Chicago Bears center Olin Kreutz, a Saint Louis School and University of Washington alum, will not be suspended by coach Lovie Smith for breaking teammate Fred Miller's jaw in a fight last week.

The players admitted yesterday they had the fight. Smith, obviously unhappy he wasn't told the truth about what happened until late last week, said he won't suspend the players but will discipline them. He wouldn't be specific, but fines are expected.

Miller needed surgery last week after initially saying he hurt his jaw in a fall at his home last Monday.

"We're disappointed — and I really found this out later on in the week — we're disappointed in the fact we weren't told right away," Smith said yesterday.

"We realize it was something very stupid on both of our parts and it's not going to happen again," Miller said as he apologized to his family, his teammates and Kreutz.

Details of the fight were not clear, and neither Kreutz nor Miller would provide them. They came forward with their admission after reports came out Sunday, saying Miller's broken jaw did not come from a fall.

Miller missed Sunday's game against the 49ers, ending a stretch of 110 straight starts dating to 1998. He will also be sidelined this Sunday when Carolina visits Soldier Field.

Kreutz, a four-time Pro Bowl center, said: "Things got out of hand. Something happened and it just got out of hand."

While at Washington, Kreutz, then a sophomore, was suspended after fracturing a teammate's jaw during a locker-room fight during spring practice in 1996.

BENSON'S STATUS UNCLEAR

Cedric Benson's first NFL start could be his last one of the season.

Chicago's top draft pick sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the second quarter of Sunday's game against the 49ers. He will be out an undetermined time, perhaps a month.

Smith said yesterday he expects Benson to play again this season.

"It looked a lot worse than it was," Smith said yesterday. "I'll say that. ... We think right now it's week to week. Hopefully we'll get him back before long."

Benson got the start against San Francisco with leading rusher Thomas Jones sidelined by sore ribs, and gained 50 yards on 12 carries. Benson was hurt after being hit by Isa'ako Sopoaga, a University of Hawai'i alum.

ELSEWHERE

Vikings: Minnesota coach Mike Tice sprained a ligament in his left knee in the first quarter of Sunday's victory over the New York Giants when Vikings cornerback Laroni Gallishaw blocked Jamaar Taylor into him on a punt return. Taylor plowed into Tice, toppling the 6-foot-8 coach who was looking the other way at the time. Tice said yesterday he would not miss any games and would wait until after the season to have surgery if it is warranted.

Panthers: John Fox apologized yesterday to New York coach Herman Edwards for comments Carolina cornerback Ken Lucas made about the Jets quitting during the Panthers' 30-3 victory. Lucas, who had back-to-back game-changing interceptions Sunday, said the Jets "kind of gave up after that because they felt they couldn't score."

Seahawks: Veteran outside linebacker Jamie Sharper not only missed the first game of his nine-year career, he's expected to miss the next month. Coach Mike Holmgren said yesterday that Sharper received weekend hospital treatment for a staph infection in his right knee, missing Sunday's game.

Bills: Quarterback Kelly Holcomb was still having headaches yesterday, the day after suffering a concussion in Buffalo's win over Kansas City. Coach Mike Mularkey said he hasn't determined whether Holcomb or J.P. Losman will start in San Diego on Sunday.

Texans: Houston right tackle Todd Wade will likely require surgery to repair an injured knee. He sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee in the fourth quarter against Indianapolis.

Giants: Defensive tackle William Joseph has a dislocated elbow and will miss at least four weeks. Joseph was hurt in the fourth quarter of New York's 24-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Cardinals: Arizona starting left guard Reggie Wells broke his left ankle Sunday in a loss to Detroit.