Tennessee Titans rookie cornerback Ryan Mouton, a former Hawai'i standout, sprained his left ankle yesterday morning and had to be carted off the practice field.

Head coach Jeff Fisher called it a "significant sprain" but said it should not keep Mouton out for the rest of the preseason.

Fisher said last night they would treat Mouton aggressively but did not set a timetable for his return, saying some players respond quicker than others. Mouton was seen wearing a boot, and Fisher said team officials initially worried the ankle might have been broken.

Mouton was the Titans' second pick in the third round. The 5-foot-9 rookie had been competing to be the team's backup nickelback. He also has been working as a backup outside cornerback and handling both kickoff and punt returns.

Mouton intercepted a pass and ran it back 29 yards for a touchdown in the Titans' 27-20 exhibition win last weekend over Tampa Bay.

"Fortunately, we got to see quite a bit from him the last couple weeks. He is coming along," Fisher said. "When he comes back, I'm sure he'll pick up where he left off."

BEARS

AFALAVA A HIT IN PRESEASON

Chicago safety Al Afalava, a Kahuku High alum, is making up ground faster than anyone expected.

Afalava, a sixth-round draft pick out of Oregon State, has been the hit of training camp and preseason on the defensive side of the ball. He is learning quickly despite missing organized team activities in June.

"We're trying to get ready for Green Bay (season opener) and we have to bring him along quickly," Bears coach Lovie Smith said yesterday. "He is a quick learner."

Smith has been impressed by Afalava's on-field intensity as well as his hitting.

"He is more aware, he does have a look about him," Smith said. "To play safety you need that. I won't say (look) odd or strange — you need a different look. He definitely has that. But at the same time he's confident in his ability."

Afalava made four tackles in Saturday's preseason game against Buffalo. Two of his hits delivered a good jolt to the ball carrier.

"I thought we did pretty good overall as a whole unit, but there's still a lot of room for improvement," Afalava said.

RAIDERS

NFL PROBE UNDER WAY

Tom Cable went on the defensive yesterday and the NFL said it would investigate reports that the Oakland Raiders head coach got into a fight that sent one of his assistants to the hospital.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is looking into the situation to try to determine the facts of what happened.

Cable denied anything transpired with defensive assistant Randy Hanson earlier this month. Cable allegedly punched Hanson in the jaw.

"Nothing happened," Cable said. "Listen, you want to talk about this football team and the players on this football team, I'll talk all day. Otherwise, I'm not getting into it."

A report filed with the Napa Police Department describes an unnamed 41-year-old Raiders assistant coach being treated at the Queen of the Valley Hospital for a jaw injury, which the victim alleges was caused by an unidentified member of the Raiders coaching staff on Aug. 5.