Delhomme misses practice again with thumb injury

Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme missed practice again Thursday with ligament damage in the thumb on his throwing hand, increasing the chance backup Chris Weinke will start on Sunday against the New York Giants.

?It?s just real sore,? Delhomme said. ?There?s a lot of swelling and we?re trying to get the swelling out. I think the big issue is strength and how much strength I have in it.?

Delhomme said although he?s having trouble gripping the ball, he may try to practice on Friday.

?We?re going to try,? Delhomme said. ?I?m treating the heck out of it and I?m very optimistic. We?ll see.?

Coach John Fox said the ligament is stretched and not torn off the bone, which is why he doesn?t need surgery. Fox didn?t rule out that Delhomme, who is still listed as questionable, could still play on Sunday.

?We?ve had guys, experienced guys, that have been limited in practice and still played,? Fox said. ?He?d be that kind of guy, if it came to that.?

Delhomme was injured when his right hand hit Eagles defensive tackle Darwin Walker?s helmet on his 9-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith in the first quarter of Monday?s loss to Philadelphia. Delhomme continued to play and threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, the last coming in the end zone with 25 seconds left.