Panthers uncertain about Delhomme

Carolina Coach John Fox has insisted that, barring injury, struggling Jake Delhomme would remain the Panthers’ starting quarterback.

But Delhomme is no longer healthy, sitting out Wednesday’s practice because of a sprained right thumb, meaning Chris Weinke could make his first start in almost five years Sunday against the New York Giants.

“It’s sore,” Delhomme said. “If I played any other position, there would be no question I’d play, but it’s a pretty important part of the throwing process of holding on, so we’ll see.”

Delhomme was injured when his throwing hand hit Eagles defensive tackle Darwin Walker’s helmet on his nine-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith in the first quarter of Monday’s loss to Philadelphia. Delhomme continued to play and Fox said he wasn’t aware of the injury until after the game.

Fox said X-rays taken after the game were negative and an MRI taken Tuesday showed no serious damage. Delhomme is listed as questionable.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre said his aching left ankle probably needs arthroscopic surgery to clean out bone spurs, adding that it would not affect any decision on his future.

Favre said he had similar surgery in 1996 on the ankle.

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Coach Brad Childress refused to say whether Brad Johnson or rookie Tarvaris Jackson will start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Detroit, only saying he has informed the chosen quarterback.

Coming off four interceptions and a third-quarter benching in last week’s loss to Chicago, Johnson, 38, has started 21 games in a row. He declined to say if he would start.

Backup Brooks Bollinger suffered a shoulder injury against Chicago and was not expected to be ready, leading to the speculation about Jackson, a rookie from Division I-AA Alabama State.

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The Detroit Lions will play their final four games without defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who they put on injured reserve after playing only six games this year.

Rogers was suspended for four games by the NFL in October for taking a banned substance. He had knee surgery while he was away and he did not play when he was eligible because Coach Rod Marinelli said he wasn’t healthy.

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Three days after being carted off the field because of a neck injury, Denver Broncos linebacker Al Wilson returned to practice but was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against San Diego.