Panthers: Running back Stephen Davis had microfracture surgery on his right knee, surgery that is potentially career threatening. Davis played in only two games this season before having arthroscopic

Panthers: Running back Stephen Davis had microfracture surgery on his right knee, surgery that is potentially career threatening. Davis played in only two games this season before having arthroscopic surgery Sept. 17 to clean out torn cartilage in his knee. He played in one game after the procedure, but every time he tried to practice, his knee would swell. Carolina put him on injured reserve last week, and he had the procedure Tuesday that requires doctors to drill holes into the kneecap.
Cowboys: Julius Jones practiced for the first time in almost two months Wednesday but isn't expected to play this week. The rookie running back has been out since he broke his left shoulder in his NFL debut, the Cowboys' 19-12 win over Cleveland on Sept. 19. Coach Bill Parcells listed Jones as out for Sunday's game at Baltimore. He said he wasn't sure when Jones would play.
Jaguars: David Garrard will make his second consecutive start at quarterback in place of Byron Leftwich against the Titans. Leftwich was listed as doubtful on the injury report Wednesday, and coach Jack Del Rio said he probably will serve as the No. 3 quarterback. Del Rio still expects Leftwich to return next week at Minnesota.
Seahawks: Linebacker Anthony Simmons will have season-ending surgery to repair a broken left wrist. Simmons was hurt in last weekend's loss at St. Louis, but he still had seven solo tackles and forced a fumble. The Seahawks also won't have backup linebacker Tracy White, out two weeks with a strained right hamstring, for Sunday's game against Miami (1-8). Chad Brown is questionable with a strained left knee. Defensive end Grant Wistrom will return after missing four games with a broken bone in his left knee, and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is listed as probable with a bruised right thigh.
Dolphins: Scratch Mike Martz's name off the list of potential replacements for Dave Wannstedt. The Rams coach on Wednesday said there was no truth to a Miami Herald story that he would be interested in the Dolphins' coaching job if he was let go by the Rams. Despite an up-and-down season, St. Louis is 5-4 and tied for first in the NFC West. Citing sources close to Martz, Seattle's Mike Holmgren and Denver's Mike Shanahan, the Herald said the three would be interested in coaching the Dolphins next season if their current coaching situations did not work out.
Ravens: Punter Nick Murphy was signed to replace Dave Zastudil, who will sidelined for three to four weeks with a separated shoulder. Murphy was waived by the Eagles in September, before the season opener. He led NFL Europe in punting average in 2003 and 2004. Murphy was originally signed by the Minnesota Vikings in April 2002. To make room for Murphy on the roster, the Ravens put fullback Ovie Mughelli on the injured reserve list with a hamstring pull.
Vikings: Randy Moss is doubtful for Sunday's home game against the Lions because of his strained right hamstring. Moss has missed the last two games, and he was without a reception in the two games before that. The Vikings have lost three straight to drop to 5-4 and need the All-Pro receiver back on the field. He looked good in a 20-minute workout Wednesday morning, Vikings coach Mike Tice said, and remains on track to return for the Nov. 28 game against Jacksonville. Raonall Smith, who was making great strides in his third season and started three games last month at weakside linebacker, will miss his third consecutive game with lingering effects from a concussion. He was doing better Tuesday before waking up with a headache Wednesday. Smith will visit a specialist in Pittsburgh on Monday. Running back Mewelde Moore remains questionable with a sprained ankle. Center Matt Birk, who missed most of training camp with a sports hernia, is listed as probable with an abdominal injury.
Raiders: Rich Gannon no longer needs a bulky, plastic brace to protect the broken vertebra in his neck. The quarterback stopped wearing the brace last week and is walking around the team's headquarters much more comfortably now -- not to mention sleeping better. He is scheduled to see his doctors again in the next couple of weeks. "It's good, a lot of relief actually," Gannon said Wednesday. Gannon has been attending meetings and games and helping his teammates any way he can. The 2002 NFL MVP, who turns 39 in December, was placed on injured reserve last month by the Raiders, two days after announcing he wouldn't return this season after consultations with four of the top neck and spine specialists in the country. He hasn't ruled out a return next season. "I'm trying to be helpful but not be a nuisance," Gannon said.
Giants: Two days into the Eli Manning era, the team really isn't expecting the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft to turn the season around, at least by himself. If the well-bred quarterback performs a miracle in taking over from Kurt Warner, that would be great. The Giants (5-4), however, realize winning games the rest of the season has to be a team project, starting Sunday against Atlanta (7-2). "We can have both of them [quarterbacks] in there at the same time and things aren't going to change around here unless people start doing their jobs, and start getting on the same page," tight end Jeremy Shockey said Wednesday. In losing three of their last four games, the Giants have been beset by turnovers, sacks, penalties and mental mistakes. Warner was sacked 24 times in the past four games and pressured and hit on seemingly every pass. "We have to protect the quarterback better, communicate better and play better as an offensive line," guard Jason Whittle said.
Associated Press
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