Found Unconscious, Lefotu Is Taken to Hospital

Rookie offensive lineman Kili Lefotu was found unconscious in his room yesterday evening and was taken to Loudoun County Hospital, Washington Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs said last night.

Lefotu, a seventh-round draft choice in April from Arizona, had attended afternoon meetings at Redskins Park but did not report to the field for the start of the 7 p.m. practice. According to Gibbs, the Redskins called the security staff at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, where the players reside during the first weeks of training camp. The Redskins dispatched team director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer and his staff to the hospital. Gibbs said Lefotu, 22, underwent a series of tests and was conscious, but would remain in the hospital overnight for observation.

"They first found him in the dorm," Gibbs said. "The first set of tests came back, and they were looking for some sort of bleeding and did not find anything."

Lefotu's agent, John Rickert, said he spoke to Lefotu's girlfriend, who was flying to Washington from Arizona. Rickert said he did not know if the cause of the injury was heat-related.

"He's breathing, talking," Rickert said, who added that he had not spoken to Lefotu. "I know they are keeping him for observation. It is always a scary thing when something like that happens, especially to a man his size."

Lefotu, who is 6 feet 5 and 315 pounds, was alone in his room, Gibbs said, because his roommate, defensive tackle Manaia Brown, was cut earlier in the day.

Brunell Returns

After sitting out practice Tuesday afternoon, Mark Brunell, who suffered a minor calf injury earlier in the day, practiced last night. "While I did have a little bruise down there, [missing practice] was more for me to take a break," Brunell said. "The leg came back very nice. Going last night would not have been smart. Practicing tonight was very smart. As practice went on, I felt better and better. It's not a problem."

It's a Dogfight

Phillip Daniels's loyalties were divided Tuesday when a scuffle broke out between starting right tackle Jon Jansen and rookie defensive linemen Kedric Golston, a tussle that began when Jansen seemed to struggle during one-on-one drills with the defensive line. First, Golston is a defensive player, and second, he attended the University of Georgia, which happens to be Daniels's alma mater.

"He's a Georgia boy. He can take care of himself," Daniels said.

"That's what happens when you get up here. You have to let everyone know that you can hold your own. In a lot of ways, it's good for him. When it was over, he came up to me and asked me why I didn't jump in. I told him I was on the other side of the field, like 40 yards away."

When Daniels learned that the tussle had involved Jansen, a starter and important part of the team, he backed off.

"Whoa, that's our right tackle," he said. "That changes everything. I can't be getting in the middle of that. He's on his own."

Wilson Waived

Dennard Wilson, the defensive back the Redskins waived Tuesday afternoon, remains under the care of the club as he recovers from the arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent yesterday.

In an injury situation during training camp, Wilson could be placed on injured reserve, but it is more likely he and the Redskins would come to an injury settlement. Jackson said he was impressed enough with Wilson that he could return to the club should it need depth.

The team signed Ben Emanuel to replace Wilson.

Team Signs Mineo

The Redskins signed defensive tackle Chris Mineo and waived Brown. Mineo, an undrafted free agent from the University of Texas-El Paso, was one of 10 undrafted college players the Redskins signed following the draft. Brown barely practiced with the Redskins, suffering from a groin injury that had kept him out of action for more than a week. . . .

Wide receiver Taylor Jacobs, fighting for a spot in a crowded field, did not practice with a strained right leg. Gibbs was unsure if the injury was to Jacobs's groin or hamstring.