SAV Rocca is in legal hot water in the US - and it has nothing to do with the former AFL star's work visa problems.

A woman has filed a lawsuit against Rocca and his former NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles, claiming she suffered "severe, diverse and permanent injuries'' after Rocca kicked a ball into the stands during a fan appreciation night at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field on August 2, 2009.

The lawsuit claims Rocca directed a fan to throw the ball back to him, but the fan's throw "missed, causing the football to directly strike'' Debra A Campana who was sitting in, or about, the third row from the field.

Campana suffered a left forearm and wrist displaced fracture, other injuries and "severe physical pain, mental anguish and humiliation'', the lawsuit claims.

Campana's lawyer alleges the Eagles were careless, reckless and negligent and failed to have procedures and personnel in place to return footballs retrieved from the stands.

Rocca, who was signed by the Washington Redskins last week, was a punter on the Philadelphia Eagles between 2007 and 2010.

Campana is seeking more than $US75,000.

Rocca, the Philadelphia Eagles and The Eagles Charitable Foundation are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Rocca was expected to join his Redskins teammates this week in Virginia for pre-season training, but has been stranded in Australia unable to secure a US work visa.

Redskins special teams coach Danny Smith said Rocca had sent a message to the team saying he expected to have his visa and be in the US by Saturday night.

The Redskins' first pre-season game is against the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 12.

