A paintball shot in the groin left rookie LaRon Landry unable to practice when the Washington Redskins opened their minicamp.

The No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft was injured during a team-building outing Wednesday, when Coach Joe Gibbs allowed the players to leave early at the end of the voluntary spring workouts. Some players went bowling or had lunch together, while many of the defensive players went to play paintball.

"I didn’t know paintball was that dangerous," linebacker Marcus Washington said. "I hope it wasn’t friendly fire."

Landry was on the sidelines when practice began, but within minutes he left and began laboring slowly up the hill toward the team’s main building, appearing to favor his left leg.

Gibbs said Landry should be fine after a couple of days’ rest.

● NINERS LOSE DB: San Francisco cornerback B.J. Tucker will miss the season after tearing his pectoral muscle during off-season workouts.

An MRI exam revealed the injury, which will require surgery and at least four months of rehabilitation, Coach Mike Nolan said.

The two-year veteran, who was hurt Tuesday, made his first NFL start last season and was a candidate for a backup job again this fall.

Tucker is the second 49ers defensive player lost for the season during their three weeks of organized team activities. Defensive end Melvin Oliver, who started 14 games as a rookie last season, is expected to have surgery next week to repair a torn ligament in his right knee.

● ‘BEER MAN’ GOES FLAT: The New Orleans Saints cut Michael Lewis and Willie Whitehead, parting ways with two players who made the team as undrafted free agents.

Lewis, a wide receiver and kick returner, was known as "Beer Man" because he drove a beer truck before getting a tryout and making the roster in 2001 at age 29. He soon became the team’s star return man and popular with fans.

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