The regular season doesn't start for more than four months and already the Philadelphia Eagles, a franchise expected to seriously contend for a Super Bowl berth, have suffered their first loss of the campaign.

Second-year tailback Correll Buckhalter, the team's second leading rusher in 2001, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a Friday morning minicamp session and will miss the entire 2002 season. The injury occurred in a non-contact drill as Buckhalter, 23, stumbled after catching a short pass.

Eagles officials confirmed Buckhalter will require surgery to repair the tear. The normal rehabilitation period for such an injury is 9-12 months.

"No one hit him," said Eagles head trainer Rick Burhholder. "He just stepped the and ACL went. He stepped right, then stepped left . . . and the knee just buckled."

A fourth-round pick in the 2001 draft, Buckhalter carried 129 times for 586 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. He also caught 13 passes for 130 yards. His rushing yardage established a new franchise record for a rookie. Buckhalter was particularly effective in the post-season, as the Eagles advanced to the NFC championship game.

The season-long loss of the former Nebraska star almost certainly means Philadelphia will have to add a veteran tailback. The starting job now clearly belongs to veteran Duce Staley, who has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, but there is not much in the way of experience behind him.

"It's not good," said coach Andy Reid. "We're lucky enough that we have Duce and some of these younger players."

Clearly, though, the burden now falls on Staley, a man who was thought to face a long training camp battle to retain his job atop the depth chart.

There was even some speculation that Staley might be released after June 1, when teams can soften the hit on their salary caps, but that won't occur now. Staley struggled at times in 2001 after rehabilitating from foot surgery that kept him out for all but fives games of the previous season. He led the team in rushing, though, with 604 yards.

The list of available tailbacks is a thin one but does include a pair of former Pro Bowl performers in Dorsey Levens and Ricky Watters.

ESPN.com has learned that Levens, an eight-year veteran who has played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers, already has been contacted by Philadelphia officials. He is tentatively scheduled to visit with the team on Monday and will underego a physical exam at that time.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.