NFL starting QBs feel winds of change
09.10.2007 03:00
Sport and Travel
- Source: USA Today
The quarterback merry-go-round shows signs of spinning out of control this season, as 12 teams already have replaced opening-day signal-callers.
Carolina announced Monday that Jake Delhomme will have season-ending surgery for an elbow injury suffered two weeks ago. In Sunday's games, a broken collarbone benched Arizona's Matt Leinart, Miami's Trent Green went on the doubtful list because of a Grade 3 concussion — the most severe — that threatens his career, and Kansas City's Damon Huard is awaiting MRI results on his bruised shoulder. Atlanta benched Joey Harrington in the fourth quarter Sunday, but Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said Monday that he won't make Byron Leftwich the starter. Harrington's starting status was at risk after going 16-for-31 for 87 yards in Sunday's loss to Tennessee. But Leftwich, subbing in the fourth quarter, went 2-for-8 with a 2.1 rating. Carolina may start its third different quarterback this season against Arizona on Sunday because Delhomme's backup, David Carr, hurt his back in the win against New Orleans. "David is definitely sore," Carolina coach John Fox said Monday. "He's still being evaluated." The only other quarterback on Carolina's roster is undrafted rookie Matt Moore from Oregon State. Moore was 1-for-2 while briefly relieving Carr and was 21-for-29 during the preseason for Dallas before being waived. Arizona's plan to rotate quarterbacks is scratched with Leinart out indefinitely. Taking over full time is two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner, who guided a 34-31 victory against St. Louis. Warner said he was "disappointed" for Leinart but added that "at the same time, as you all know, I love to play." If Huard can't play, he'll be replaced by Brodie Croyle, whose last-minute touchdown pass allowed Kansas City to avert its first home shutout since 1994. San Francisco doesn't know whether Alex Smith can return from his shoulder injury. If not, the 49ers will rely again on Trent Dilfer, who was sacked three times and intercepted once in Sunday's loss to Baltimore. "If Alex is not well, it will be Trent again, and I would be very comfortable with that," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "I believe I have a lot of confidence in Trent because he's a very good leader." Contributing: Wire reports
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