Philadelphia — Brian McCann was knocked unconscious Sunday on a helmet-to-helmet home plate collision with Shane Victorino.

The 24-year-old All-Star catcher regained consciousness within moments but suffered a mild concussion and expects to miss several days.

AP (ENLARGE)

The Phillies' Shane Victorino, top, collides with the Braves' Brian McCann as he scores on Ryan Howard's two-run single in the sixth inning.

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"Maybe the next three of four days," said McCann, who had X-rays taken on his neck. They were negative. "My neck is a little sore and I'm going to have a headache. But I'm going to be all right."

McCann laid motionless on his left side for nearly five minutes as the Braves trainer Jeff Porter tended to him. McCann was eventually able to sit up and walk off the field with some assistance from Porter.

"Once I got in [the clubhouse] for 5, 10 minutes, I was fine," McCann said.

Victorino had charged hard for the plate behind Pat Burrell on a two-run single by Ryan Howard to right field in the sixth. McCann fielded a throw from Jeff Francoeur on a hop and turned to take contact. Victorino came in high and McCann went low, expecting a slide. The two tumbled over the plate as the ball came loose.

"That throw from right is so tough to judge," McCann said. "You're catching it blind and you don't know if he's going to slide or run you over. You have to go for the slide because 90 percent of the time, somebody slides. ... I just wasn't prepared for it."

McCann said he didn't think the play was dirty.

"He was trying to score," McCann said. "I would have done the same thing if I was running. ... He plays the game hard."

As soon as Victorino realized McCann was still down after the play, he went back and huddled over him. He called McCann after the game.

"I just wanted to let him know I wasn't trying to be dirty," Victorino said. "It was just one of those plays where I thought that was the only way I could try and be safe... With Francoeur and his arm, I knew there was probably going to be a play. The only way I thought I could be safe was to jar the ball loose."

Roster watch

The Braves have some decisions to make. With McCann out a few days and Monday's scheduled pitcher going Sunday (Jo-Jo Reyes), there could be two roster moves coming today.

Manager Bobby Cox didn't announce it, but Charlie Morton is expected to start Monday against the Cardinals. That's when Morton was originally scheduled to start before he was optioned to AAA Richmond Saturday to make room for Mike Hampton on the roster. But Morton is still with the club and traveled to Atlanta Sunday night on the team charter.

Cox said Tim Hudson would not come back on four days of rest. He's still on target to pitch Tuesday despite some elbow stiffness he felt Wednesday in Florida.

The Braves also need someone other than Corky Miller to catch with McCann out. Clint Sammons in AAA Richmond is a likely choice as the only other catcher on the 40-man roster.

To make room, the Braves could disable Chipper Jones and send out a pitcher — perhaps designate Julian Tavarez. Jones is all but expecting that, saying Sunday it "very well could be."

Jones missed all three games of the Phillies' series with a sore hamstring, which he said hasn't improved much since he hurt it Wednesday in Florida.

He took some swings Sunday in case the pitcher's spot came up in the ninth inning and said "it's really, really sore."

The Braves wanted to see if he would turn a corner in the next couple of days before deciding to disable him because he wouldn't be eligible to come off the DL until Aug. 8.

Health updates

Matt Diaz returned to Atlanta from AAA Richmond earlier this week for an MRI on his left knee. It revealed no further structural damage to the posterior cruciate ligament, just inflammation. But he'll need some time off. Diaz was 1-for-9 in three games for Richmond. ...

Jeff Bennett was scheduled to throw one final bullpen in Myrtle Beach Sunday and, if there are no setbacks, Cox said he would be activated probably Tuesday or Wednesday. ...

Tom Glavine threw a bullpen without incident Sunday and after taking two days off will throw a simulated game Wednesday at Turner Field. Glavine has a partially torn flexor tendon and hoping to return in mid-August.