Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme is expected to miss his third consecutive game on Sunday.
Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports that Delhomme is doubtful to return this week. Delhomme’s injured finger is still painful and swollen, and he’s not likely to be better in time for a return to practice on Wednesday, or for Sunday’s game against the Vikings.
With Delhomme out, Matt Moore will start his third straight game. So far this season Moore has completed 35 of 62 passes for 421 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. The Panthers beat the Buccaneers in his first start and lost to the Patriots in his second.
At this point, even if Delhomme is healthy, it’s hard to see why the Panthers would start him over Moore. Carolina is out of the playoff race, so the Panthers would be wise to use the final month of the season to find out if Moore has what it takes to be their starter in 2010. They already know what they have in Delhomme -- and they know it hasn’t been pretty.
