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GLENDALE, Ariz. The Carolina Panthers came out of Sunday’s 34-21 victory against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium bruised. In addition to the chest injury suffered by quarterback Jake Delhomme, fullbacks Brad Hoover (ankle) and Tony Fiammetta (head) left the game in the second half.
Hoover was on crutches in the locker room after the game. He said an X-ray of his right ankle revealed no broken bones. Hoover had missed two of the Panthers’ three previous games with back spasms.
Receiver Muhsin Muhammad (knee), free safety Charles Godfrey (ankle), and tight end Dante Rosario (knee) were inactive, joined by running back Tyrell Sutton, tackle Garry Williams, guard Duke Robinson, and defensive tackle Nick Hayden.
A.J. Feeley was the No. 3 (emergency) quarterback.
Briefly
The Panthers kick return-team continued to show signs of ineptitude. In the first half, Mike Goodson fielded a kick 3 yards into the end zone and came out despite being waved back by teammate Kenneth Moore. The two ran into each other as Goodson brought the ball out and was brought down at the 13.
Hoover is among the NFL’s most reliable players when it comes to converting on third-and-less-than-2 (ranked fifth in that department in the past 10 seasons). He did it again against the Cardinals, plowing ahead for 2 yards and a first down when Carolina had a third-and-1 on their first possession.
The Cardinals might lead the league with long, multi-word, hyphenated names. It takes a long time to type these in: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. LaRod Stephens-Howling. Brian St. Pierre.
Linebacker Jon Beason showed running-back moves after picking up what appeared to be a Larry Fitzgerald fumble in the first half. The call was reversed – Fitzgerald never had possession of the pass from Kurt Warner – and Beason’s shaking and baking went unrewarded.
