Fox Chooses Testeverde Over Carr

Coach John Fox on Friday named 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde the starting quarterback for Sunday's game against Indianapolis. Testaverde got the nod ahead of David Carr, who is recovering from a back injury. "It's not an indictment on David Carr by any stretch. I don't feel he's 100 percent," Fox said. "He's healthy enough to play, but I don't think he's 100 percent."
Carr practiced Friday and is listed as probable. The surprising move pits Testaverde, in his 21st season, against reigning Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning as the Panthers try to become the first team to beat the Super Bowl champions this season. Testaverde said on Monday he thought Carr would start. Carr said the same on Wednesday, when Fox said he would play, but not necessarily start, if he was healthy. But Fox said he didn't think Carr had progressed enough during the week, after sustaining a compression fracture in his lower back against New Orleans on Oct. 7. "It's not a season-long decision. It will be game to game," Fox said.