Vinny Closer to Starting Sunday in Arizona

Get ready Panthers, Vinny might just be your man.

43-year-old Vinny Testaverde is on the verge of playing Sunday in a starting role for the Panthers at quarterback, as Thursday starter David Carr was again not ready to practice due to the back injury he suffered last Sunday in New Orleans. Carr did some light throwing on the side, but if he is not able to practice on Friday, it would be apparent that the Panthers newest QB would be their starter for Sunday’s game in Arizona.

The Panthers seem snake bitten. First it was Jake Delhomme going down with an elbow injury, then Carr, who joined the Panthers in the offseason from the Texans, also is now hurt. If Vinny is going to have any success against an improved pass rush of the Cards, he’d better get up to speed. Quick.

“It was better today,” Carr said. “I threw some balls and it wasn’t as uncomfortable as I thought it would be.” From the looks of it though, it still looks like Testaverde will end up under center. “He’s got some familiarity with the system we’ve run and the coaches we have here,” John Fox said. “Hopefully he’s a quick study. I think he is and he’s shown that ability just in the last two days.” If he can’t, there’s no question that the Panthers could be in some serious trouble Sunday.