Tebow Passes Tests

Updated: 9/30/2009 5:30:10 AM EDT

Teammates hover over Tim Tebow after he was shaken up during Saturday's game against Kentucky.

Photo: AP

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by Tom Morgan

GAINESVILLE, FL. Florida coach Urban Meyer spoke after practice on Monday and said that he thinks quarterback Tim Tebow will be able to play against LSU in two weeks. The Gators have a bye this week.

Meyer thinks, but doesn't know for sure, that his star player will be ready to go against LSU on Oct. 10. The game will be televised by CBS and kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.

"He still has a little bit of a headache, which I guess is normal," Meyer said. "He feels good. He's eating well. Other than a little soreness and a headache, that's it."

Meyer said that Tebow went through a battery of tests on Monday and everything came back positive.

He also said Monday that Tebow remembers the play in which he suffered a concussion during Saturday night's win over Kentucky. Tebow was sacked hard by defensive end Taylor Wyndham in the third quarter, and his helmet struck the leg of right offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert as he was going to the ground.

It's likely that Tebow will not practice this week, which means backup John Brantley will get plenty of snaps with the first unit.

Florida's freshmen practiced Monday, while most of the upperclassmen had the day off.

In other state sports news:

One day after watching his team get embarrassed by the New York Giants 24-0, Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris benched starting quarterback Byron Leftwich. Leftwich is now third team after backup Josh Johnson was elevated to starter and rookie Josh Freeman was moved to the No. 2 spot. Johnson makes his pro debut Sunday against the Washington Redskins. Leftwich threw for a paltry 22 yards against the Giants. The Bucs gained only 86 total yards.
The Miami Dolphins will have to do without starting quarterback Chad Pennington for the rest of the season. Pennington suffered a dislocated shoulder in Sunday's loss to the San Diego Chargers. Pennington will seek a second opinion. Chad Henne will now take over behind center.
Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson said the team has some "unfinished business." The Magic will try to get back to the NBA Finals and win it, something they didn't do last season. The Magic lost in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Magic will open training camp Tuesday. So will the Miami Heat.
According to a person familiar with the negotiations, the Magic have extended the contracts of head coach Stan Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith. Van Gundy's contract is through the 2010-2011 season while Smith has been extended through 2011-2012. Under their direction the Magic made it to the NBA Finals last year.
Tampa Bay set a new team record for homers in a season. The Rays hit four roundtrippers in Monday's 7-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles to bring the total to 193 for the year. The Rays hit 190 homers in 2006.
The surging Atlanta Braves are now just two games out of the NL Wild Card race. Chipper Jones homered as the Braves blanked the Florida Marlins 4-0 for their seventh-straight win and 15th in 17 games.