Panthers' quarterback Vinny Testaverde missed practice Wednesday, leaving David Carr the front-runner to start Sunday at Tennessee. The 43-year-old Testaverde aggravated a right Achilles tendon injury in the first half of Carolina's loss to Indianapolis. He sat out the second half and has been receiving extensive treatment the past three days. Testaverde was seen riding to and from the practice field Wednesday in a golf cart. Carr, who missed the Panthers' win over Arizona, replaced Testaverde despite still recovering from compression fractures in his lower back. Saying he was only at 80 percent, Carr threw for 103 yards, but the Panthers were outscored 21-0 in the second half of the 31-7 loss. "He was well enough to play last week. There aren't a lot of players out there that are 100 percent at this stage of the season," coach John Fox said. "He looked sharp in practice today. He had a good day of preparation both in the classroom and out on the field."

The old man will get another chance for the Carolina Panthers. Coach John Fox on Friday named 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde the starting quarterback for Sunday's game against Indianapolis. Testaverde got the nod ahead of David Carr, who is recovering from a back injury.

David Carr will play if he's healthy. He just may not start. That was the message from Panthers coach John Fox on Wednesday about the budding quarterback controversy involving Carr and 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde. Carr practiced without limitations on Wednesday. His sore back has improved since he missed Carolina's last game at Arizona on Oct. 14, when Testaverde led the Panthers to a win four days after signing with the team.

Panthers' quarterback Jake Delhomme underwent ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow Thursday. Delhomme decided last week to have the season-ending procedure, which calls for replacing the damaged ligament with a tendon from another part of the body. The 90-minute surgery was performed by team physician Dr. Pat Connor at Carolinas Medical Center. "The surgery went well," Connor said in a statement. "His postoperative rehabilitation will start soon, and he has an excellent prognosis." Delhomme's rehabilitation is expected to take seven to nine months. Delhomme has said he's confident he'll be ready for the start of training camp in July.

Carolina Panthers quarterback David Carr was downgraded to questionable for Sunday's game against Arizona after his sore back stiffened on the team's cross-country flight. Carr had been listed as probable after practicing Friday, but he experienced pain on the flight later that night. He was downgraded before the team's afternoon walk-through Saturday afternoon. Carr is expected to warm up Sunday morning to determine if he'll play. If he can't go, coach John Fox will have to decide between 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde or undrafted rookie Matt Moore.

Quarterback David Carr returned to practice Friday for Carolina and was listed as probable for the Panthers' game Sunday at Arizona. But Coach John Fox was not ready to declare Carr the starter. "That will be a game-time decision," he said. If Carr can't go, either Vinny Testaverde or Matt Moore would get the start.

Panthers' quarterback David Carr missed practice for a second straight day Thursday with a sore back, increasing the chances 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde could start on Sunday at Arizona. Testaverde, signed on Wednesday, and undrafted rookie Matt Moore, signed just over a month ago, took all the snaps in practice for the banged-up Panthers. Coach John Fox wouldn't say which QB he'd use if Carr can't play Sunday.

Vinny Testaverde isn't finished yet -- even at age 43. The Panthers, desperate for a quarterback with Jake Delhomme out for the season and David Carr banged up, signed Testaverde to a one-year deal Wednesday.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme will miss the rest of the season after deciding to undergo surgery on his right elbow. Coach John Fox said Monday that Delhomme had trouble throwing the ball earlier in the day. Delhomme then made the decision to have surgery next week. Delhomme sustained what the team called a strained right elbow when he was sacked in Carolina's win over Atlanta on Sept. 23. David Carr replaced him the last two games, when Delhomme was listed as the No. 3 quarterback as he considered whether to have surgery.

David Carr appears likely to make his second straight start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers after Jake Delhomme missed practice again Thursday. Coach John Fox would not identify a starter for Sunday's game at New Orleans, but Delhomme hasn't thrown a football since straining his right elbow on Sept. 23 against Atlanta. Carr completed 19 of 41 passes for 155 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Carolina's 20-7 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday.