Testaverde to start at QB for Panthers vs. Falcons

Vinny Testaverde will start at quarterback for the Panthers when Carolina faces the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday after testing his sore Achilles in warmups Sunday.

Testaverde, 43, missed practice on Friday when his sore Achilles flared up again. He had practiced on Wednesday and Thursday, experiencing only minor discomfort and appeared ready to make his third start of the season. The 21-year veteran has been battling Achilles tendinitis for the past two weeks.

Rookie Matt Moore will be Testaverde's backup.

On Saturday, the Panthers promoted former UCLA quarterback Drew Olson to the 53-man roster. Olson is inactive for Sunday's game.

In his two starts, Testaverde has completed 32-of-53 passes for 275 yards, with a touchdown pass and an interception. The Panthers were 1-1 in those two games.

Carolina officially listed Testaverde as questionable on its Friday injury report.

An undrafted college free agent, Moore, 23, was claimed on waivers in early September from the Dallas Cowboys. The former Oregon State standout has appeared briefly in three games and has completed 3-of-7 passes for 79 yards, with one interception.

Jake Delhomme, who opened the season as the starter, is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair ligament damage to his throwing (right) elbow. His primary backup, David Carr, started three games, including last week's loss at Tennessee.

But Carr suffered a concussion in that game, and while he has urged Fox to allow him to return to practice this week, the Panthers are taking a cautionary approach, and he has already been ruled out for the game against the Falcons.

ESPN.com senior NFL writer Len Pasquarelli contributed to this report.

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