NEW ORLEANS (AP) -Byron Leftwich, making his first start for the Atlanta Falcons since joining the club a month ago, went down with an injured right ankle on his first series of the third quarter Sunday against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
He gingerly walked off the field with help from trainers as Joey Harrington, who lost his starting job to Leftwich this past week, came into the game.
Leftwich was performing well before being taken down by Saints defensive end Will Smith as he released a long incompletion.
He completed 15 of 23 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. He also led a pair of scoring drives that ended with Morten Andersen’s two field goals, giving the Falcons a 13-7 halftime lead.
The Falcons said his return was questionable.
Shortly before Leftwich went down, Saints starting center Jeff Faine went to the locker room to have his left shoulder examined. Saints officials said his return was doubtful.
Faine, picked up in a draft-day trade with Cleveland in 2006, has been the Saints’ starter ever since.
Jonathan Goodwin replaced Faine midway through the Saints’ opening drive of the second half, which ended in rookie Pierre Thomas’ first touchdown rushing in the NFL and gave the Saints a 14-13 lead.
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