The Panthers still have a chance to make the playoffs and could get a boost at quarterback. "We've upgraded Jake Delhomme from questionable to probable, and he did fine," said head coach John Fox.

Chris Weinke credited his first win in five years to Carolina's renewed emphasis on the running game, while another Atlanta loss left Michael Vick wondering about his team's direction. No matter the perspective of the quarterbacks, Carolina's 10-3 win over the Falcons Sunday left each team one game under .500, and still in the jumbled NFC wild-card playoff hunt, with one week left in the season. The Falcons suffered their fourth-straight home loss. Vick seemed to question decisions by coach Jim Mora and his staff.

Michael Vick says his sore groin has improved, even though he didn't test the injury as he took a reduced role in Wednesday's practice. Vick had to leave late in the Atlanta Falcons' loss to Dallas on Saturday night due to the injury. He was listed as probable for Sunday's game against Carolina and reported the sore groin "feels better."

Panthers all-time sacks leader Mike Rucker will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme was inactive for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, giving Chris Weinke his second straight start. Delhomme hasn't been able to play or practice since suffering ligament damage in his right thumb in Carolina's loss to Philadelphia on Dec. 4. He tried to throw on the side before Friday's practice, but had trouble gripping the ball.

With Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood hobbled by injuries, the Falcons signed former Carolina and San Francisco running back Jamal Robertson on Wednesday. Robertson adds depth to a backfield that might be without its top two tailbacks for Saturday night's crucial game against the Cowboys.

Carolina cornerback Christian Morton, pushed into the starting lineup because of injuries to most of the secondary, left Sunday's game against the Giants with a hamstring injury. Morton pulled up during a punt return in the first quarter. He was taken straight to the locker room and his return was doubtful.

Barring a significant recovery by QB Jake Delhomme, backup Chris Weinke is expected to start for the Panthers on Sunday against the Giants. Weinke took all the snaps in practice this week as Delhomme nursed an injured right thumb. Delhomme has also struggled this season, including an interception against Philadelphia on Monday night that ended the Panthers' hopes for a comeback win.

Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme missed practice Wednesday because of a sprained right thumb and is questionable for this weekend's game against the Giants. Delhomme was injured Monday night when his throwing hand hit a helmet on his 9-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith in the first quarter. Delhomme kept playing, and coach John Fox said he wasn't aware of the injury until after the game. "It's something he dealt with. It was a lot more sore after the game," Fox said.