Phillies 1B Ryan Howard out 6-8 weeks with meniscus tear in knee

Phillies slugger Ryan Howard will be out 6 to 8 weeks with a knee injury. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has a meniscus tear in his left knee which will require surgery and he is expected to be out six to eight weeks, reports MLB.com.

Howard was placed on the 15-day disabled list with left knee inflammation over the weekend after receiving a cortisone shot in his knee last Sunday.

“We’ll see what happens [Monday] to get a better understanding of what’s going on inside of there and then we’ll address it with either surgery or any other kind of injections,” Howard said on Saturday. “Right now, it’s too early to tell. Once we find out, we’ll look at it and see what will be the best thing.”

Howard, 33, is batting .266 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI in 80 games this season. Howard is in the second season of a five-year, $125-million extension signed in 2010. The Phillies are 43-46, 7.5 games behind the first place Atlanta Braves in the National League East.