THE SIDELINES : Injury May End Millard’s Season

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings tackle Keith Millard will probably be lost for the season after suffering major damage to his right knee against Tampa Bay, according to a published report today.

Millard, the 1989 NFL defensive player of the year, underwent magnetic resonance imaging tests Sunday afternoon, the Star Tribune reported. An unidentified Vikings source said the tests showed torn ligaments and other damage in the knee, the Star Tribune said. Surgery is tentatively scheduled Tuesday, and Millard is unlikely to return this season, the source told the newspaper.

Millard was injured with 6:34 left in the third quarter of the Vikings’ 23-20 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday. On third-and-goal at the Vikings’ 10-yard line with Minnesota trailing 10-3, Millard rushed Buccaneers quarterback Vinny Testaverde from the right side. He leaped as Testaverde threw the ball and offensive tackle Paul Gruber dived to block him. Millard landed hard, and Gruber might have rolled on his leg.