Collins Back in the Mix for Panthers

This time, Kerry Collins was ready.

The Carolina quarterback, who struggled after coming back from an injury and was benched, passed for 204 yards and a touchdown Sunday as the Panthers defeated the New Orleans Saints, 13-0.

“You’ve got to give that guy some credit,” Carolina tight end Wesley Walls said of Collins. “He’s been beat around and people have been trying to get him down. For him to step on the field today with the confidence he had, you would’ve never known the things he’s gone through.”

Collins suffered a broken jaw in exhibition play and was rushed back into action after surgery. He was ineffective in two games and benched last week but regained the starting job when Steve Beuerlein suffered a knee injury.

“I’ve always been able to bounce back and I think this was a good indication of that,” Collins said.

Collins was sacked once and intercepted once, but seemed comfortable in completing 23 of 31 passes against the fourth-rated defense in the league.

The Saints (2-6) were shut out for the first time in 217 games since 1983. It was the second-longest current scoring streak behind San Francisco.

Danny Wuerffel, making his first NFL start, completed 13 of 32 for 132 yards with two interceptions. He was sacked seven times, hurried 12 times and had three passes batted down.

“I just thank the Lord that I can still walk and see and move,” said Wuerffel, who has been sacked 14 times in the last six quarters. “And hopefully, play again one day.”

Meanwhile, the Panthers (3-4) may not have gotten past their troubles, but Coach Dom Capers said they took the first step.

“It’s a long season,” Capers said. “It’s not how you start in this business but how you finish.”