Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme is staying positive about the shot to play Sunday when the 2-2 Panthers travel to New Orleans to play the Saints. What may be even more motivating is seeing how poorly the Panthers played last Sunday without him when they were beaten badly at home by the Tampa Bay Bucs. Delhomme missed the game with a strain of his right elbow, and stated Tuesday that surgery to fix the injury would be a last resort only.
“I had a bunch of phone calls (asking about) surgery,” Delhomme said. “Maybe that could happen down the line; I don’t know, and that’s the honest truth. We don’t know yet. Yeah, it’s possible, but it’s not in my mind right now.”
Delhomme was unable to practice last week, which is why the team turned to backup David Carr, which is turn was a disaster. Two weeks ago with Delhomme in there, the Panthers were able to comeback vs the Falcons and win at the Georgia Dome 27-20, putting them at 2-1 before last weekends setback vs Tampa Bay. “It feels good,” Delhomme said of the elbow. “… And I’m anxious whenever I do start chucking it around a little bit to see.”
Right now the Panthers and coach John Fox are playing it safe, stating that Delhomme’s status is day-to-day. Bottom line is if he’s anywhere near 100 percent for Sunday, he will be in there doing whatever it takes to try and help the Panthers improve to 3-2 and send the Saints to a remarkable 0-4.