The season is over for Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has been placed on injured reserve ahead of what the team calls minor right knee surgery.

Coach Jim Schwartz says the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft was to have undergone the surgery after the season. But Stafford was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after a physical exam indicated he wouldn't be ready to play in the Jan. 3 season finale against Chicago.

"We anticipate a minor surgery just to clean out some irritants and debris," Schwartz said. "Since he's had [the injury], he's had on and off swelling. It's been stuff he's been able to play through, but it's also something we knew we needed to address after the season.

Third-year quarterback Drew Stanton will make his first NFL start Sunday against the 49ers in San Francisco.

Stafford injured his non-throwing left shoulder while leading a fourth-quarter comeback that lifted Detroit to a 38-37 victory Nov. 22 against Cleveland. He aggravated the injury in a Dec. 6 loss at Cincinnati, but Schwartz said Stafford's recovery is "on course" and he won't undergo surgery on the shoulder.

Stafford completed 201 of 377 passes (53.3 percent) for 2,267 yards and 13 touchdowns, a record for a Lions rookie. He threw five of them came against Cleveland, tying both a team record and the 72-year-old NFL record. He also set an NFL rookie record with 422 yards passing in that game.

Stafford either threw or ran for a touchdown in all 10 of his starts, including one pass in Detroit's 19-14 win against Washington in Week 3. That victory ended the Lions' 19-game losing streak, the NFL's second longest.

The Carolina Panthers placed quarterback Jake Delhomme on injured reserve yesterday with a broken finger on his throwing hand, ending his worst season as a pro. Delhomme was hurt in a loss to the New York Jets Nov. 29 and hasn't played or practiced since. Matt Moore, who is expected to start Sunday against the New York Giants, has started the past three games and threw for a career-high 299 yards and three touchdowns in last Sunday's upset win against Minnesota. The Panthers promoted quarterback Hunter Cantwell from the practice squad to take Delhomme's roster spot. A.J. Feeley is No. 2 on the depth chart.

"We thought he might be further along as far as his finger," coach John Fox said. "We kind of looked at it this week as far as gripping the ball, throwing the ball and it wasn't up to speed. We felt we needed to get another quarterback up. Hunter has been with us all year."

The Panthers were again without running backs DeAngelo Williams (ankle) and Tyrell Sutton (calf) in practice yesterday. Running back Jonathan Stewart (Achilles tendon) practiced after sitting out Wednesday. Cornerback Richard Marshall (ankle) was limited. The Panthers added running back Devin Moore to take Cantwell's spot on the practice squad.

The Browns have been granted a 48-hour extension by the NFL to avoid their first TV blackout since their expansion return. A Browns spokesman says the league has given the club until 1p.m. tomorrow to sell the remaining tickets for Sunday's game against Oakland or the game will not be shown within a 75-mile radius. The league typically gives teams an extra 24 hours but extended for the Browns because of the Christmas holiday. The team would not say how many tickets needed to be sold. To this point, the Browns have been able to avert their first blackout since the final game of 1995, Cleveland's last before former owner Art Modell moved his franchise to Baltimore.

The Indianapolis Colts have put receiver Anthony Gonzalez on injured reserve, ending his season. Gonzalez sprained ligaments in his right knee in the season opener and later had arthroscopic surgery on the knee, delaying his return. On Monday, team president Bill Polian said on his radio show that Indianapolis hoped to have Gonzalez practice this week so he could play in the final two games of the season in preparation for the playoffs. Gonzalez practiced Monday but sat out Wednesday, prompting yesterday's announcement.

Interim coach Perry Fewell is taking a wait-and-see approach with his quarterbacks after starter Ryan Fitzpatrick missed his second consecutive practice because of an ankle injury. Fewell said Fitzpatrick is feeling better and did "a little throwing" before practice yesterday as the Bills prepare to play at Atlanta this weekend. With backup Trent Edwards out with an ankle injury, third-stringer Brian Brohm would make his NFL debut if Fitzpatrick can't play. Hurt against New England last weekend, Fitzpatrick walked stiffly around the locker room and, with a smile, said "Merry Christmas," when asked how he felt. Starting cornerback Drayton Florence missed practice because of an illness but is expected to play.

Linebacker Jason Taylor has returned to practice as Miami prepares for its game against Houston. Taylor practiced yesterday after resting a sore right shoulder Wednesday. Taylor has started every game and has seven sacks this year.

Two days after waiving veteran kicker John Carney, New Orleans has brought him back as a kicking consultant. By accepting the job, Carney, 45, may not under NFL rules kick for the Saints or any other team for the rest of this season.

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