Bledsoe Won’t Play Against 49ers

New England Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe will miss Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers because of the broken finger on his passing hand. Scott Zolak will replace Bledsoe. Bledsoe re-injured his finger in Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Rams and on Monday underwent a minor surgical procedure in which the pins in the finger were adjusted.

Bledsoe initially broke his right index finger while throwing a pass against Miami on Nov. 23, hitting his hand on a pass rusher during a last-minute drive. Still, he threw the game-winning touchdown pass in New England’s victory.

Bledsoe played the next two games while wearing a splint, leading New England to victories over the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers. He threw well during warmups for Sunday’s game against the Rams, but at some point the pins in his finger began moving.

Bledsoe missed two series in the first quarter while having a new splint set on his finger. He wasn’t very effective when he returned, and finished 11 for 35 passing for 176 yards.

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Jacksonville backup quarterback Jamie Martin suffered a torn ligament in his right knee in Sunday’s loss to the Tennessee Oilers, meaning third-stringer Jonathan Quinn will likely start in the Jaguars’ next game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Starting quarterback Mark Brunell has not recovered sufficiently from a severe ankle sprain suffered two weeks ago.

Quinn, a third-round draft pick out of Middle Tennessee State who had not thrown a pass in the NFL before Sunday, was 12 for 18 for 107 yards with one interception after replacing Martin.--Associated Press