CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina quarterback Vinny Testaverde missed practice Wednesday, leaving David Carr the front-runner to start on Sunday at Tennessee.
The 43-year-old Testaverde aggravated a right Achilles' tendon injury in the first half of Carolina's loss to Indianapolis in Week 8. He sat out the second half and has been receiving extensive treatment the past three days
Carr, who missed the Panthers' win over Arizona the previous week, replaced Testaverde despite still recovering from compression fractures in his lower back. Saying he was only at 80 percent, Carr threw for 103 yards, but the Panthers were outscored 21-0 in the second half of the 31-7 loss.
"He was well enough to play last week. There aren't a lot of players out there that are 100 percent at this stage of the season," coach John Fox said. "He looked sharp in practice today. He had a good day of preparation both in the classroom and out on the field."
Carr became the No. 1 quarterback after Jake Delhomme was lost for the season in Week 3 with a right elbow injury that required ligament replacement surgery.
With Testaverde's status uncertain -- Fox gave no update Wednesday -- undrafted rookie Matt Moore could serve as Carr's backup. Moore, who has played briefly in two games, was signed after projected third-string quarterback Brett Basanez was lost to a season-ending wrist injury late in the preseason.
Linebacker Dan Morgan (Achilles' tendon) sat out practice again Wednesday, but linebacker Adam Seward did participate. Seward hasn't played since suffering a calf injury against Houston on Sept. 16.
The Panthers also signed cornerback Patrick Dendy and placed cornerback Curtis Deloatch on injured reserve. Deloatch tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Indianapolis on Sunday.
Dendy was released by Green Bay before the start of the season.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
