NFL | Carolina's Jake Delhomme keeps job as starter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A miserable seven-game stretch of 18 interceptions and three lost fumbles wasn't bad enough for Jake Delhomme to lose his job.

Delhomme will start for Carolina on Sunday against Arizona — the same opponent against which he began the worst slump of his career.

After a couple of days to think about it, coach John Fox said Wednesday he determined the beleaguered Delhomme remains the best option ahead of backups Matt Moore and A.J. Feeley.

"The 48-hour rule, you go back and you look and there's no question that we've struggled in that area," Fox said. "Going through and looking at some of our mishaps, I don't think it's one guy. I still think he gives us the best chance to win."

Delhomme was facing the first uncertainty with his status since he replaced Rodney Peete at halftime of the 2003 season opener and led the Panthers to a Super Bowl berth. Fox wavered after Delhomme threw three more picks against Buffalo on Sunday, two of which led to 14 Bills points in a 20-9 loss that dropped the Panthers to 2-4.

Fox was noncommittal Monday, and Delhomme acknowledged he would have understood if Fox benched him.

Notes

• The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers have changed starting quarterbacks again, with rookie Josh Freeman taking over the offense. Freeman was the 17th pick in the first round of this year's draft from Kansas State.

• Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said he will announce his starting quarterback today, trying to carve out another day of competitive advantage for the winless Titans against Jacksonville. The coach has stuck with Kerry Collins as his starter all season. But the Titans are 0-6, and owner Bud Adams reportedly wants to see Vince Young start Sunday.

• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell did not acknowledge a connection between head injuries on the football field and later brain diseases while defending the league's policies on concussions before Congress.

• The Kansas City Chiefs suspended running back Larry Johnson until Nov. 9. The club is on its bye week so Johnson will miss one game, at Jacksonville on Nov. 8. Johnson used a gay slur twice within a 24-hour period Sunday night and Monday.

• The Washington Redskins say tight end Chris Cooley could return to action in a month after having an operation on his broken right ankle.

• St. Louis Rams linebacker David Vobora took the majority of snaps with the first string in his first practice since a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

• Concerned over their depth at running back with Brian Westbrook recovering from a concussion, the Philadelphia Eagles have signed P.J. Hill off the New Orleans Saints practice squad. Whether Westbrook plays will be a game-time decision.

• San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick returned to the practice field for the first time since injuring his left ankle in the season opener.

• Newly signed kick returner Allen Rossum is out two to four weeks because of a hamstring injury suffered on his first return with the Dallas Cowboys.

• Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris returned to practice for the Chicago Bears.

• New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw traveled to North Carolina to have his bothersome right ankle examined by a specialist.

• New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery expects to return from his injured left hamstring and play Sunday against Miami despite being limited in practice.

• San Francisco cornerback Tarell Brown received a three-year contract extension that takes him through the 2013 season.

• Baltimore Ravens left tackle Jared Gaither returned to practice after missing two games with a scary neck injury.

• Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford took another step toward being able to play as he participated without limitations in practice.