I am guessing he bleeped up both knees and will be lost for the season.

From all accounts he wasn't having a spectacular training camp but I was told last night he was improving and they were excited to watch him during the preseason games, which commence Friday night from San Francisco. If he is done for the year what we lost was a terrific wildcard to our deck of options.

Childs is a big, fast kid who plays outside the numbers, and we need depth in that category. JEROME SIMPSON has been tremendous this camp but will be lost the first three games of the year due to suspension. He'll be the go-to outside guy for CHRISTIAN when he returns, and his outside speed should open things up sweetly for many skill players offensively.

MICHAEL JENKINS is back from injury and plays outside the numbers and while reliable is not a speedster. I always envisioned Michael as a good red-zone guy and a player who can muscle his way to a big catch on third down. DEVIN AROMASHODU I felt was on the bubble before the Child's injury and now most likely will make the squad because we are strong in the slot with PERCY and rookie JARIUS WRIGHT, and the tight ends also ball from the slot.

The Greg Childs injury is in no way a season-changing problem but it sure would have been nice to see him stay healthy and live up to the promise he provided when he was averaging 20 YPC in SEC games and against elite secondaries, From rookie camp through last night he seemed to be in the training room as much as on the field.

PLAXICO BURRESS is available if the team wants to investigate, but I would put that chance at about 5 percent. He doesn't fit the theme of staying/getting young. Plax' had eight TD's last year off 45 catches but doesn't gain separation the way he used to and still is "on the street."