Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó The Carolina Panthers have to come to terms with veteran quarterback A.J. Feeley and placed backup Josh McCown on injured reserve.
The move comes one day after McCown injured his left knee and ankle in a loss to Philadelphia in relief of struggling starter Jake Delhomme. McCown was wearing a protective boot Monday.
Feeley, who was released by Philadelphia this month, provides a veteran presence behind Delhomme. Matt Moore is the only other quarterback on the roster.
Feeley is a nine-year veteran who was in his second stint in Philadelphia. He’s also been with Miami and San Diego.
EAGLES
PHILADELPHIA ó Jeff Garcia is back with the Eagles.
Garcia, a 10-year veteran, played for Philadelphia in 2006 and went 6-2 in eight starts ó including the playoffs. The team needed a backup quarterback in case McNabb, who suffered a broken rib in Philadelphia’s 38-10 win over Carolina in the season opener, is not able to play this week against the New Orleans Saints.
BEARS
LAKE FOREST, Ill. ó Brian Urlacher underwent surgery to repair a dislocated right wrist and will not be back this season ó a major blow for a team with high expectations.
There was no immediate word from Urlacher other than a text message to the Chicago Tribune that said simply: “season is over.”
With Urlacher out, Hunter Hillenmeyer is expected to start at middle linebacker.
GIANTS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and running back Danny Ware are probably going to be sidelined at least two weeks with injuries sustained Sunday.
Nicks, the team’s first-round draft pick, sprained his left foot in the fourth quarter of the Giants’ 23-17 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday. He spent the final minutes of the game sitting on the sidelines with crutches at his side. Nicks caught two passes for 18 yards.
Coughlin said his understanding was that doctors have ruled out a more serious sprain that could’ve knocked Nicks out for the season.
“Let’s face it, any time you take a player out, it doesn’t help,” Coughlin said, noting that the rookie from North Carolina will miss the opportunity to practice and continue developing a rapport with quarterback Eli Manning.
COLTS
INDIANAPOLIS ó Coach Jim Caldwell says he is waiting to meet with team doctors about Anthony Gonzalez’s right knee injury. He can’t say how long the third-year receiver might be out.
STEELERS
PITTSBURGH ó This might be the first time Troy Polamalu is happy to hear that an injury will keep him out from three to six weeks.
Polamalu doesn’t need surgery to repair the tear in his left medical collateral ligament that occurred during a scramble for the ball on a blocked-field goal attempt Thursday. Coach Mike Tomlin’s preliminary estimate of how long Polamalu will be out also hasn’t changed.
“Regarding an injury to the knee, this is the best-case scenario,” Polamalu said.
* CARSON CITY, Nev. ó A lawyer says an affidavit from a woman who is accusing Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of rape shouldn’t be allowed as part of the court record in the case.
BRONCOS
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. ó Broncos linebacker Spencer Larsen will miss a few weeks after injuring his shoulder in a fall in the locker room at Cincinnati. He slipped on a slick surface and injured a shoulder while trying to break his fall.
JETS
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. ó NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expects to rule this week on the New York Jets’ failure to report Brett Favre’s arm injury last season.
BRAIN INJURIES
BOSTON ó Three NFL players announced they will donate their brains and spinal cord tissue to a Boston University medical school program that studies sports brain injuries.
Even though dozens of former NFL players have agreed to donate their brains after death, center Matt Birk of the Baltimore Ravens, linebacker Lofa Tatupu of the Seattle Seahawks and receiver Sean Morey of the Arizona Cardinals are the first active players to do so.