Fracture Sidelines Plummer

Denver Bronco quarterback Jake Plummer will be sidelined about four weeks because of a broken left foot.

Plummer, who sat out against Pittsburgh on Sunday because of a shoulder injury, initially injured the foot against Kansas City on Oct. 5.

The Broncos believe Plummer probably had a stress reaction in his foot that didn’t show up on X-rays.

Plummer said he felt “a little pop” when he rose from his couch Monday night.

“It happened for a reason,” Plummer said. “Maybe it’s to get my shoulder back healthy, so when I do come back in a few weeks, I will have no excuses.”

Steve Beuerlein, who replaced Plummer against Pittsburgh, will start at Minnesota on Sunday.

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Donovan McNabb’s injured right thumb throbs when he throws, affecting his grip and his ability to make even the simplest plays. But he said it’s not severe enough to sit out.

“I’m not here to make any excuses. You have to fight through it,” the Philadelphia quarterback said.

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Second-year quarterback Kurt Kittner will make his first career start when Atlanta plays host to New Orleans on Sunday.

Kittner will replace Doug Johnson, who took over when Michael Vick broke his right leg in an exhibition game. Johnson has had 10 passes intercepted, tops in the NFL.

In other Falcon moves, cornerback Juran Bolden returned to practice, four days after he was arrested on charges of driving a stolen car and marijuana possession. He wouldn’t comment on his arrest.

The Falcons lost linebacker Sam Rogers, a 10-year veteran, to season-ending knee surgery. He played two games this year.

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Veteran Chris Chandler will start at quarterback for Chicago against Seattle, replacing Kordell Stewart, who has an undisclosed injury in his left leg.

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Carolina running back Stephen Davis scoffed at any notion that his bruised right forearm will prevent him from playing against Tennessee.

Davis is listed as probable on the injury report.

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Buffalo receiver Eric Moulds will wait until Friday to test his groin injury to determine whether he can play against Washington.

Moulds is listed as questionable, which means he has a 50-50 chance of playing.

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Backup defensive tackle Leonardo Carson, who faces kidnapping and burglary charges in Alabama, was cut by San Diego.

Coach Marty Schottenheimer said the move didn’t have anything to do with Carson’s legal case.

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Washington cornerback Fred Smoot will be out two to three weeks because of a broken sternum, and running back Trung Canidate probably will sit out against Buffalo because of an ankle sprain.... St. Louis receiver Mike Furrey had an appendectomy Tuesday night and will sit out at least one game.