Kelvin Pritchett, the Jacksonville Jaguars' veteran defensive tackle, will miss the remainder of the 1997 season because of a knee injury he suffered in practice last Thursday. Pritchett, 28, had started five games this season following a season-ending injury to defensive tackle John Jurkovic. Like Jurkovic, he will be placed on the injured reserve list.
Pritchett underwent a diagnostic arthroscopy on the right knee this morning to determine the extent of the injury. The arthroscopy revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and Pritchett underwent a successful reconstruction of the knee but he will be unable to play for the rest of this season. The arthroscopy and surgery were performed at the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute by team physicians Dr. Stephen Lucie and Dr. Carlos Tandron.
Pritchett is in his seventh NFL season and his third with the Jaguars. He joined the team as an unrestricted free agent from the Detroit Lions in March of 1995 after spending his first four seasons with the Lions. Pritchett has played in 37 games with 25 starts for the Jaguars. This season he made 44 tackles including a team-record three sacks in one game on Oct. 5 vs. Cincinnati. For his career, Pritchett has 24 sacks in 101 games played.
Last Sunday, in the Jaguars' 30-24 win over the Tennessee Oilers, Pritchett was replaced in the starting lineup by Renaldo Wynn, the team's first-round draft choice this year from Notre Dame.
