Delhomme to undergo season-ending surgery

Jake Delhomme last week called surgery on his strained right elbow “a last resort.”

After experiencing pain trying to throw Monday, the Carolina Panthers quarterback decided the worst-case scenario couldn’t be avoided.

Delhomme will have season-ending ligament-replacement surgery on his elbow next week, leaving the Panthers without their leader on offense and scrambling to find another quarterback.

Originally injured two weeks ago, Delhomme didn’t show any improvement when trying to throw Monday. A day earlier he threw briefly on the side.

“I think [Sunday] he was just trying to see how it felt,” Coach John Fox said. “Today he really pushed it and experienced some of the same discomfort he had during the Atlanta game.”

Delhomme left Monday without speaking to reporters. His agent, Rick Smith, said the recovery time is seven to nine months.

Delhomme’s backup, David Carr, is also banged up because of a back injury. The only other quarterback is undrafted rookie Matt Moore.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Trent Green was found to have been knocked unconscious with a Grade 3 concussion -- the most severe -- in Sunday’s loss to Houston and will undergo further tests on the career-threatening injury.

The Cleveland Browns were awaiting MRI exam results on running back Jamal Lewis’ sprained right foot, an injury that sidelined him after one play in Sunday’s loss to New England. Coach Romeo Crennel said X-rays were negative.

Tampa Bay’s Michael Pittman could be sidelined up to two months because of an ankle sprain that further depletes the Buccaneers’ backfield.

Running back Carnell Williams, the 2005 NFL offensive rookie of the year, was lost for the season after tearing a knee tendon Sept. 30.

Earnest Graham will become the starter.

Denver Broncos center Tom Nalen tore his right biceps in Sunday’s loss to San Diego and will be sidelined for the season.

The Broncos also lost tight end Nate Jackson for the season because of a torn groin muscle.

Seattle Seahawks fullback Mack Strong, 36, experiencing tingling in his hands and arms, was found to have a pinched nerve that won’t require surgery but will force him to end his career after 15 seasons with the team.

The Seahawks also will lose wide receiver Deion Branch (foot sprain) for at least two games.

The St. Louis Rams will play without running back Steven Jackson (groin) for the third straight game on Sunday at Baltimore, and are likely to rest quarterback Marc Bulger (ribs) for a second straight game.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will review next week whether to reduce Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Tank Johnson’s suspension from eight to six games. Johnson was suspended for violating probation on a gun charge, one of several run-ins with the law that led the Chicago Bears to release him in June.