Injuries: Bills' Price likely out for season; Delhomme doubtful
05.10.2007 17:00
Sport and Travel
- Source: USA Today
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Receiver Peerless Price's season is likely over after he was scheduled to have surgery Friday to repair a disc in his neck.
Coach Dick Jauron said the team will place Price on injured reserve, which would make him the eighth Bills player — and fourth starter — to make the season-ending list five weeks into the campaign. The announcement came as a surprise because Price had not missed practice until Friday as the Bills (1-3) prepared to host the Dallas Cowboys (4-0) on Monday night. Price, however, was noticeably stiff — unable to turn his neck — when he spoke to reporters at his locker Wednesday. In four starts this season, the nine-year NFL veteran had seven catches for 68 yards. Jauron said he believed the neck problem developed over the course of Price's career and was not the result of a particular hit. The injury means the Bills will rely more on slot receivers Roscoe Parrish and Josh Reed to take the focus off starter Lee Evans. Buffalo's offense has lacked chemistry this season, with rookie Trent Edwards producing the team's first touchdown pass of the season — a 1-yarder to tight end Michael Gaines— in last weekend's 17-14 win over the New York Jets. Edwards' 234 yards passing against the Jets was a season high after the Bills had combined for a mere 352 in their first three games. The third-round draft pick will make his second straight start on Monday, filling in for J.P. Losman, who's nursing a sprained left knee. Price was in his second season back with the Bills, who initially selected him in the second round of the 1998 draft out of Tennessee. Price spent his first four years with Buffalo and enjoyed his best career season in 2002, when he had 94 catches for 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns playing alongside Eric Moulds. Unable to meet his contract demands, the Bills traded Price to Atlanta the following year, but the receiver was unable to come close to duplicating his production. The Falcons released him prior to the 2005 season and he played seven games with Dallas before re-signing with the Bills last year. Panthers' Delhomme misses practice, listed as doubtful CHARLOTTE — Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme did not practice again Friday and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against New Orleans. Delhomme hasn't thrown a football since straining his right elbow Sept. 23 against Atlanta. Last week against Tampa Bay, he was the No. 3 quarterback behind starter David Carr and backup Matt Moore. Fox said wide receiver Steve Smith injured his leg toward the end of Friday's practice, but added that he doesn't believe it is serious. "It was one play and he was limited," Fox said. "But we think he's fine." Talking to Carr, Smith walked back to the locker room without limping. Smith has six receptions for 42 yards in the past two games, but has five touchdown catches in his past four games against the Saints. The Panthers also listed three players as out for Sunday: middle linebackers Dan Morgan and Adam Seward, and running back Nick Goings.
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