CHARLOTTE -- Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme practiced Wednesday for the first time in more than three weeks and could play in the Panthers' regular-season finale against New Orleans.
Delhomme, sidelined since suffering ligament damage in his right thumb in Carolina's loss to Philadelphia on Dec. 4, had been unable to grip a football. But he was able to throw Wednesday and worked with the first team. He's listed as questionable for Sunday's must-win for the Panthers' to have a chance to reach the playoffs.
"It's real good to get your starting quarterback back," Panthers coach John Fox said. "With his leadership and what he means for this team, it's important to have him back."
Chris Weinke has struggled filling in for Delhomme in the past three games. Carolina ended its four-game losing streak with a 10-3 win over Atlanta by running the ball a team-record 52 times. Weinke threw only seven passes, completing four for 32 yards and a touchdown.
The win allowed Carolina (7-8) to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Panthers would qualify with a win against the Saints, combined with losses by the New York Giants against Washington on Saturday and Green Bay against Chicago on Sunday night.
Receiver Drew Carter (ankle) and linebacker Thomas Davis (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday and are listed as questionable.
'Skins CB Springs goes on IR; Rumph released
WASHINGTON -- Cornerback Shawn Springs was placed on injured reserve and the team released cornerback Mike Rumph.
Springs broke the scapula in his right shoulder in the first series of Sunday's loss to St. Louis, ending a frustrating season for the 10-year veteran. Springs missed the first five games following abdominal surgery and missed another game with a hamstring injury.
Rumph was acquired in the trade that sent receiver Taylor Jacobs to San Francisco in August. He played as a reserve early in the season, but has been inactive for seven of the last eight games.
Jacobs, meanwhile, has caught only two passes this season for the 49ers.
Springs and Rumph were replaced on the active roster by defensive backs John Eubanks and Leigh Torrence. Eubanks, an undrafted free agent from Southern Mississippi, has spent the season on the practice squad. Torrence, from Stanford, played 10 games with Atlanta last year, but was waived following this year's training camp.
The Redskins also signed tackle Calvin Armstrong and receiver Ryan Hoag to the practice squad.
Bills, kicker agree to five-year extension
BUFFALO -- Kicker Rian Lindell agreed to a five-year contract extension, preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The deal, worth close to $10 million, was reached this week, Lindell's agent Paul Sheehy said. Lindell is a seven-year veteran in his fourth season with Buffalo, solidifying a job that had been in flux since Steve Christie was released during the 2001 season.
"The No. 1 thing was to get the deal done and stay in Buffalo," Sheehy said, noting that Lindell is happy with being part of one of the NFL's dominant special teams units.
The move comes as the Bills (7-8), eliminated from playoff contention, close their season at Baltimore this weekend.
Lindell has hit 23 of 25 field goal attempts, a 92 percent success rate that's currently a single-season best. He's been particularly effective kicking in the blustery conditions at Ralph Wilson Stadium, while also going 10-of-12 from 40 yards or longer, including two from beyond 50.
He matched a career high with five field goals in a 30-29 loss to Tennessee last weekend.
Lindell has also hit all 32 extra-point attempts, extending his career-long streak to 223 straight since he broke into the NFL with Seattle in 2000. It's the second longest streak by a player from the start of a career, 11 short of matching the record set by Tommy Davis.
