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Leftwich Is In As Falcons' Starting QB

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The Associated Press

Published: October 18, 2007

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Byron Leftwich has replaced Joey Harrington as the Atlanta Falcons' starting quarterback.

Hoping to spark an offense that has struggled without suspended quarterback Michael Vick, Coach Bobby Petrino said Wednesday he plans to keep Leftwich as his starter for the rest of the season.

'He has a very strong arm,' Petrino said. 'He throws the ball deep down the field, and he just needs to be able to see it, and I have the confidence that he can put it in there. I think he'll do well.'

The decision wasn't difficult for Petrino after the offense failed to score off three New York turnovers Monday night. The Giants won 31-10, dropping Atlanta to 1-5.

Petrino indicated Leftwich might have played against New York if he hadn't missed so much practice time with a mild ankle sprain last week.

Offensively, the Falcons have scored only seven TDs.

BILLS: Rookie quarterback Trent Edwards will make his third straight start Sunday when Buffalo hosts Baltimore, leading to questions about whether J.P. Losman will ever get his job back.

Coach Dick Jauron made the announcement Wednesday, but he wouldn't commit to a full-time starter beyond this weekend. Edwards, a rookie third-round draft pick, has gone 1-1 starting in place of Losman, who has resumed practice and appeared ready to return after spraining his left knee.

'Edwards is our starting quarterback this week, and we'll move on from there,' Jauron said.

CARDINALS: Three days after he tore a ligament in his left elbow, quarterback Kurt Warner hopes he'll play Sunday at Washington.

It's too early to tell whether he will.

'Would I love to play on Sunday? Sure I would,' Warner said after limited participation in Wednesday's practice. 'I'm going to go forward with the idea that I can. But we've just got to weigh all the options and make sure that it's something that I can do.'

Warner said doctors told him he's not risking a worse injury by playing.

CHIEFS: Running back Priest Holmes went through a full practice Wednesday, a giant step toward what could be turning into one of the NFL's great comebacks.

Holmes, who is 34 and had been out of football since suffering neck and spinal injuries two years ago, was cleared to practice for the first time since he shocked the Chiefs last summer and showed up at training camp.

He has been working out diligently and trimming away the 15 or so pounds he gained while staying home the previous 22 months, hardly going near a football field.

DOLPHINS: Quarterback Trent Green said the decision on whether he should retire may be made for him by doctors who have yet to clear him to play following his second severe concussion in 13 months.

'I would like to play again,' Green said Wednesday. 'It's what I love doing. It remains to be seen whether they will clear me.'

Since being knocked unconscious Oct. 7 at Houston, all of Green's test results have been normal, including the latest round Tuesday, he said. But concerns about possible long-term effects left the two specialists he consulted unwilling to give him an OK to practice or play.

PACKERS: The NFL reinstated suspended wide receiver Koren Robinson on Wednesday.

Wednesday was the first day Robinson was eligible to return from his one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He had petitioned for reinstatement to Commissioner Roger Goodell and met with the commissioner earlier in the week. If Robinson violates the policy again, he faces a lifetime ban.

'I know this is my last chance,' he said. 'If I do anything to jeopardize that, I didn't deserve it in the first place.'

TITANS: Quarterback Vince Young didn't practice Wednesday, and it sounded as if the 2006 Offensive Rookie of the Year won't practice this week. Coach Jeff Fisher said an MRI on Monday showed what they expected but wouldn't say if Young could start against the Texans on Sunday.

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