Jets Sign Testaverde; Fiedler Out for Season

The desperate New York Jets brought back 41-year-old Vinny Testaverde on Tuesday after starting quarterback Chad Pennington and backup Jay Fiedler were lost for the season because of shoulder injuries.

In turning to Testaverde, who played for the Jets from 1998 to 2003, the team hopes he can back up untested third-stringer Brooks Bollinger, who is scheduled to start Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

“I’m excited, happy, nervous, anxious, all those feelings about playing for the Jets again,” Testaverde said. “If I didn’t have high expectations, I wouldn’t come back here.”

Pennington and Fiedler were on the same flight to Alabama on Tuesday to see Dr. James Andrews, the orthopedist who repaired Pennington’s rotator cuff in February.

“I don’t anticipate either of them being back this year,” Coach Herman Edwards said.

Testaverde led the Jets to the 1998 AFC title game and was the starter before Pennington replaced him in 2002.

He was with Dallas last season, but was not with any NFL team this season -- until he called Edwards on Monday, worked out Tuesday and was signed for the rest of the season.

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The New England Patriots confirmed that safety Rodney Harrison will miss the rest of the season because of torn ligaments in his left knee.

The Patriots put Harrison on injured reserve, and agent Steve Feldman said the 32-year-old strong safety would have surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament.

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The San Francisco 49ers put wide receiver Rashaun Woods on injured reserve with a thumb injury, ending a second straight disappointing season for the team’s former No. 1 draft pick.

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Detroit cornerback Fernando Bryant is out for the season because of a separated right shoulder. The Lions put Bryant on injured reserve and signed receiver Scottie Vines. Andre Goodman will replace Bryant in the starting lineup.

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The Tennessee Titans promoted quarterback Matt Mauck to the active roster from their practice squad to avoid losing him to the New York Jets.