PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE LEAGUE : Redskins Give the Ball to Frerotte

A rookie quarterback will start Sunday for the Washington Redskins and it won’t be Heath Shuler.

Redskin Coach Norv Turner said he will start Gus Frerotte, a seventh-round pick out of Tulsa, against the Indianapolis Colts in place of Shuler, who has a sprained right ankle, and ahead of veteran John Friesz.

Frerotte looked sharp in the exhibition season, completing 62% of his passes, albeit against third-string defenses. His chief role in practice has been to run the scout team.

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After consulting three doctors about his second concussion in six weeks, Chicago Bear running back Merril Hoge has retired.

Hoge, 29, was signed as a free agent in March after seven years with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He talked with Al Toon, who also retired because of recurring concussions, and Lynn Swann, who had also suffered concussions. Doctors, two in Chicago and one in Pittsburgh, told him he risked even more damage if he tried to play football again.

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Giant Coach Dan Reeves will stick with Dave Brown as starting quarterback when New York (3-3) tries to break a three-game losing streak Sunday at Giants Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2).

Brown, who won the job to replace Phil Simms in training camp, was 35 of 56 for 511 yards for four touchdowns and two interceptions in leading the Giants to a 3-0 start. But he has gone 54 for 98 for 571 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions in the losing streak.

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New York Jet linebacker Kyle Clifton underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and hopes to be available for the team’s next game. The Jets are off this week, then play at Indianapolis. Tackle Siupeli Malamala has a sprained ligament in his left knee and will be sidelined for up to four weeks. . . . Tests have confirmed that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Barry Foster, the AFC’s leading rusher through five games, will be sidelined up to three weeks because of a sprained left knee. Bam Morris, who had 82 yards in Sunday’s 14-10 victory over Cincinnati, will start Sunday against the Giants. . . . Saint linebacker DeMond Winston will be sidelined four to six weeks because of a knee sprain. Running back Mario Bates, sidelined since teammate Lorenzo Neal broke his jaw Sept. 11, returned to practice last week and should be ready to play Sunday against the Rams. The Saints placed center-guard Jeff Davidson, who had shoulder surgery, and guard Baron Rollins, who had knee surgery, on injured reserve.