Panthers' QB Vinny Testaverde was inactive for Sunday's game against New Orleans, a day after he awoke with a stiff back. The 44-year-old Testaverde seemed to recover from a right Achilles' tendon injury that forced him to miss one game and leave at halftime of another. Testaverde had practiced for three days last week, and coach John Fox made him the starter on Wednesday. But Testaverde complained of a sore back when he reported to the stadium Saturday. The Panthers planned to have Testaverde test the back in warmups, but he was not seen on the field before the inactives were announced. Without Testaverde, the Panthers were left with David Carr and rookie Matt Moore.

Quarterback Vinny Testaverde was listed as questionable for the Carolina Panthers' game Sunday against the New Orleans Saints after he showed up for practice Saturday with a stiff back. If Testaverde can't play, David Carr would likely start against New Orleans (4-6) four days after Coach John Fox had said the 44-year-old Testaverde gave Carolina (4-6) a better chance to win. Testaverde had appeared to have recovered from a strained right Achilles' tendon that forced him to miss a game and leave another at halftime. Testaverde had started the previous two games and had practiced all week. A team official said Testaverde was not injured at practice on Friday but awoke Saturday with back pain.

Reggie Bush has fired marketing agent Mike Ornstein. The New Orleans' running back declined to comment after practice on Thursday, but Ornstein, who is based in Los Angeles, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press that he was no longer working for Bush. "We had a great run together," Ornstein said. "Reggie's a special, special guy. The most special I've ever been around in my 20-plus years in sports. We'll remain great friends."

Reggie Bush was held out of practice Wednesday with a bruised left knee, but the second-year tailback said he expected to return to practice today and play Sunday when the New Orleans Saints (4-4) host the winless St. Louis Rams (0-8) at noon. "I just banged it up a little bit last game," Bush said. "That's really it. There's nothing broken, nothing torn or anything like that. Just a normal, everyday football injury that you go through. It was precautionary to get ready for the game this weekend." Bush said the injury occurred during a run in which he was tackled out of bounds. Bush remained in the game and actually didn't begin to feel the injury until after the game. "I was getting tackled out of bounds and a guy just twisted my leg and that was really it," Bush said. "It didn't really start hurting me until later that night. It's nothing that kept me out of the game or anything like that. "It's just one of those weird things that don't look like much."

Opposing coaches may as well incinerate game film of the Saints' dreadful 0-4 start. The team in those clips ceased to exist a month ago. Drew Brees threw for 445 yards and three touchdowns, and Mike McKenzie returned an interception 75 yards for a score as New Orleans won its fourth straight, 41-24 over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Now all the preseason hype seems a little more justified as the Saints (4-4) have become legitimate contenders in the NFC South again, only a half-game behind division-leading Tampa Bay (5-4). This latest victory over Jacksonville (5-3) was the Saints' most impressive, given the quality of the opponent. The Saints also proved they can indeed play with the AFC, against which they were 0-5 since beating Cleveland on opening day of the 2006 season.