The Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Michael Vick will make his first start of the season against Carolina, pumping a bit of life into this down-and-out franchise.

"It's creating a buzz around town and around the country that a team like us would normally not get," receiver Peerless Price said Wednesday.

Vick strolled into the media room with a big grin - quite a change from the look he had in August, when he hobbled into that same room on crutches, his broken right leg wrapped in a cast.

"We're trying to get back on track," Vick said. "It's not how you start, it's how you finish. That's what we're looking forward to right now."

TEXANS: David Carr practiced lightly Wednesday and remains on track to start Sunday for Houston.

But running back Domanick Davis was held out of workouts with injuries to both legs.

Carr, recovering from a sprained right shoulder, did little throwing on the side and was limited to handing off in drills. Coach Dom Capers didn't waver on whether Carr will start.

"He will be our starter," Capers said.

REDSKINS: Quarterback Patrick Ramsey reinjured his right foot at the end of practice Wednesday when he slipped on a dirt patch during a throwing drill.

The second-year starter left practice early for X-rays, and his status will be evaluated later in the week.

It was the first practice in nearly two weeks for Ramsey, who has been hampered by the flare-up of an old fracture. Before the practice began, Ramsey was listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Giants. If he can't play, Tim Hasselbeck will make his second straight start.

49ERS: Running back Garrison Hearst will miss Sunday's game against Arizona on Sunday with a sprained right knee.

Hearst, who leads the 49ers with 768 yards rushing, was injured in the third quarter of San Francisco's loss at Baltimore last week. He had minor arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to repair cartilage in the knee, and he was on crutches Wednesday.

Hearst hopes to return for the Dec. 14 game at Cincinnati.

BILLS: Quarterback Drew Bledsoe missed practice Wednesday, feeling tired and dizzy and unsure if he will play against the Jets this weekend.

Bledsoe refused to describe his symptoms as concussion-related. But he said they stem from a helmet-to-helmet hit that forced him to miss the final 19 minutes of Sunday's 24-7 win over the New York Giants.

"I wouldn't say I feel completely normal, but I'm all right," Bledsoe said. "My head doesn't hurt, but I'm feeling a little dizzy, a little lightheaded."

PATRIOTS: New England has signed rookie punter Brooks Barnard to replace veteran Ken Walter, who was released Tuesday.

Barnard was a two-time all-ACC punter at Maryland, where he was the school's career leader in punting average for career (43.7) and single season (44.7 in 2000).

PACKERS: Safety Antuan Edwards has a torn hamstring tendon behind his left knee and will have another MRI in a few days to determine if surgery is necessary.

Significant injuries have sidelined Edwards, a first-round draft pick in 1999, ever since his rookie season.

He missed four games with a sprained left knee in 2000, 13 games with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament in 2001 and four games with a broken forearm last season.

He missed two games with a sprained ankle this season.

REF FINED: Referee Tom White was fined $2,600 for failing to restart the clock at the end of the Seattle-Baltimore game, a mistake that contributed to the Seahawks' 44-41 overtime loss.

The fine represented half of White's game check, supervisor of officials Mike Pereira said .