Charlotte, NC - Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme
practiced on Thursday and was upgraded to probable for the team's regular
season finale in New Orleans.
Delhomme, who also practiced on Wednesday, has missed the Panthers' past three
games with a sprained right thumb.
'He made it through (Wednesday) just fine and had no setbacks,' Panthers head
coach John Fox said on Thursday. 'He slung it around pretty good (Thursday).'
The game is a must-win for Carolina, which is still in the NFL playoff hunt
despite a 7-8 record. Even if the Panthers beat the Saints, they still need
losses by the New York Giants (against Washington on December 30) and Green
Bay (against Chicago on Sunday night) to claim the final playoff spot in the
NFC.
Delhomme hurt his thumb after his hand hit a helmet on a first-quarter
touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Smith in Carolina's 27-24 loss against
the Philadelphia Eagles on December 4. He stayed in the game and went 22-
of-37 for 269 yards with three touchdowns and a pair of fourth-quarter
interceptions.
He has completed 240-of-404 passes for 2,598 yards in 12 games overall this
season, with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Chris Weinke has struggled while filling in for Delhomme, completing just 56-
of-96 passes for 625 yards in three games, throwing two touchdowns and four
interceptions. He has a 67.4 passer rating.
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