BY RICH CAMPBELL

ASHBURN

"I love playing for this organization," he said, "but when it comes down to it, you've definitely got to look at your health first."

The six-time Pro Bowler suffered a stinger on Sunday when Carolina Panthers' defensive end Charles Johnson banged heads with him on a pass rush. He immediately fell to the turf, eventually walked off under his own power and never returned to the game.

Considering that Samuels, 32, has suffered from spinal stenosis--a narrowing of the spinal canal--since high school, he will carefully weigh his options.

"I have to take it all into account," he said. "It was pretty serious. Any time you're dealing with your spine, you've got to be safe about it."

Meanwhile, the Redskins have sent the results of Samuels' recent MRI to several doctors to get multiple opinions about his status, head coach Jim Zorn said.

Samuels will miss Sunday's game against the winless Kansas City Chiefs, and it seems likely that he will be out at least for the Oct. 26 Monday Night game against Philadelphia with the bye scheduled for the following week.

He spoke yesterday about what his replacement, Stephon Heyer, should expect when Heyer faces Philadelphia's and Dallas' top pass rushers. The Redskins don't play Dallas until Nov. 22.

Asked whether his season could be over, Samuels said: "I don't think so, no."

Zorn understands how detrimental being without Samuels in the long term would be.

"Ugh. Don't put that on me," Zorn said. "I hope not. He's very special to this team."

Samuels plans on making his presence felt from the sideline while he's out. He'll help Heyer dissect film and prepare as best he can.

"I was out there coaching him up on his pass set a little bit earlier," Samuels said. "I definitely want to be there to help those guys out. I'm in that group, and those guys elected me to be a captain."

SELLERS GETS SNIPPY