Panthers’ Foster Out at Least Six Weeks

DeShaun Foster joined Carolina’s growing list of injured offensive stars and will be out six to 10 weeks because of a broken collarbone.

After remaining fairly injury-free last season en route to the NFC championship, the bumps, bruises and breaks have piled up early this year.

Star receiver Steve Smith is out indefinitely because of a broken leg, top running back Stephen Davis has sat out three games after knee surgery and kick returner Rod Smart, also the No. 3 running back on the roster, is out because of a knee injury.

Take Foster out of the mix, and the Panthers have a serious shortage of healthy players heading into Sunday’s game at Philadelphia -- a rematch of last season’s NFC title game.

“I don’t think there is any quit in our football team regardless of the circumstances,” Coach John Fox said Monday. “We’ve still got three quarters of the season left, and whether there is injuries or not, nobody is going to come rescue us, so we’ve got to bow up and compete.”

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Chris Simms’ first NFL start lasted 19 plays, and it may be a while before he plays again for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Although the second-year quarterback is day-to-day with a left shoulder sprain, Coach Jon Gruden said Brian Griese, who came off the bench to pace a 20-17 win Sunday over New Orleans, would start Monday at St. Louis.

“There will be no surgery. We’re going to call it a sprain. He’s going to be sore for a period of days,” Gruden said, adding Simms would be listed as doubtful.

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Injuries to Jay Fiedler and A.J. Feeley left Miami’s unsettled quarterback situation more muddled than ever.

Fiedler was sore after aggravating a rib injury in a 24-10 loss Sunday at New England. Feeley suffered a concussion on Miami’s final offensive play against the Patriots.

Coach Dave Wannstedt said that both would be re-evaluated Wednesday, and that Fiedler would start if healthy. If neither Fiedler nor Feeley is available, Sage Rosenfels would make his first NFL start.

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Tim Carter, the New York Giants’ best deep threat receiver, might sit out the rest of the season because of a hip injury.

“We’re very disappointed,” Coach Tom Coughlin said. “He did so many things. He gave us so many opportunities to press the coverage.”

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All-Pro linebacker Julian Peterson will have surgery to repair his torn left Achilles’ tendon today, ending his season with the San Francisco 49ers.... Washington Redskin safety Matt Bowen is out for the season because of a torn ligament in his right knee.... Cincinnati Bengal receiver Peter Warrick left practice early Monday for more X-rays on his troublesome left shin. Warrick rested during the team’s week off and hoped to be back Sunday in Cleveland, but that now appears unlikely.... Minnesota Viking punt returner and reserve wide receiver Keenan Howry is out indefinitely after injuring his right shoulder in Sunday’s game at Houston.